The five paths
Law 114/2000 identifies the cases in which citizenship is acquired by descent. Children, both natural and adopted, of two Sammarinese parents are citizens from birth. Citizens by descent also include children of a Sammarinese mother who file a request within six months of reaching the age of majority.
For those with only one Sammarinese parent and the other holding a different citizenship, descent does not apply automatically: a declaration is required at the Civil Status Office or at the diplomatic authority within one year of turning 18. Citizens by descent are also the children of one Sammarinese parent and one stateless or unknown parent, in addition to all those born in the territory of the Republic to stateless or unknown parents.
For adult children of a Sammarinese citizen born abroad, access to citizenship by descent requires ten consecutive years of residence in the territory of the Republic. Citizenship acquired in this way can be transmitted to minor children on the condition that they reside with the parent.
«Sammarinese citizenship has family and territorial roots. Law 114/2000 codifies both, with precise thresholds for each case.»
Granted by the Great and General Council
Citizenship by naturalisation is granted by the Great and General Council through extraordinary laws approved by a two-thirds majority. The path is reserved for those who renounce other citizenships and are entered in the residents' registers at the time of approval of the law.
The ordinary residence requirement is thirty consecutive years, reduced to fifteen for those married to a Sammarinese citizen. Citizenship is also admitted for those who have a parent or a second-degree ascendant with thirty years of residence and who have lived in the territory of the Republic since birth. Finally, it is provided for the cohabiting minor children of naturalised parents and for stateless persons without convictions exceeding one year for negligent offences.
Those who obtain citizenship by naturalisation take an oath before the Captains Regent and the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs.
Methods and main requirements
| Method | Main requirement | Act |
|---|---|---|
| Descent · both parents Sammarinese | Automatic recognition at birth | Civil Status registration |
| Descent · one Sammarinese parent | Declaration within 1 year of age 18 | Civil Status Office |
| Descent · children of Sammarinese mother | Request within 6 months of age of majority | Application |
| Descent · adult children born abroad | 10 consecutive years of residence | Application |
| Naturalisation · ordinary resident | 30 consecutive years of residence | Council law |
| Naturalisation · spouse of a Sammarinese | 15 consecutive years of residence | Council law |
| Naturalisation · ascendant with 30 years | Residence since birth | Council law |
| Naturalisation · minor child of naturalised | Cohabitation with parents | Council law |
Synthetic outline of the main scenarios provided by Law 114/2000 and subsequent amendments. For normative detail, refer to the Official Gazette and the Civil Status Office.
Voluntary renunciation and false declarations
Article 4 of Law 114/2000 governs voluntary renunciation of citizenship. It is presented at the Civil Status Office or at the diplomatic authority; formal acknowledgement by the Great and General Council follows.
Untruthful declarations or documents produced to obtain, maintain or reacquire citizenship are punished by the Criminal Code, with cancellation from the registers ordered by the criminal judge. Law 38/2016 redefined the requirements for naturalisation and Regulation 15 April 2016 no. 8 lists the certifications and attestations to be produced when filing an application.