Ali and Cochrane Comparative Migration Studies (2024) 12:16 citizenship through a process of application to the emir, whereas prior legislation limited naturalization to the discretion of the Emir. According to the amended citizenship law (Law No. 38 of 2005), foreign nationals may be eligible for Qatari nationality if they have resided in Qatar for at least 25 years and have demonstrated good conduct and behavior. They must also have a valid legal status in the country, a means of supporting themselves and their families, and knowledge of the Arabic language. Individuals with a naturalized father are also classified as naturalized and these legal revisions provide limits to the number of total people naturalized annually, limiting to fifty (Al Meezan, 2023; Middle East Forumm, 2023). The law also sets out certain restrictions on dual nationality, and requires applicants to renounce their previous nationality as a condition of acquiring Qatari nationality. Qatar’s citizenship laws are highly guarded and exclusionary, with strict conditions for acquiring Qatari nationality. Article 38, which concerns the determination of original Qatari nationality, places a challenging requirement of evidence to show continuous residency between 1930 and 1961. Proving one’s Qatari origins is ambiguous and places a significant burden on applicants (Babar, 2014). Qatar’s nationality law creates distinctions between different levels of citizenship, with native or original Qataris having more rights than those who acquire citizenship through naturalization (Babar, 2014), which differentiates how citizens can engage with the government and gain access to goods and services provided by it. There remain legal differences for those classified as naturalized citizens, which includes inequalities of benefits as well as political participation. The children of naturalized citizens inherit this status, creating two distinct tiers of citizens. Those who have been naturalized also face the risk of having their nationality revoked, as per the 2005 Act, under circumstances such as providing false information during the application process or being convicted of a crime (Babar, 2014, p. 415). Also, Qatari women do not have an inherent right to pass their nationality onto their children under the current nationality law. The original law from 1961 did not allow for citizenship to be passed to the children of female citizens who married non-citizens. However, the 2005 law alters the previous legislation, as it permits such children to seek citizenship via the naturalization process (with the same eligibility criteria set in Article 2). However, it is not the case the children in such cases are treated as expatriates. In fact, minor children can get documents for travel, and to an extent are treated as citizens, such as in the provision of services (education, healthcare, and some employment advantages). They also get priority towards acquiring Qatari nationality. In terms of residency, Qatar introduced a new residency scheme called the “Permanent Residency Permit” program. The Qatari Permanent Residency Law No.10 of 2018 allows non-Qataris to obtain permanent residency if they meet certain criteria. This includes a minimum of 20 years of residence for non-national applicants who are born outside the country, and 10 years for those born in the country, a legitimate means of earning a living, good behavior with no previous convictions, and a good knowledge of the Arabic language (Hukoomi, 2021). Permanent residency holders in Qatar have access to public health and education services, and are allowed to purchase leasehold and freehold real estate properties for investment and residential purposes. Such individuals also gain the right to start companies and/or invest in sectors of the economy that would otherwise require a citizen partner (Hukoomi, 2021). The government of Qatar has made changes Page 9 of 17