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SUMMARY

- International agreements
- Internal law
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The aim of this text is to set out the means by which Monegasque nationality is acquired or lost, in particular the rules that apply to naturalisation, as the Minister of State is required to give his opinion on naturalisation requests.


International agreements

- The Principality ratified The Hague convention of 12 April 1930 relating to conflicts of Law about nationality.

- A declaration relating to naturalisation and reintegration issues was signed with the French Authorities on 16 June 1947.

- Letters were exchanged between the French government and the Monegasque government on 25 March 1954 concerning the acquisition of Monegasque nationality by choice.


Internal law

1) The constitution of 17 December 1962 (revised by Law n° 1.249 of 2 April 2002)

- Article 18 of the Constitution states :

"The law regulates the means of acquiring nationality. The law regulates the conditions under which nationality acquired through naturalisation can be withdrawn.

The loss of Monegasque nationality in all other cases can only be foreseen by law in the case of voluntary acquisition of another nationality or service carried out illegitimately in a foreign army."

- Article 15 of the Constitution states :

"Following consultation with the Council of the Crown, the Prince exercises (…) the right of naturalisation and reintegration in the nationality."

2) Law n° 1.155 of 18 December 1992 relating to nationality

The passing of Law n° 1.155 of 18 December 1992 relating to nationality revised the entire subject and brought about two notable changes concerning :

- the handing down of Monegasque nationality by maternal filiation for women of Monegasque ancestry.
- the acquisition of Monegasque nationality through marriage.

3) Law n° 1.276 of 22 December 2003 modifying Law n° 1.155

The passing of this law established the handing down of Monegasque nationality by women who become Monegasque by naturalisation or option (excluding women who are Monegasque through marriage).

4) Law n° 1.296 of 12 May 2005 relating to tranmission of monegasque's nationality by mothers

The passing of this Law grant Monegasque nationality, by option and upon certain conditions, to the descendants of women who acquired this allegiance between 1952 and 1959 within the context of the clauses of article 3 of Law n° 572 of 18 November 1952 known as the "three generations" law, which allowed numerous children to acquire Monegasque nationality by declaration when they could prove that their family was native of Monaco for three generations and that they were themselves resident.