CITIZENSHIP AND STATELESSNESS IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 2020
MALAWI
7 yrs
Knowledge of prescribed
Good character &
vernacular language or
suitable citizen
Yes
Financially
Preferential treatment for
solvent
Commonwealth citizens,
0
citizens of other African
L1966(2019)ARTS1
states, and persons with a
2-21
English
-
C1994(1998)ART8
close connection to Malawi,
women married to
Malawian citizens, and for
stateless persons born in
Malawi; and all conditions
may be waived in “special
circumstances”
MAURITIUS
6 yrs (1+5)
Knowledge of English or
Good character
Yes
-
Preferential terms for
Yes, on
L1968(1995)ARTS5
any other language spoken
Commonwealth citizens;
application
-10
in Mauritius, and of the
residence period reduced
(discretionary)
responsibilities of a citizen
to 2 yrs if $500k invested
of Mauritius
MOZAMBIQUE
NAMIBIA
10 yrs
10 yrs
Knowledge of Portuguese
Good reputation
or a Mozambican language
(idoneidade civica)
No
Yes
Capacity to
Residence period and
Yes, on
C2004ART27
make decisions
language can be waived if
application
L1975(1987)ARTS11
(reger a sua
the person has provided
pessoa); means
‘relevant services’ to the
of subsistence
state
-
-13
Adequate knowledge of
Good character; no
Honorary citizenship may
Yes, on
C1990(2010)ART4(
the responsibilities and
convictions in Namibia
be granted if “distinguished
application
5)&28
privileges of Namibian
for listed offences
service”
(discretionary)
L1990ART5,6 & 14
“Special circumstances”
Yes, on
C1993(2011)ARTS1
citizenship
SEYCHELLES
15 yrs
Obtains at least 80 per cent
Not been sentenced to
No
-
of marks in 1 of the 3
prison sentence 1yr or
must justify the
application
0-13
national languages in a
more
naturalisation: (a)
(discretionary)
L1994(2013)ART4-
extraordinary ability in
45
UNHCR / December, 2020
6