Citizenship Subdivision
Citizenship application has become a streamlined process since
the Naoero Citizenship Act 2017 was introduced. However, it was not
always the case. The obvious change that came from the 2017 Act was
made to remove any controversial issues that might be considered
discriminatory.
Pre-2017, a non-Nauruan man married to a Nauruan woman is
required to stay within the marriage for a period of 10 years
before he is eligible to apply for citizenship. The disadvantage
was that a husband found it difficult to be employed in order to
help support his wife and family. However, a non-Nauruan woman
married to a Nauruan man, is granted instant citizenship.
The 2017 Act has motivated a more transparent citizenship
process and promotes gender equality whereby the requirement
is 7 years of continuous marriage for both.
There are several possible grounds of application under the Act:
citizenship by birth, citizenship by birth in the Republic and
residency, citizenship by descent, citizenship by marriage,
citizenship by adoption and citizenship of minors.
Adoption Subdivision
The function of the Adoption Subdivision is mandated under the
Adoption of Children Act 1965.
Adoption applications are initially received by the Family Court
whose responsibility is to oversee that all necessary documentation
are attached and the form is appropriately filled out by the
relevant parties to the adoption application. The Court will then
submit applications to the DJBC where the paralegal and assisting
officers are charged with preparing the cover letter and Cabinet
Submissions. After completion, these documents along with the
adoption application will be submitted to the Minister for Justice
and Border Control to present in the Cabinet. Ultimately, the
Cabinet decides whether to consent to the adoption proceeding and
not appear at the adoption hearing OR oppose the adoption
application and appear at the adoption hearing to make submissions
regarding the opposition.
There were 14 applications processed by the Division.
Our Team
| Position |
Name |
| Paralegal (Citizenship, Adoption, Trust and Seabed |
Wylie Detenamo |
| Assisting Officer |
Camelia Renzo |
| Assisting Officer |
Kayla Akua |
Objectives
- Facilitate the process for persons who apply for Nauruan
citizenship, adoption of children pursuant to the Naoero
Citizenship Act, 2017 and the Adoption of Children Act 1965,
respectively.
Motivation
Without nationality, there is no identity, without that there is
no recognition.
Strategic Plan Priority Area 4: Cost Cutting
Sectors
Cross-Goal 1
Strengthen Parliament, audit, justice, law, order and border
control.
Achievements
The ultimate achievement of the Citizenship and Adoption
Division is the establishment of an up to date archive
register.
The register will ensure accuracy of records which will protect
those who have been granted citizenship from deportation as well as
provide certain benefits such as family reunification, eligibility
for public service employment, freedom to travel as a Nauruan
citizen and derivative citizenship of children to be recognised as
Nauruans when their parent or parents become citizens.
Such a register is also crucial for the Adoption Subdivision as
information storage for adopted children for future reference and
auditing purposes.
Maintaining an efficient archival system guarantees
accessibility of records for users of such data and information
with the likes of the election committee in updating the election
rolls for the purpose of voting and candidacy; the Department of
Social Services in providing social welfare benefits to appropriate
persons for disability pensions, elderly pensions student
assistance funds and the Department of Education in the selection
of scholarship awardees.
In the context of Nauru, adoption often occurs within families
as a gesture of assisting couples who are unable to have children
on their own. It is seldom done for reasons that a parent is unable
to raise a child. Thus in the past the realisation of formal
adoption was not recognised by Nauruan families as essential as it
occurred between family members. However, with the rising legal
issues of inheritance that adopted children face today, evident by
significant number of relative court cases, families are beginning
to realise the importance of legal adoption and are taking the
necessary actions to secure the future of their children.
Way Forward
In the new annual year, the Division will:
- promote and conduct training and awareness on citizenship
rights and responsibilities;
- improve on its record keeping;
- work on transitioning from a paper based environment to a
digital environment; and
- improve data accessibility , information sharing and workload
management capabilities.