(3 minutes read)
The Seychelles National Assembly approved a proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, which seeks to make adjustments to the conditions required for gaining Seychellois citizenship by naturalisation and registration. Twenty-two members voted for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2023, presented by Errol Fonseka, the Minister for Internal Affairs.
Citizenship is a privilege and Seychellois citizenship with all the benefits it brings such as voting rights, free healthcare and education, government land, and a holder of a very strong passport ranked number one in Africa with free entry visas in various countries. The reality of a globalised world and to respond to a call for more transparency and prepare Seychelles to better benefit from opportunities that the new century promises the country is making propositions to amend the Citizenship Act, stated the Minister while presenting the proposal and noted that such revision of the Citizenship Act since at the adoption of the Constitution of the Third Republic was done in 2013.
The registration for citizenship under 5 (1) of the new provisions demands that people who have given exceptional service or made commendable actions will have the possibility of becoming a Seychellois citizen. This will be done through the recommendation that the Citizenship Committee will submit to the President. Fonseka said that the President, however, always has the veto right to reject the recommendation.
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A major change to the Citizenship Act under 5 (1) is that the President will no longer have the discretionary power to give Seychellois citizenship under this provision.
Since October 2020, no foreigners have received Seychellois citizenship under 5 (1) and with the amendment being proposed only the committee will have the right to do it, Fonseka stressed. Additionally, the new conditions that were added to the Act in 2013 under special criteria to allow students, investors, and priority workers to get Seychellois citizenship will be abolished. Fonseka said a new provision will be made under section 5 (3).
