Whoever claims the Senegalese nationality, obtained following filiation or marriage, must give the proof of such a nationality by issuing a Certificate of Senegalese Nationality.
Those who are born from a father or a mother with the Senegalese nationality inherit from such a nationality of origin, whether or not the birth occurs before the entry into force of the law n° 2013-05 dated on 08 July 2013 that allows the mother to transmit her nationality to her child.
However, producing a Certificate of Nationality is required for anyone who wants to be granted all rights recognized to Senegalese citizens.
Whoever is born abroad, from parents of Senegalese nationality, cannot but justify his or her Senegalese nationality, except by producing a Certificate of Nationality issued by the relevant Court.
Those married to a Senegalese national (male or female), willing to get the Senegalese nationality, must follow the procedure for acquiring the Senegalese nationality, by getting in touch with the Ministry of Justice throught the Embassy. The Ministry will issue a proof of non-renunciation to the Senegalese nationality.
After being delivered such a document, those concerned can request the issuance of a Certificate of Senegalese Nationality from the relevant Court.
Extracts from the Code of Senegalese Nationality
1/. The Senegalese nationality of origin, acquired following the soil rights (1st Article of the law n° 61-70 dated on 07th March 1961 relating to the Senegalese nationality, modified):
The applicant must be born in Senegal from an ascendant of first degree (father or mother), born in Senegal
Documents to submit for acquiring the certificate of nationality
- A request sent to the President of Department Court of the native residence of the applicant
- A literal copy or birth certificate of the applicant, as a proof of the birth in Senegal
- A certificate of residence, as a proof that the applicant resides in the territory of the relevant Court.
2/. The Senegalese nationality acquired by filiation (new article 5)
If the child is not born in Senegal, the Senegalese ID card of the first degree ascendant, even born in Senegal, is not enough for the latter to acquire the Senegalese nationality. It is compulsory for the child to produce a certificate of Senegalese nationality.
Such a document must be presented in an original form or certified by the Clerk of the Court that has issued the certificate.
The original as well as the certified copy must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad.
Documents to submit for acquiring the certificate of nationality
- A request sent to the Ministry of Justice
- Literal copy or birth certificate of the applicant
- Certificate of Senegalese Nationality of the father or mother of the applicant- original or copy certified by the Clerk of the Court that has issued the document. Original as well as certified copy must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad.
- A certificate of residence. For Senegalese national living abroad, the consular ID can replace the certificate of residence. A certified copy of the consular ID can be attached to the request to give evidence that the latter is residing in the jurisdiction of the Embassy. The same applies for telephone, electricity and water invoices.
3/ Acquisition of the Senegalese nationality by marriage (new article 7)
A foreign national woman who marries a Senegalese male and a foreign national man who marries a Senegalese woman can request a Senegalese nationality.
According to article 7, “a foreign national man who marries a Senegalese woman or a foreign national woman who marries a Senegalese man acquire, upon request, the Senegalese nationality, after five years of living together, as from the celebration or noticing of the marriage, and under the condition of non-breaking of the matrimonial link, and the benefit without interruption of the Senegalese nationality by the spouse.
The process of acquiring the Senegalese nationality is as follows:
Step 1: establishment of the certificate of non-renunciation of Senegalese nationality
This step starts at the Embassy during the celebration or the noticing of the marriage.
Documents to submit:
- A request sent to the Minister of Justice, through the Embassy, for the issuance of a certificate of non-renunciation of the Senegalese nationality
- Literal copy of the birth certificate of the applicant
- Literal copy of the birth certificate of the spouse
- Literal copy of the wedding certificate – if the wedding was celebrated overseas, the wedding certificate must be transcribed in the registers of the civil status of the Embassy
- A certificate of nationality of the spouse, in original or a copy certified by the Clerk of the Court that issued it
Such a certificate must also be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of the foreign spouse.
Step 2: establishment of the certificate of nationality
This step occurs five years after the celebration or the noticing of the marriage and following the request sent to the Ministry of Justice for the issuance of the certificate of non-renunciation of the Senegalese nationality.
Documents to submit:
- A request sent to the Ministry of Justice through the Embassy
- Literal copy or birth certificate
- Literal copy of the wedding certificate.
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