CITIZENSHIP AND ADOPTION DIVISION
Adoption is loving family
WHAT WE DO
The Citizenship and Adoption Division continues to maintain an up to date archive of citizens and adoption decisions.
An updated 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.
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 data and information users such as the election committee in updating the election rolls for the purpose of voting and candidacy; the Department of Women and Social Development Affairs 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.
The Citizenship and Adoption Division was established under Section 11A of the Public Service Act 2016 and the creation of this Division was published in the Gazette on 14th May 2021.
CITIZENSHIP SUBDIVISION
The Naoero Citizenship Act 2017 mandates the function of the Citizenship Subdivision.
An application for Nauruan citizenship is received by the officers of the Subdivision who are responsible for ensuring that the required documents and information are properly filled out and submitted by the applicant. The applicant must pay the prescribed fee.
The officers of the Subdivision are responsible for drafting memoranda and Cabinet Submissions for consideration by the Secretary.
The citizenship application will be presented to the Cabinet by the Minister for Justice.
The applicant is advised by the Secretary to Cabinet on the decisions by the Cabinet.
ADOPTION SUBDIVISION
The Adoption of Children Act 1965 mandates the function of the Adoption Subdivision.
- An adoption application is initially received by the Family Court (the ‘Court’), which is authorised under Section 6 of the Family Court Act 1973 to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authorities conferred on it by the Adoption of Children Act 1965.
- Section 12 of the Adoption of Children Act 1965 requires the Cabinet to be served with a copy of the adoption application and a notice containing particulars of the date fixed for hearing the application.
- The Court is responsible for ensuring that the required documents and information are properly filled out by the relevant parties.
- The Court will then submit the applications to the Secretary for Justice, where officers of the Subdivision are responsible for preparing the Cabinet Submissions for the Cabinet’s decision.
- The adoption application will be presented to the Cabinet by the Minister for Justice. The Cabinet ultimately determines whether to consent to the adoption action and not attend at the adoption hearing OR to oppose the adoption application and appear at the adoption hearing to present arguments behind the objection.
- The Court is advised by the Secretary to Cabinet on the decisions by the Cabinet.
Forms
Form 1 — Application for citizenship by birth in the republic and residency
Form 2 — Application for citizenship by descent
Form 3 — Application for citizenship by marriage
Form 4 — Application for citizenship by adoption
Form 5 — Citizenship application by former citizen after renunciation of citizenship
Form 7 — Declaration for renunciation of nauruan citizenship
Form 8 — Application for citizenship of a minor or a dependent
FAQs
CITIZENSHIP SUBDIVISION
Citizenship is an allegiance of a person to a state.
The principal modes of acquiring Nauruan citizenship are:
- citizenship by birth;
- citizenship by birth in the Republic and residency;
- citizenship by descent;
- citizenship by marriage;
- citizenship from previous relationships;
- citizenship by adoption.
A person who is a citizen of Nauru may also be a citizen of another country.
A person who is a citizen of or acquires the citizenship of another country shall not lose his or her citizenship of Nauru.
A person who acquires citizenship under the Naoero Citizenship Act 2017 by virtue of marriage or adoption shall not lose his or her citizenship of a foreign country.
It is a person’s legal status in which the person is at the one time recognised by 2 countries under its nationality and citizenship law as a nationality of both countries.
You can find more information about citizenship at the Department of Justice, Government Offices, Yaren District
ADOPTION SUBDIVISION
Adoption is the process whereby a person assumes the parenting of a child from that person’s biological or legal parent or parents.
A sole applicant who has attained the age of 25 years and is not less than 21 years older than the child in respect of whom the application is made.
Application by joint applicants whereby the applicants are a man and his wife and each applicant has attained the age of 25 years and is not less than 21 years older than the child in respect of whom the application is made.
Adoption of a child by a married person where an applicant is a married person and the consent of the spouse of the applicant is given to the adoption by the applicant of the child in respect of whom the application is made.
Adoption of a female child by a male where the sole applicant is a male and the child in respect of whom the application is made is a female, the adoption order shall not be made unless the Family Court is satisfied that exceptional circumstances justify the making of the order.You can find more information about adoption at the Department of Judiciary and the Department of Justice, Government Offices, Yaren District.
OUR TEAM
Jay Udit
Secretary for Justice and Border Control
Mele Lemaki Tagivakatini
Legal Officer (assisting the Secretary)
Wylie Detenamo
Deputy Registrar of Corporations
Kayla Akua
Paralegal
OUR LOCATION
Department of Justice and Border Control
Ground Floor
Government Offices
Yaren District
Republic of Nauru