This was true of naturalization.

7.3.2 Through naturalization

He or she must apply for naturalisation.

The naturalization process in the Niger is as follows

The parents can then opt for the child to take Dutch nationality.

The spouse of an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship through naturalisation.

Acquisition of nationality of the Niger was not therefore subject to any very stringent conditions.

However, a foreign man who marries a Guinean woman may acquire Guinean nationality only by naturalization.

The Netherlands Nationality Act also gives minor children improved status in the granting of Dutch nationality by means of naturalisation.

The purpose of making this easy when the country achieved independence was to offer the Government the vital human resources required to promote socio economic development. Once this need became less pressing, acquisition of nationality of the Niger through naturalization was subjected to restrictions.

Only Pitcairn Islanders by birth or naturalization, their children or grandchildren (having reached the age of 18 years) are eligible to apply for an allocation.

All concerned found the aforementioned provision on the naturalization of foreign wives to be unacceptable, because men and women had an equal right to naturalization.

It is worth pointing out that, pursuant to article 13, paragraph 1, of the same Act, the Council of Ministers may prevent or refuse an application for naturalization submitted to it under the provisions of article 12.

Parliament also has the prerogative to prescribe other conditions for naturalization, one of which is the reduction from 10 years to five years residence if the non citizen has invested in Vanuatu.

During the first 9 months of 2004 the total of 2283 applications for citizenship for persons under 15 years of age were received, which was 60 more than during 2003.

For the purposes of the diplomatic protection of a natural person, a State of nationality means a State whose nationality that person has acquired, in accordance with the law of that State, by birth, descent, naturalization, succession of States or in any other manner, not inconsistent with international law.

Ms. Heather Latu (Samoa) said the new Citizenship Act of 2004 gave both men and women equal rights with regard to obtaining or transmitting Samoan nationality, whether through marriage, birth, descent or naturalization.

In this connection, it draws the attention of the State party to general recommendation XXV and to general recommendation XXX, which requests States parties to ensure that particular groups of non citizens are not discriminated against with regard to access to citizenship or naturalization.

(j) Welcomes the practice in States with developed asylum systems of allowing refugees to integrate locally and calls on these States to continue supporting refugees' ability to attain this durable solution through the timely grant of a secure legal status and residency rights, and or to facilitate naturalization