Summary:
Becoming a Monégasque citizen requires meeting certain criteria such as residency, parentage, or adoption, and the approval of the Prince Sovereign.
Full Story:
Becoming a Monegasque citizen is not an easy task. In Monaco, neither residence nor birth on the territory guarantees Monegasque nationality. As of 2023, there were approximately 9,200 people who met the essential prerequisites for obtaining this citizenship.
Acquiring Monegasque citizenship is highly sought after for its benefits, such as tax exemptions, guaranteed employment, and reduced housing costs. In 2023, Monaco had 9,179 Monegasque citizens, while the total population reached 38,367 residents of various nationalities. For example, in 2016, 9,286 residents were French, 8,172 were Italian, and 2,795 were British.
Residing in Monaco, even without Monegasque nationality, also offers tax advantages. Any individual, except for those of French nationality, who resides in the Principality is exempt from income tax, capital gains tax, and wealth tax.
In 2022, Monaco had more female citizens than male citizens, with 5,263 Monegasque women and 4,423 men. In 2019, 62.9% of Monegasque citizens were born in the Principality, while 26.5% were born in France. Additionally, 2.4% of Monegasque citizens were born in Italy, 0.8% in the United States, and 0.5% in the United Kingdom.
Residence or birth in Monegasque territory does not grant Monegasque nationality. However, filiation is one of the essential principles for becoming a citizen. A child born to a Monegasque parent automatically obtains Monegasque nationality. Adoption also provides access to Monegasque nationality under the same conditions as a biological child. A child born in Monaco to unknown parents automatically becomes a Monegasque citizen by birthright.
Marriage, on the other hand, does not have immediate effects on the nationality of a non-Monegasque individual. Marrying a Monegasque allows for the acquisition of Monegasque nationality after ten years of marriage, provided that the spouse did not obtain Monegasque nationality through a previous marriage. This waiting period was initially five years until 2011 but was extended to 20 years in 2022.
To become a Monegasque citizen, a person must reside in Monaco for a minimum of ten years after reaching the age of eighteen and then submit a naturalization request to the Sovereign Prince. The naturalization process in Monaco is at the discretion of the Sovereign Prince, who assesses whether the applicant’s character is deserving of this privilege. The applicant must meet two criteria: exemption from military obligations in their country of origin and the renunciation of their previous nationality.
It is also possible to lose Monegasque nationality by acquiring another nationality, voluntarily joining a foreign army, or, in the case of an adopted person, choosing not to accept Monegasque nationality upon reaching adulthood.
Source:
Monaco Tribune
