CChapter 3: Comparative analysis of nationality laws is unfortunate to see that abandoned children are protected from statelessness while other children born in the state may be left without a nationality (in some cases even if their mother holds the country’s nationality), although the right to a nationality is a fundamental entitlement of all children. 3.2 Acquisition of nationality by naturalisation Besides acquisition of nationality at birth, the other major route to becoming a national is through naturalisation. This is a procedure that is initiated through an application by the individual seeking nationality, usually in adulthood, leading to the conferral of nationality by the state if all prescribed conditions are met – in principle. In the context of most naturalisation procedures, the relevant authorities of the state enjoy the discretion to decline an application even if the basic requirements have been satisfied. How wide this margin of discretion is will vary from state to state, sometimes having a significant impact on an individual’s real prospects of naturalisation. Nevertheless, the starting point for the question of when a person is eligible to naturalise is the set of criteria outlined within the nationality law which form the minimum benchmark that a prospective applicant must meet. In the sections 97