In a recent Facebook post, Ivorian MP Naya Jarvis Zamble clarified the new, strict conditions for obtaining Ivorian nationality through marriage, resulting from the latest legislative reform.
“Brother, I married an Ivorian woman, so I’m Ivorian now!” This statement, commonly heard in everyday conversation, is now obsolete, the MP asserts, noting that this automatic process is no longer in effect.
She points out that since April 24, 2024 – the date Law No. 2024-236 amending the Nationality Code came into force – marriage to an Ivorian citizen no longer results in the automatic acquisition of citizenship.
The MP emphasises that this reform aims to ensure the genuineness of unions and protect the integrity of the national identity.
The process for obtaining nationality is now subject to specific criteria regarding the duration of the marriage and cohabitation.
“From now on, a foreign national married to an Ivorian must, in principle, wait five years before applying for Ivorian nationality, provided the couple is still living together and the Ivorian spouse
has retained their nationality,” she notes.
She adds that “this period may be extended to six years if the foreign spouse has not lived in Côte d’Ivoire continuously for at least four years following the marriage. However, the law allows for the period to be reduced to three years if the couple has at least two children together.”
The reform also stipulates that Ivorian nationality acquired through marriage may be revoked if the marriage that served as the basis for obtaining it is annulled by the courts, notes Ivorian MP Naya Jarvis Zamble.
On the other hand, children’s rights are better protected, as they can automatically acquire Ivorian nationality when one of their parents becomes an Ivorian national, in accordance with legal provisions, she adds.
Naya Jarvis Zamble takes a particularly firm stance on the security aspects of the law: no fraud is tolerated.
Attempts to acquire nationality through false declarations or forged documents carry heavy criminal penalties.
“Nationality is not obtained simply by saying *I do* before a civil registrar. It also relies on the sincerity of the union, respect for the law, and a genuine commitment to a shared life,” the MP concludes, highlighting the importance of raising public awareness about these rules in order to build a just nation.
AP/Sf/fss/as/APA