PRACTICAL GUIDE ON NATIONALITY certificate (with mention of the place of birth) combined with COI confirming that the country applies unrestricted jus soli. In most cases, birth certificates alone are not sufficient to establish nationality and need to be combined with other elements. For example, when domestic law sets out that nationality is transferred through the father, the applicant’s birth certificate bearing information on the identity of the father, along with the father’s proof of nationality (e.g. passport or consular certificate), may suffice to substantiate the applicant’s nationality. Citizenship or nationality certificates Citizenship or nationality certificates are documents issued by the state to certify that the person who is identified in the certificate holds the nationality of that state. Such certificates include the name and surname of the person, their date and place of birth. They may include other identification elements, such as a photograph of the person, the name of their parents (and their own identification data) and the way nationality was acquired. The presence of a picture of the applicant on the certificate will strengthen its probative value as you will be able to make a clear connection between the document and the applicant. The date of issue is also included. The validity of nationality certificates may be limited in time (e.g. 6 months). Indeed, unlike a birth certificate, which certifies an immutable one-off event, a certificate of nationality can only certify a factual state at the time when it was established. However, even an ‘expired’ nationality certificate may give you a strong indication as to the (previous) nationality of the applicant. As for all documents, keep in mind the circumstances and conditions under which nationality certificates may be issued by national authorities. There may be some limitations, for example, some countries only issue such certificates for nationals who were born abroad. Residency cards and permits Residency cards and permits are issued by the state to help identify that a person is legally staying on its national territory, often for a longer period of time. Residency does not equal nationality. It is not the case that because someone has legally resided in a particular country for a prolonged period, or even their whole life, that it can be presumed that they have acquired the nationality of that country. Residency cards often mention the nationality of the holder, which is an indication of the applicant’s nationality but not evidence of the fact. However, legal residency in a country is an important element to consider in the case of stateless applicants to determine the country of habitual residence or in the context of a safe third country assessment. 51