Country of Citizenship Meaning [Citizenship & Banking] - GlobalBanks (2024)

In this article, we share the country of citizenship meaning, answer related questions, and compare it to residency and nationality.

These concepts will be helpful for anyone applying for international bank accounts or banking services, like an overseas mortgage – which you can learn more about here.

Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.

Table of Contents

1. Country of Citizenship Meaning
2. Citizen vs Residence
3. Citizen vs Nationality
4. Frequently Asked Questions
5. Ready to Explore Your Options?

Country of Citizenship Meaning

The country of citizenship meaning is that a person has access to all the legal rights and freedoms afforded by a nation to its population. Citizenship may be obtained through several methods, including birth, naturalization, familial ties, and more.

In certain very rare circ*mstances, a country may choose to revoke the citizenship of a person. However, this typically (as is the case in the United States) requires an act of terrorism against the country.

Alternatively, an individual may choose to renounce or relinquish their citizenship in a given country. To do so, formal proceedings need to be followed in accordance with the country’s governing laws.

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Citizen vs Residence

The main difference between citizen and residence is that a citizen holds citizenship and has full access to the rights and freedoms in a given country while residence grants a person the right to remain in a country as long as certain criteria are met. In most cases, the permanent residence does afford an individual the same rights and freedoms as a citizen. However, under certain circ*mstances, residence can be withdrawn.

Citizen vs Nationality

The main difference between being a citizen and holding nationality is that being a citizen requires an individual to meet certain requirements (depending on the country), while nationality refers to the place where a person was born.

In countries that have citizenship and nationality laws following the concept of jus soli (right of soil), individuals born within their territories are automatically citizens. This is common within the Americas but it is very rare in other parts of the world. Instead, while nationality may be based on where a person is born, citizenship is only granted after specific parameters are met.

That said, the United States does differentiate between citizenship and nationality. However, this only impacts nationals of American Soma, which is an unincorporated US territory. Therefore, individuals born in American Somoa are not automatically US citizens while they are US nationals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are three of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into the country of citizenship meaning. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.

What Is a Country of Citizenship?

Country of citizenship refers to the specific country where a person has obtained citizenship through one of the methods permitted in a country’s citizenship (or nationality) law. In certain countries, this may include being born in the country, naturalizing in the country, or being the descendant of a citizen. Alternatively, in certain countries, individuals may also be granted citizenship for providing considerable value to a country domestically or abroad.

Is USA a Country of Citizenship?

Yes, the USA is a country of citizenship for US citizens. However, depending on the individual, it may instead be a country of residence or a country of nationality. As explained above, the USA makes a clear distinction between citizenship and nationality, though this generally applies to a very small population.

What Is an Example of Citizenship?

An example of citizenship is the legal status that protects a persons right to live, work, vote, and access services, representation, and benefits in a given country. Individuals can obtain citizenship in multiple countries, through multiple methods.

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