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In depth
The oath of allegiance is the formal declaration of loyalty to a state that a new citizen makes as the final step in acquiring citizenship. The wording varies by country but typically includes pledges of loyalty, obedience to the constitution, and renunciation of foreign allegiances (where required).
Some CBD regimes require an oath (Canada, US naturalization, Germany for naturalized citizens), while others do not (Italy, Ireland, Poland for confirmed citizens).
The oath ceremony is typically held at a consulate (for citizens abroad) or a courthouse (for in-country naturalization). After the oath, the new citizen applies for a passport, which is typically issued within 4-8 weeks.
Related terms
Naturalization is the legal process by which a non-citizen acquires the citizenship of a country, typically after meeting residency, language, and integration requirements.
Citizenship by descent (CBD) is the legal right to acquire a country's citizenship through one's ancestors — typically a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent — without being born in that country, based on the principle of jus sanguinis.
Jus sanguinis (Latin for 'right of blood') is the principle that grants citizenship based on the citizenship of one's parents or ancestors, regardless of where one is born.
Jus soli (Latin for 'right of the soil') grants citizenship based on being born in the territory of the state, regardless of the parents' citizenship.
Dual citizenship (also called multiple citizenship) is the status of being a citizen of two or more countries simultaneously, with the rights and obligations of each.
Denaturalization is the legal revocation of a person's citizenship, typically on grounds of fraud, disloyalty, or — historically — persecution.