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[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]

TONGA

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship laws are based upon the Nationality Act dated and amended 1915 through 1988; 2 Laws of Tonga, Chapter 59 (1988 rev. Ed.).

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Tonga does not automatically confer citizenship.

BY DESCENT: Child born in Tonga whose father is a citizen of Tonga. Child born abroad, whose father was born in Tonga. Child born out of wedlock in Tonga whose mother is a citizen of Tonga.

MARRIAGE: A foreign woman who marries a citizen of Tonga is eligible for citizenship 12 months after marriage.

BY NATURALIZATION: Tongan citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has resided in the country for at least five years, is of good character, adequately knows the Tongan language, intends to reside in Tonga, and has been granted a letter of naturalization from the King of Tonga. The grant of naturalization is at the absolute discretion of the King.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Tongan citizenship is permitted by law. Tonga does not have diplomatic representation in the United States; renunciation must occur in Tonga or be initiated in a Tongan consulate elsewhere.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of Tongan citizenship: Person acquires foreign citizenship. Naturalized citizenship was obtained through fraud.

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

Library of Congress Law Library, Directorate of Legal Research Western Law Division James Madison Memorial Building, Rm. LM-240 Washington, DC 20540-3230

Telephone: 202-707-7850 Fax: 202-707-1820

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