PICA Corner - How do I renounce my citizenship?

I am about to gain my citizenship from a country that does not recognise dual citizenship. As such, I have to renounce my Jamaican citizenship.

Advise me what I need to do to renounce my citizenship. Can I apply for unconditional landing status after renunciation?

Renunciation of citizenship is a voluntary act to surrender one's claim and rights to a particular nationality and becomes necessary when the act of obtaining citizenship in one country precludes a person from having citizenship in another.

Some territories, however, do recognise dual citizenship and will allow persons to obtain citizenship in their country while retaining their own nationality.

Jamaican nationals who have been guaranteed or granted citizenship from another country, on condition that they renounce their current nationality, may submit a request for the registration of a declaration of renunciation of Jamaican citizenship.

This is in accordance with the provision of Section 7, the Jamaican Nationality Act, which states: "Any adult Jamaican of sound mind, who is a citizen or is guaranteed citizenship of another country, may submit a request for the registration of a declaration of renunciation of Jamaican citizenship in the manner prescribed."

Procedure for application

The prescribed form - the declaration of renunciation of Jamaican citizenship - may be obtained through the various Jamaican missions or the website of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) at www.pica.gov.jm. The declaration should be completed in triplicate and submitted along with a birth certificate and Jamaican passport:

Evidence of other nationality, or proof that you will be granted citizenship of another country, if renunciation is granted. (This is important in ensuring that the applicant is not rendered stateless once he/she has relinquished citizenship).

Two passport-size photographs certified by a justice of the peace, notary public, or a consular officer in the Jamaican consulate;

A fee of the equivalent of J$50,000 for applications submitted locally, US$1,000, CDN$1,100, €700 for applications submitted to the Jamaican High Commission worldwide.

Completed requests may be submitted to PICA at 25C Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10. If you reside overseas, requests may be submitted through the nearest Jamaican high commission, embassy or consulate, as prospective applicants normally reside in the country in which the present nationality is being sought or was granted. All supporting documents written in a foreign language should be accompanied by a certified translation.

You cease to be a Jamaican on the date the declaration is registered and will, therefore, no longer be able to hold a Jamaican passport. You will be subjected to the immigration requirements pertaining to non-Jamaicans and will not be eligible for unconditional landing. Typically, unconditional landing is granted to Jamaicans travelling on a foreign passport or to persons of Jamaican heritage. It allows them to travel to and from the island without having to meet the immigration requirements that are imposed on non-Jamaicans. As you are seeking to renounce your Jamaican citizenship, this option will not be open to you.

I currently live in Nigeria, though I was born in England to a Jamaican father and a non-Jamaican mother. I wish to claim Jamaican citizenship for myself and my three children. My birth certificate lists my father as 'Unknown'; unfortunately, I have no other record to substantiate my relation to him.

My paternal grandmother, who lived in Jamaica, has since passed away, and I'm able to locate relatives who can attest to my relation to my father. Would I be able to pursue a claim to Jamaican citizenship on the basis of descent?

An applicant qualifies for Jamaican citizenship once lineage can be clearly established. In the case you have outlined, it will be almost impossible to determine the Jamaican link if the applicant's Jamaican parent's name is not on the birth certificate. In addition, without a Jamaican birth certificate proving that the parent belongs to Jamaica, a claim cannot be satisfactorily established. Unfortunately, statements from relatives and friends are not sufficient to make a case.

You did not state whether your father was still alive. However, you may make contact with the Registrar General's Department in Jamaica to obtain records for your father and, at the same time, add his name to your birth certificate. Once this is done, an application can be made to our offices for Jamaican citizenship.

PICA Corner is a collaboration between The Gleaner and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency. Send questions, comments and suggestions to editor@gleanerjm.com and PICA will respond.