NATURALIZATION, the act of placing an alien in the position, or investing hint with the rights, of a natural-horn citizen. The present arrangements with reference to natu ralization, by which the old rule .that British allegiance is indelible, has been changed, are embo.lied in the naturalization act (1870). 33 c. 14, and the naturalization oath act (1870), 3 end 34 Viet. c. 102. Br the former of these statutes it is provided that an alien who has resided in the United Kingdom for a term of not less five years. or has been in the service of the crown for a term of not less than five years, and intends, when naturalized. either to reside in the United Kingdom or to serve under the crown, may apply to one of her majesty's principal secretaries of state for a certificate of naturaliza tion. The applicant is bound to adduce such evidence of his residence, or service, and iutention to reside, or serve. as shall satisfy the secretary of state, who may, with or without reason assigned. give or withhold a certificate. I\ o appeal lies from his decision, bat his certificate takes no effect until the applicant has taken the oath of allegiance. Au alien, to whom a certificate of naturalization has been granted, is entitled to all political and other rights, powers, and privileges; and subject to all obligations to which a natural-born subject is entitled or subject in the United Kingdom,with this qualification. that he, when within the limits of the foreign state of which he was previously a sub ject, is not deemed a British subject. unless he has ceased to be a subject of the foreign state by the laws thereof, or by a treaty to that effect. Such a certificate may be granted to any person with respect to whose British nationality a doubt exists; and a grant of such special certificate for the purpose•of quieting doubts shall not be deemed an admis sion that the person to whom it was not previously a British subject. Aliens previously naturalized may, on application, obtain certificates. A British subject who has become an alien, in pursuance of this act (see .A.t.tEx), may apply for a certificate of readmission to British nationality on the same conditions as an alien by birth. The sec
retary of state has, in this case, the same discretion: and an oath of allegiance is likewise required. The privilege of readmission, like that of admission to British nationality, requires that the recipient shall have ceased to be a subject of the foreign state. In the colonies the powers of the secretary of state are conferred on the governor. By the oaths' naturalization act, 33 and 34 Viet. c. 132, any person making or subscribinga false declaration is declared to be guilty of a misdemeanor.
In France, "la grande naturalization" confers political privileges; "la petite naturali zation." rives all the private rights of a French citizen;and it has been doubted whether even public rights are not included in it. In 1867 the term of residence was reduced from ten years to three. A subject of France loses his native character by naturalization in a foreign country, or acceptance of office abroad without permission of the state, or even by establishing hiMself permanently out. of his country. Ile may recover his rights by renunciation of his foreign office or domicile.
In Prussia the higher administrative authorities can naturalize ally stranger who satis • fies them as to his conduct and means of subsistence. Nomination to a public office eon fers naturalization. Prussian nationality is lost—(a) by discharge upon the subject's request; (b) by sentence of the emej)etent (e) by living ten years in a foteign country; (d) by marriage of a female subject with a foreigner.
In Austria the authorities may confer the rights of citizenship on a pen on, after ten rears' residence within the empire, who has been allowed to exercise a profesaion. A public functionary becomes thereby invested with rights of citizenship; but admission 1010 the army has not this effect.—In the Idngdom of the Netherlands, the power of naturalizing rests in the.cro•n.—In Russia naturalization is effected by taking an oath of allegiance to the emperor.
In the American states five years' residence, and a declaration of intention to become a citizen. emitted before a magistrate, is requisite to naturalization. See Rpwt of lloyol Contiaimionera Ole Xaturalizativn (1809).