A/HRC/4/24
page 16
86.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conditions for the application for citizenship include: a
person being aged 18 years and over; a person having resided in the territory of Bosnia and
Herzegovina for at least eight years before submitting the request; knowledge of one of the
languages spoken in the territory; that he/she was not the object of the security measure of
expulsion of a foreigner from a country or of the protective measure of removing an alien
foreigner from the territory; that he/she was not sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a
premeditated criminal act for longer than three years within the eight years of submitting a
request; the renouncement of his/her former citizenship upon acquisition of Bosnia and
Herzegovina citizenship unless there is a bilateral agreement with the alien’s State of origin. In
the case of marriage with a foreign spouse, citizenship may be acquired by the foreign spouse if
the marriage lasts at least five years; he/she renounces the former citizenship unless there is a
bilateral agreement with the country of origin and that he/she has been a permanent resident of
Bosnia and Herzegovina for at least three years.
87.
In Canada, permanent residents who submit an application and meet the eligibility
criteria provided in the Citizenship Act (1977) will be granted Canadian citizenship. To become
a Canadian citizen, an applicant must be a permanent resident of Canada; have lived in Canada
for at least three years; be at least 18 years of age; able to communicate in one of the official
languages (English or French); demonstrate knowledge of Canada and the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship.
88.
Costa Rica also requires proving good behaviour. In addition, the person is required to
have knowledge of the history of the Republic, and to make a promise to reside in the national
territory on a regular basis and to respect the constitutional order.
89.
In Greece there exists a differentiation made by law between those persons who have
Greek origin and those who do not. The conditions for a foreigner to be granted Hellenic
nationality are: (a) have reached 18 years of age; (b) he/she must not have been convicted,
during the last decade before the submission of the naturalization application, to a sentence of
deprivation of freedom for at least one year; and (c) a decision of deportation should not be
pending against him/her. However, for a foreigner not having Greek origin, it is also necessary
to: (a) have resided legally and permanently in Greece for 10 of the last 12 years before the
submission of the naturalization application; (b) have sufficient knowledge of the Greek
language, Hellenic history and civilization in general; and (c) have a deposit of €1,467.35.
Foreigners of Greek origin are not obliged to pay the deposit.
90.
Japan requires, among other conditions, that: (a) he or she has lived in Japan for
five years or more consecutively; (b) he or she is 20 years of age or more and of full capacity
according to the law of his or her home country; and (c) he or she is of upright character.
91.
In Malta, it is necessary to have satisfied a minimum five-year residence requirement. In
Singapore, good character is required, to be over 21 years old, and to have resided in Singapore
for at least 12 months. Non-citizens who are successful in their application to become a
Singapore citizen must take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty before they are
registered as a citizen of Singapore.
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