Table 4: Right to acquire citizenship as an adult by naturalisation
Residence
Language / cultural Character
Country
Renounce
other
nationalities
Other *
Legal provision
period
requirements
3 yrs
none for
husband
or if born
in Benin
10 yrs /
2 yrs if
born in BF
”sufficient knowledge” of
Beninois language or
French; assimilation into
Beninois community
Good conduct and
morals; no
convictions of
more than a year
of imprisonment.
Good physical and mental health; no conditions if
important services or interest for Benin
L1965Arts33-36, 56
-
Good mental health; period reduced to 2 years if
important services, or none if exceptional
circumstances
L1989Arts165-170,
195-196
Cape Verde
5 yrs
-
Show means of subsistence; no period of
residence if sizable investment
L1990Art12
L1993Art12-13, 21-25
Côte d’Ivoire
5 yrs / 2
yrs if born
in CI
15 yrs
6 yrs
-
Good conduct and
morals; no
convictions for
more than one
year of
imprisonment
of good moral and
civic repute
(idoneidade):
produce police
report
Good conduct and
morals.
Good physical and mental health; period reduced
to 2 yrs if important services; immediate if
“exceptional services”
L1961(2013)Arts2532, Art 68, 72
Capable of supporting self and dependents
“Capable of making a substantial contribution to
progress or advancement in any area of national
activity.”
C1996(2001)Art12
C1992Art9
L2000Art14
Good physical and mental health; period reduced
to 2 years if born in Guinea or “important services”
rendered; immediate if exceptional services or
interest.
L1988Arts62,72,73,74,
78,79
immediate if services rendered to the Guinean
people before or after the liberation struggle or for
Guinea’s development
Residence period may be waived by president
L1992Art9
Benin
Burkina Faso
Gambia ‼
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Liberia ~
5 yrs /
2 yrs for
husband
or if born
in Guinea
10 yrs
2 yrs
Speak and understand
an indigenous
language; Assimilated
into Ghanaian way of
life
-
Basic knowledge of and
identification with
Guinea-Bissau’s culture
“No person shall be
naturalised unless he is
a Negro or of Negro
descent”
Good character
Good character
attested by two
Ghanaian lawyers,
senior office
holders or notaries
public; no
convictions
Good conduct and
morals; no
convictions
Yes
Good conduct and
civic probity
Yes
Good moral
character and
attached to
principles of
Liberian
Yes
24
L1973Art21.1