Diving Deeper into the Essence of Citizenship: The Concept of Jure Sanguinis

When we mention citizenship, especially in some contexts, we immediately hear “citizenship by investment”, “immigration laws”, or “minimum investment threshold”. Our publication has a special category when it comes to citizenship because we consider this a vital part of a person's life.

We don't choose where we are born, so we don't choose our nationality. However, this doesn't have to stay like this forever. While in the past, and sadly often in the present too, people migrated to escape from hunger, war, or economic issues, now there's a whole modern concept referring to citizenship: why can't we choose the nationality we want?

However, we can't go deeper into the subject without diving into the essence of naturalization: what is jure sanguinis?

Choosing One's Citizenship: Immigration Laws and Alternatives

There are different reasons why a person may want to acquire a second citizenship or residency. People living abroad can face deportation if they don't have the corresponding legal status. This becomes even more complicated if the immigration laws don't offer the person a solution, or if the person simply doesn't qualify for those solutions. 

Historically, someone can acquire citizenship through a right called jure sanguinis, or “right of blood”. Thanks to jure sanguinis, the son or daughter of a citizen can acquire the citizenship of the said country. 

Although this may sound like an obvious process, it's not always so. Usually, dad meets mom, they get married and have children, they live their whole lives in the same country, and they hold the same nationality which they pass through their children. There’s nothing extraordinary about this. 

But what about children of parents living as foreigners? In most countries, by jure sanguinis they can get their parents’ nationality, or the nationality of either of the parents, depending on the case. 

In simple words, this is called “citizenship by descent” and it’s a process that attracts many. If we look at the history of immigration and immigration laws, we can see how a large flow of immigrants came to the Americas at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Before 1924, anyone could enter the US without a visa, they could even settle there, and they wouldn't have to worry about deportation.

Likewise, there was a massive immigration flow from Spain and Italy to South America during the Second World War. After all, one needs to take a look at the most common surnames in Argentina to see that they are as much Italian as they are Spanish and we're not talking about a former Italian colony.

The interesting thing is that now, due to the economic issues in Latin America, the grandchildren of those immigrants want to come back to the old continent. For them, jure sanguinis is an opportunity. By proving to have had Spanish or Italian grandparents they can get an EU nationality.

Immigration Laws Based on Jure Sanguinis: What Is the Problem?

As we've explained in other articles, proving this jure sanguinis is not as easy as it may sound. In general, these processes can take years and a great deal of effort collecting proof that the ancestors were actually from there, and that the applicant is related to them. It’s worth noting that most of these immigrants came here running from danger or escaping hunger. In many cases, they came with no money, and they struggled to get their way in a new land.

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Only in rare cases would they keep records of their nationality, or save their birth certificates. Many of them changed their surnames upon arrival, or married people with new surnames. 

This is why the creation of the first citizenship-by-investment program in 1984 was such an innovation. The first country to do this was the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which maintains its program to our day, presenting unique benefits in different areas of business and life.

Immigration Laws Based on Jure Sanguinis Vs Citizenship by Investment

We can’t deny that citizenship by investment has its detractors. They argue that passports shouldn’t be “bought” and that nationalities shouldn't be “for sale”, however, this is far from the reality.

Citizenship by investment immigration laws provide eligibility to those making a financial contribution. The keyword here is “eligibility”, no more and no less. What does this mean? Through regular jure sanguinis immigration laws the applicant must go through an extensive process to become eligible or to prove that he/she is eligible.

Through citizenship by investment, you can become eligible through a much more straightforward path, which is usually either making a donation to the government or a real estate investment. 

But that's it: you become eligible. Then, to actually acquire citizenship you must undergo a due diligence process in which you must prove to have impeccable character and a clean criminal record. After all, if someone can afford to choose their own nationality why can't they? Why can't one straightforward the process to become eligible for any given nationality? In our opinion, this is the essence of citizenship and citizenship by investment.

Disclaimer: this article doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinion of the Mundo team or the editorial team at Mundo. Moreover, this article was written for informational purposes only and that does not constitute legal, financial, or migration advice. Before applying for citizenship of any kind, make sure to consult with a certified professional.

Jure Sanguinis or Citizenship by Investment? Understanding Immigration Laws Hand in Hand with Experts 

Mundo is committed to the concept of financial freedom. This is why we embrace citizenship by investment as a valuable tool that reflects a person's freedom to choose his/her own nationality. Without proper guidance, one can face deportation, fines, or many unpleasant situations, therefore we invite you to contact our experts.

We can connect you with the main agents offering citizenship by investment through the most reliable programs including Saint Kitts, Grenada, Vanuatu, and Antigua and Barbuda. 

Furthermore, we can help you open key structures like trusts, LLCs, foundations, and bank accounts abroad. Get in touch with us and send us your consultation.

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