to actively disseminate such information amongst the stateless populations. Instead this information is distributed by UNHCR and NGOs during field missions. Acquisition of Citizenship through Naturalization: Substantive Law: The nationality legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic establishes two processes, for naturalization of foreigners and stateless persons (the 2007 Citizenship Law, Article 13 and 14). They are ordinary and simplified procedures, which require an applicant to be 18 years or older when applying for naturalization (Article 13.1 and 14.1). Within the ordinary procedure for naturalization, the following criteria must be met by the applicant: a) a minimum of five years of permanent and continuous residence in the Kyrgyz Republic;15 b) communication-level command of the state (Kyrgyz) or official (Russian) language; c) a commitment to respect the Constitution and laws of the country; and d) a legitimate source of income are required from any applicant (Article 13.1). The minimum term of permanent residence for foreign nationals and stateless persons maybe reduced to three years provided that the applicant either: a) is married to a national of the Kyrgyz Republic; b) demonstrates outstanding achievements in science, technology, culture, as well as possesses a profession or qualification demanded in the Kyrgyz Republic; c) invests in priority branch of the economy of the country; d) is recognized as a refugee according to the laws of the Kyrgyz Republic. Three categories in which individuals may enjoy simplified naturalization (Article 14), which reduces the minimum permanent residency requirement to one year for the first two categories and withdraws all naturalization requirements for the third one include: 1) Applicants who meet one of the following criteria: a) have at least one parent who is a Kyrgyz national and resides on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic; b) was born in the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic and held the nationality of the former USSR; c) are restoring their nationality of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2) Ethnic Kyrgyz who are nationals or residents of a foreign state. Applicants under these two categories should have legitimate sources of income and must commit to respecting the constitution and laws of the Kyrgyz Republic (14. 1 and 14.4). 3) Applicants in this category are granted a waiver from all requirements of naturalization under the ordinary procedure, are generally children whose: (I) one parent that is a Kyrgyz citizen (a formal application by such a parent and the written consent of the other parent for acquisition of the country’s nationality by the child is required when the child resides outside of the Kyrgyz Republic); or (II) only parent is a Kyrgyz citizen (formal application of the parent is required); or 15 The law indicates that “continuous” should be interpreted as not being absent from the country for more than three months of one year. Small Changes ‫ ـ‬Big Gains: An Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic 66