HC Deb 09 February 1978 vol 943 cc642-3W
Mr. Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the EEC allow the right of abode and the right of nationality to a woman who marries a national of the country.

Mr. Judd

Detailed information on how the immigration regulations of other EEC member States are applied to aliens who marry citizens of those States is not easily available.

Right of abode is a new concept in this country, introduced by the Immigration Act 1971, and has no equivalent in any other EEC member State.

The position as regards the right of alien women who marry citizens of another member State to acquire the citizenship of that State is understood to be as follows:

  • Belgium—Citizenship acquired automatically by marriage.
  • Denmark—Naturalisation required.
  • France,—Entitlement to acquire citizenship by declaration, but citizenship not automatically acquired by marriage.
  • Federal Republic of Germany—Naturalisation required.
  • Republic of Ireland—Naturalisation required.
  • Italy—Citizenship automatically acquired by marriage.
  • Luxembourg—Nationalisation required.
  • Netherlands—Application to acquire citizenship necessary, but citizenship not automatically acquired by marriage.

Mr. Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the EEC allow the right of abode and the right of nationality to a man who marries a national of the country.

Mr. Judd

Detailed information on how the immigration regulations of other EEC member States are applied to aliens who marry citizens of those States is not easily available.

Right of abode is a new concept in this country introduced by the Immigration Act 1971, and has no equivalent in any other EEC member State.

The position as regards the right of alien men who marry citizens of another member state to acquire the citizenship of that state is understood to be as follows:

  • Belgium. Naturalisation necessary.
  • Denmark. Naturalisation necessary.
  • France. Entitlement to acquire citizenship by declaration, but citizenship not automatically acquired by marriage.
  • Federal Republic of Germany. Naturalisation necessary.
  • Republic of Ireland. Naturalisation necessary.
  • Italy. Naturalisation necessary.
  • Luxembourg. Naturalisation necessary.
  • Netherlands. Naturalisation necessary.