Table 1: Right to nationality by descent
Country
Born in country
In wedlock
+ Father (F) &/or
Mother (M) is citizen
Born abroad
Out of wedlock
+ Father (F) &/or
Mother (M) is citizen
In wedlock
+ Father (F) &/or Mother
(M) is citizen
Out of wedlock
+ Father (F) &/or Mother (M) is
citizen
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Côte d’Ivoire
Gambia
Ghana
F
R
R
R^
R
R
R^
M
R
R
R^
R
R
R^
F
R
R
R^
R
R
R^
M
R
R
R^
R
R
R^
F
R
(R)
C
R
Rx1
R^
M
(R)
(R)
C
R
Rx1
R^
F
R
(R)
C
C
Rx1
R^
M
(R)
(R)
C
C
Rx1
R^
Guinea
G, Bissau
Liberia ‼
R
R
-
R
R
-
C
R
-
C
R
-
R
C
R
(R)
C
R
C(R)
C
R
C(R)
C
R
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo ‼
R†
R
R^
R
R
R†
R
R^
R
C*
C†
C
R^
R
R
C†
C
R^
R
C*
R†
R
R
R
R
R
R†
R
R
R
C*
C†
C
R
R
R
R
C†
C
R
R
C*
Legal Provision
L1965Arts12&13
L1989Art140
L1993Art5
L1961(2013)Art7
C1996(2001)Arts9-10
C1992Art6(2)
L2000Art7
L1988Art30-32,
L1992(2010)Art5
C1986Art28
L1973Arts20.1 &21.31
L2011Art224
L1984(2014)Art11
C1999Art25
L1961(2013)Art5
L1973(2006)Art5
C1992Art32
L1978Art3 / L2007Arts17-24
- no rights (for Sierra Leone and Liberia, descent is only relevant for those born outside the country)
‼ legislation conflicts with the constitution or other legislation—the provisions in the nationality law are noted here (unless the detailed rules are in the constitution)
R: child is citizen from birth as of right
(R): child has citizenship from birth but can repudiate at majority (for Burkina Faso does not apply if both parents citizens)
Rx1: child is citizen from birth as of right only if one parent both a citizen and born in country
~ racial, religious or ethnic discrimination in citizenship law: specified groups listed for preferential treatment
C: can claim citizenship following an administrative process (including to establish parentage or declare to consular authorities but excluding birth registration)
C* mother (or father) passes citizenship only if father (or mother) of unknown nationality or stateless or if father does not claim
^ Rights to citizenship from grandparents: if born in the country & one grandparent is a citizen (Ghana & Nigeria); if born in or outside the country & one grandparent is a citizen (Cape Verde).
In the case of Sierra Leone, a citizen parent does not transmit nationality to a child born in the country unless the parent or grandparent was also born in Sierra Leone and of negro-African
descent.
NB. There is simplification of complex provisions
15