Facets of Your Identity

Identity is established by one or more facts.  The most commonly known are parentage and place of birth.  These are permanent facts establishing your identity at birth.  Your identity at birth is based almost exclusively on who your family is and where you were born.

From those two sources, citizenship is usually derived.  Identity is further established by where you live, work, and invest.  See the graphic below which summarizes your key sources of identity.

Your Parentage

Your parents/lineage/genealogy/family tree automatically create your permanent identity at birth.  Who your mother and father are cannot and will not ever change.  Your personal identity in relation to your parents is carved in stone forever.  This also means that your identity within your family’s lineage is also created at this time.  So, depending on your family’s culture, your identity within your family, extended family, clan, tribe, and/or ethnic group are created and set at the moment of your birth.  In time, your identity within the family may evolve based on the addition of new members such as siblings or a spouse.  Nevertheless, you are who you are based on where you are within your lineage, on the family tree.

Your Place of Birth

Like your parentage, your place of birth is part of your permanent identity.  It cannot and will not ever change.  The name of the place may change, borders may shift, but the actual location, remains your place of birth.

Citizenship

Your citizenship is usually dependent on either your parentage or your place of birth.

Parentage usually confers citizenship by virtue of the citizenship of your mother and father.  This is referred to as jus sanguinis (citizenship by right of blood).  Countries that honor citizenship based on blood include India, Kenya, and the United States.

A place of birth can also confer citizenship.  This is referred to as jus soli (citizenship by right of birth within the territory).  Countries that honor citizenship based on place of birth include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and Fiji.  https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-who-offer-birthright-citizenship.html

At birth, you were automatically granted citizenship based on either blood or place of birth, or both.  In some circumstances, it is possible to be granted citizenship based on your mother’s citizenship, and your father’s citizenship if different, and your place of birth if different from the citizenship of your mother and father.  Thus, it is possible at birth to be eligible for citizenship of three countries, simultaneously.  But realistically, most people hold one citizenship at birth, that of their parents, who usually hold the same citizenship.

More information regarding citizenship can be found on the “Citizenship” page.

Additional Sources of Identity

Where you work, live, or invest can shape your identity by either limiting your opportunities or requiring citizenship to pursue them fully.  As a foreign national, you will not have the same rights or privileges as a citizen of that country.  In order to obtain these rights and privileges, you may need to become a citizen by naturalization or claiming citizenship for which you are already eligible.

Employment

If you want to work in a country as a foreign national, you will need a work visa.  Your work visa will be dependent on your employment, your employer’s willingness to sponsor it, and the government’s willingness to issue it and allow it to remain in force. 

Residence

If you want to live in a country for which you are not a citizen, you will be a resident foreign national.  Depending on the country, a resident foreign national (anyone who lives there but is not a citizen of that country) may be restricted in buying land, owning a house, or having the freedom to decide if or when to leave the country.  The decision to depart may be forced by the government should it decide to expel foreigners for some reason.

Investment

Some countries will not allow a foreign national to start a company, invest in the stock market, buy government bonds, or otherwise invest in their countries.