In general, Commonwealth citizens are nationals of the Commonwealth of Nations member countries. This determination is given the legal effect in the citizenship laws of several Commonwealth countries, and Commonwealth citizens may enjoy some privileges in the UK and, more rarely, other member states. Each Commonwealth country determines what special rights, if any, are granted to other Commonwealth citizens. This status is most significant in English law and has little influence in many other Commonwealth countries, such as Australia.
In a British citizenship law, a Commonwealth citizen is a person who is a British citizen, a British Foreign citizen, an English citizen overseas, a British citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a citizen of the country listed in the Schedule 3 of the British National Act 1981 (see below). Under the law, British-protected people are not citizens of the Commonwealth. The list of countries in Schedule 3 at any time may not accurately reflect the actual states within the Commonwealth country at that time. For example, when Fiji abandoned the Commonwealth in 1987 and 1990, its name was not removed from Schedule 3. This may have happened because the British Government at that time wanted to avoid the consequences of the Fijians in Britain suddenly losing the benefits of Commonwealth Citizenship.
In the United Kingdom, Commonwealth citizens (along with Irish citizens and UK-protected people) in law are deemed not to be "foreign" or "foreign", even though protected British people do not have all the civil rights enjoyed by the Commonwealth and Ireland. citizens. This reason has not been brought to other Commonwealth countries - for example, in the case of the High Court of Australia Sue v Hill , other Commonwealth countries are regarded as foreign powers, while in Nolan v Minister of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs , citizens of other Commonwealth kingdoms are considered 'foreigners'. In Britain, Commonwealth and Irish citizens enjoy the same citizenship rights as British citizens:
- the right to vote in all elections (i.e., parliamentary, local, referendum and European elections) as long as they are registered to vote (they must have a valid leave for absence or not require the leave on the date of application their electoral registration).
- the right, unless otherwise disqualified, to run in the election of the Royal Council of England as long as they have unlimited leave to remain or not require to require leave under the 1971 Immigration Act to enter or remain in English.
- is correct, if a colleague or bishop is eligible, to sit in the House of Lords.
- eligibility to hold public office (eg, as judge, judge, minister, police officer, member of the armed forces, etc.).
Commonwealth citizen defects that are not British citizens are few, but in the case of immigration control, it is very important. Commonwealth citizens (including UK citizens who are not British citizens) who have no right of residence are subject to immigration control, including control over the right to work and conduct business. In addition, Commonwealth citizens who are not British citizens can not engage in certain sensitive jobs, for example, at the Office of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth, in intelligence services, and several positions within the armed forces.
Nevertheless, under immigration arrangements of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth citizens enjoy certain advantages:
- Commonwealth citizens born before January 1, 1983 may be due to having parents born in England and the Islands have the right to live there - such people are exempt from all immigration controls.
- Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in England and the Islands are welcome up to five years on this basis, and afterwards are given unlimited leave to remain.
- Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible for a two-year "working vacation". It has been replaced with a more restrictive Mobility Youth Scheme (now open only to young Australians, Canadians, Japanese, New Zealanders, and Monaco).
- Commonwealth citizens, unlike other non-European Economic Residents, may not need to register with the police while living in the UK.
Video Commonwealth citizen
Country applicable under British citizenship law
Countries whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens under Schedule 3 of the English Act of 1981, although such lists may not reflect actual membership in the Commonwealth, are as follows:
1 - No member states of the Commonwealth
For election purposes, all of Cyprus is considered a Commonwealth country; therefore, anyone who holds a Cypriot passport or a North Cyprus passport is considered a Commonwealth citizen (but not a sole Turkish citizen without Cypriot citizenship).
The Gambia abandoned the Commonwealth on 3 October 2013 and was removed from the schedule on 12 November 2015 based on the British Nationality (The Gambia) Order 2015. The newly elected Gambia government in 2017 has stated that it will apply to reunite. Gambia reunited with the Commonwealth on February 8, 2018, after the Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed their application was unanimously approved by the Commonwealth Member State.
The Maldives abandoned the Commonwealth on October 13, 2016 and was removed from the schedule on May 12, 2017 based on The British Nationality (Maldives) Order 2017.
