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A noncommercial collection of information about citizenship, dual citizenship and multiple citizenship
 
     

[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

MALAWI


CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon the Malawi Citizenship Act, dated July 6, 1966. Every person who was a citizen of Malawi before July 6, 1966, continues to be a citizen of Malawi. (UKC-Commonwealth Nation)

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Malawi does not automatically confer citizenship. The exception is a child born of unknown parents.

BY DESCENT: Child born in Malawi, on or after July 6, 1966, whose father or mother is a citizen of Malawi and is of African race. Child born abroad, on or after July 6, 1966, one of whose parents is a native-born citizen of Malawi of African race.

BY NATURALIZATION: Malawian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person is of an African race or has Commonwealth or Malawian ties, has resided five years in the country, has adequate knowledge of the English language, intends to reside permanently in Malawi, and will renounce previous citizenship. (Aliens without the national ties must have resided for seven years.)


DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED. Exception: Child born abroad, who obtains citizenship of country of birth, may maintain dual citizenship until age 21, when the person must renounce the other citizenship within one year or Malawian citizenship will be revoked. A citizen of Malawi, age 22 or older, who obtains new citizenship through other than voluntary means (for example, marriage) has one year to declare a desire to retain Malawian citizenship or it will be revoked.


LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Malawian citizenship is permitted by law. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of naturalized or registered Malawian citizenship: Person exercises rights or privileges of another country. Citizenship was obtained through fraud or false statements. Person has been arrested and imprisoned within seven years of citizenship. Person has shown disloyalty or treason against Malawian government. Person has been resident outside Malawi for seven years or more without proper registration with Consulate.


ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of Malawi Embassy/Consular Telephone: 202-797-1007 Consular Section Fax: 202-265-0976 2408 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008

 

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