Exploring the Interface Between Birth Registration and Citizenship Determination: A Scoping Study in Seven Countries in Southern Africa residents; citizenship and immigration status is typically indicated on the ID card. Thus, obtaining such an ID credential also requires a citizenship determination. While the facts captured in the birth registration record have always been critical to this confirmation or determination of a person’s citizenship later in life, traditionally a formal citizenship determination is not made at birth. In recent years, as countries have linked their civil registration and identity systems, a trend has emerged whereby citizenship has been determined as part of the birth registration process, effectively “intertwining”2 these processes, even though civil registration authorities in most cases are lacking a formal legal mandate to do so. This practice of intertwining birth registration and citizenship determination—and the countries’ rationales for doing so—have largely remained undocumented and poorly understood. This analysis provides examples of this practice in seven countries in Southern Africa. The paper describes findings from an analysis of the nexus between civil registration and citizenship systems in the selected countries. The purpose was to understand current trends in national laws, policies and country practices on citizenship determination undertaken as part of the birth registration process. This paper explores and documents the emerging practices where civil registration authorities determine citizenship as part of the birth registration process. The paper goes on to examine the rationales and consequences of these practices and suggests ways forward, including questions that require further exploration by the international community. The findings described in this paper can provide insights for government officials and policymakers about policies and practices related to civil registration, identity management and decisions regarding citizenship. The target audience of this paper includes international development organizations that support and provide guidance on improving civil registration and identity management systems, as well as international organizations focused on eliminating statelessness. 6