Maps Commonwealth citizen
The privilege of Commonwealth citizens in other countries
Although the rights and privileges (if any) for non-national Commonwealth citizens differ from one country to another, some Commonwealth states give them more privileges than 'foreigners' (ie non-Commonwealth foreign countries), but not rights full privilege enjoyed by its own nationals.
Right to choose
The following Commonwealth states allow citizens of other Commonwealth countries to vote:
- Ã, Antigua and Barbuda. The People's Representative (Amendment) Act (2002) allows citizens of the Commonwealth who have lived in Antigua and Barbuda for at least 3 years to register to vote in the electoral districts where they are staying for at least 1 month.
- Ã, Australia. Australia has removed the status of a British subject with effect from January 26, 1984. However, the subjects of Britain and Commonwealth citizens (excluding South Africans) and Irish citizens who are on the federal voters list on January 25, 1984 may vote. If they leave Australia and their registration has expired, they are still eligible to re-register after they return to Australia.
- Ã, Barbados. Under the Barbados Constitution under Sec. 41A. STAMP. 5, and Representation of the People's Law , CAP. 12, Section 7; Commonwealth citizens are granted the right to vote and run for the selection of Barbados Parliament under prohibited provisions.
- Ã, Belize. Non-Belize Commonwealth citizens who live or have lived for the past 12 months in Belize are eligible to apply for a vote.
- Dominica.
- Ã, Grenada. Commonwealth citizens who have been living in Grenada for 12 consecutive months are eligible to vote.
- Ã, Guyana. Under Article 159 of the Constitution, Commonwealth citizens aged 18 years and over who are "domiciled and resident" in Guyana are eligible to vote.
- Ã, Jamaica. Non-Jamaican Commonwealth citizens may register to vote in all elections as long as they normally live in Jamaica.
- Ã, Malawi. Under Article 77 (2) (a) of the Constitution, all foreign nationals - including citizens of the Commonwealth - who have been living in Malawi for 7 years may register to vote.
- Ã, Mauritius. According to Article 42 (1) of the Constitution, Commonwealth citizens aged 18 years or older on 15 August in the year of registration, and who have been living in Mauritius for at least two years before 1 January in the year of registration or domiciled in Mauritius on 1 January year of registration may choose.
- Ã, New Zealand. All foreign nationals - including Commonwealth citizens - who are permanent residents (ie, have unlimited visas) must register to vote at the address where they reside for at least a month, and may continue to vote in New Zealand election if abroad during their visited New Zealand last year.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Saint Lucia. Commonwealth citizens aged 18 years or older who have lived in Saint Lucia for 7 years and have lived in their electoral district for at least 2 months are entitled to register to vote.
- Ã, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Commonwealth citizens aged 18 years or over who have been living in St Vincent and the Grenadines for at least 12 months and in their constituency for at least 6 months are eligible to vote in that constituency.
- Ã, Trinidad and Tobago. Commonwealth citizens aged 18 years and over who have lived for at least one year in Trinidad and Tobago are eligible to vote.
British Crown Dependencies
All British Crown Dependencies allow citizens from Commonwealth countries to vote:
- Ã, Guernsey. All of them - including Commonwealth citizens - aged 16 and older and who have been ordinary residents in Guernsey for 2 consecutive years (or a total of 5 years at any time) are entitled to register to vote.
- Isle of Man. Everyone - including Commonwealth citizens - aged 16 years and over and who have been ordinary residents of the Isle of Man for the last 12 months are eligible to apply for a vote.
- Ã, Jersey. All persons - including Commonwealth citizens - aged 16 years and over and who have been regular residents in Jersey for 2 consecutive years (or for the past 6 months, and a total of 5 years at any time) shall be entitled to register to vote.
United Kingdom Great Britain
The following Foreign Territories of the United Kingdom allow citizens of Commonwealth countries to vote:
- Ã, Bermuda. The non-registered, commonwealth citizens who registered to vote on May 1, 1976 shall have the right to vote.
