Bolivia: Whether a person who lost his or her Bolivian nationality can reacquire it simply by returning to Bolivia; whether the foreign-born child of a former Bolivian citizen, who has now taken residence in Bolivia, has an automatic right to Bolivian citizenship
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 30 January 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BOL42230.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bolivia: Whether a person who lost his or her Bolivian nationality can reacquire it simply by returning to Bolivia; whether the foreign-born child of a former Bolivian citizen, who has now taken residence in Bolivia, has an automatic right to Bolivian citizenship , 30 January 2004, BOL42230.E , available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/403dd1e50.html [accessed 20 June 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information that follows was provided during a 16 January 2004 telephone interview with a consular official at the Embassy of Bolivia in Ottawa, and corroborated during a 29 January 2004 telephone interview, based on information received by the Embassy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia.
Acquisition of a foreign nationality does not necessarily require nor result in the loss of Bolivian nationality. However, if a person who lost his or her Bolivian nationality intends to regain Bolivian nationality, he or she would have to enter Bolivia with a visa (unless his or her current nationality does not require one for entering Bolivia), since the person is legally a foreigner. Such a person would not be subject to periods of residence in Bolivia required for naturalization (see BOL42231.E of 30 January 2004). However, the person would have to prove that he or she was a Bolivian national, and that he or she is residing and intends to continue residing in Bolivia. The person would have to approach the Department of Immigration (Departamento de Migración) to receive the specific instructions, including documentary requirements, to start the process to recover his or her Bolivian nationality.
The right to Bolivian nationality for the minor child of a Bolivian national is stipulated in the Constitution. However, in the case of a child whose parent lost his or her Bolivian nationality and later returned to Bolivia, the child's right to Bolivian nationality by reason of having a Bolivian parent would depend on the parent's recovery of Bolivian nationality.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Embassy of Bolivia, Ottawa. 29 January 2004. Telephone interview with consular official.
_____. 16 January 2004. Telephone interview with consular official.