- Gibraltar. Commonwealth citizens are entitled to vote in elections for the European Parliament. In addition, Commonwealth citizens who used to live in Gibraltar but have moved elsewhere may register as 'foreign voters' and vote in elections to the European Parliament provided they are on the Voters List in Gibraltar in the last 15 years (15 periods of the year started when they no longer appear in the Voters List, not the date they moved abroad). If they move abroad before the age of 18, they can still qualify for registration as 'foreign voters' in the election to the European Parliament, with a 15 year period calculated from the date the parent/guardian stops appearing on the Voters List in Gibraltar.
- Ã, Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are not members of the Commonwealth because it is the British Foreign Territory and not a sovereign state. Commonwealth citizens who are not British Citizens based on their connections to the Cayman Islands can still vote if on January 31, 1988 they live and on the electoral roll in the Islands, and either have parents born in the Cayman Islands or Usually reside in the Cayman Islands during 7 of 9 years before registration.
Immigration benefits
Some Commonwealth countries offer visa-free access for short visits made by citizens of the Commonwealth. Some Commonwealth countries continue to allow Commonwealth citizens from other countries to become citizens/citizens with registration rather than naturalization with special requirements, for example with shorter residency periods , although this practice has been discontinued in some countries such as New Zealand and Malta.
In March 2013, it was announced by Nigerian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, that visa-free regime is being considered by Commonwealth countries for its members to strengthen trade and investment among member countries. As a prelude to achieving this, the ministerial council is to present a proposal for the exclusion of official and diplomatic passport holders from visa requirements at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGOM, scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The announcement came after a meeting between Ashiru and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in Abuja. At the meeting Ashiru and Sharma discussed proposals to make the Commonwealth more relevant to its citizens worldwide including ways the Commonwealth can ease the free movement in member states, strengthen institutions, improve education, create employment opportunities, facilitate the development and improve people's living standards. citizens throughout the Commonwealth country.
Ashiru said, "We are also discussing the issue of free movement to promote people to people in commonwealth.In the past, Commonwealth passport holders were able to travel in Commonwealth countries easily without having to leave and queue for our visa are now thinking of ways to ensure that we bring back the old tradition of the Commonwealth.Again, the ministerial council has recommended for approval at the next CHOGOM meeting in Colombo, the release of official and diplomatic passports holders in the Commonwealth from visa requirements if they travel within the Commonwealth. "
When approved, he said, other categories of professionals and employers would be recommended for the same rights.
More rights
- The right to work in any position (including public servants) in some cases, except for certain specific positions (eg defense, Governor-General or President, Prime Minister).
- Eligibility to serve in the armed forces of certain countries.
- Eligibility for Commonwealth Scholarships.
Consular help
In a foreign country (ie a non-Commonwealth country), the British embassy or consulate is traditionally responsible for a Commonwealth citizen whose government is not represented in the country concerned. Some Commonwealth governments have made alternative arrangements for sharing burdens, such as the Canada-Australia Consular Service Delivery Agreement, then for Canadian and Australian citizens, the British embassy or consulate only provides assistance if the two countries are not represented. In return, there are some Australian consulates who are responsible for British citizens because there is no British consulate there. Some Commonwealth governments, such as Singapore and Tanzania, have chosen not to accept consular assistance from the United Kingdom.
In other Commonwealth countries, the British High Commission does not accept responsibility for unrepresented Commonwealth citizens, who must look to the Commonwealth's host government for quasi-consular assistance. Canadians and Australians can still seek consular assistance from their respective high commissions. In addition, Canadians may seek consular assistance at any British embassy or high commission where Canada is not represented.
Commonwealth citizen travel document
Commonwealth citizens outside the UK are eligible to apply for British emergency travel documents if they need to travel immediately and their passports are lost/stolen/expired (as long as the FCO has settled this with the Commonwealth citizens' country of origin).
When a British embassy or consulate in a foreign country is required to provide a replacement passport to a citizen of the Commonwealth whose government is not represented in that country, he will issue a British passport with the nationality of the holder marked as "Commonwealth citizen".
Some Commonwealth governments issue travel documents to Commonwealth citizens living in their country who can not obtain a national passport. For example, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues a Documents of Identity (DOI) for compassionate reasons to Commonwealth citizens living in Australia who are unable to obtain valid travel documents for the country or countries where they have citizenship when he/she must travel immediately.
See also
- High Commissioner (High Commissioner)
- British citizenship law
- English Subject
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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