Citizenship and the Constitution
The Constitution does not directly grant any government, including the federal government, the power to set up rules of naturalization or citizenship, but it implies that the rules and process of citizenship can be enacted by the federal government under the "general welfare" of the confederation and the "necessary and proper" requirement for federal legislation.
Section IV, Article XVIII of the Constitution of the Republic of Tinland explained how citizenship is affected by the adoption of the new constitution. Controversially, the section allowed all people residing "within the jurisdiction of the confederation, or of any State or Territory," by the time the constitution was adopted, would be considered citizens of the Republic of Tinland, which meant that the population of the confederation was over 120,000 people. However, due to the Republic of Tinland adopting the Edgbaston Convention, the actual population of the confederation is about 10 people.
How Do I Become a Citizen?
To become a citizen of the Republic of Tinland, you need to first meet the qualifications to become a citizen. According to Section 2 of the Naturalization Act of 2023 and the Naturalization Act of 2024, a person can become a citizen if:
They are at least sixteen (16) years old;
They have been continuously residing in the Republic of Tinland for at least one (1) month. This includes either residing in the physical territory or being a member of an official digital platform of the Republic of Tinland;
They have a basic understanding of, and ability to speak and write in, English; and,
They have an understanding and respect for the principles and form of government of the confederation.
For additional qualifications, please check the section relating to dependent individuals.
Dependent Individuals of Naturalized Citizens
The Naturalization Act of 2023 allows naturalized citizens (or people who became citizens through the citizenship application) to sponsor specific people if they are classified as "dependent individual(s)". A dependent individual is:
A child of the naturalized citizen between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18);
A spouse or civil partner of the naturalized citizen;
A person unable to take care of themselves due to age or disability and placed under a legal guardianship with the naturalized citizen; or,
Any combination of the above.
To sponsor a dependent individual, a naturalized citizen must petition their State's or Territory's supreme or superior court through its petition available on their website or in person. A naturalized citizen needs to wait thirty (30) days after becoming a citizen to file the petition.
Children of Naturalized and Natural-born Citizens
The Republic of Tinland has birthright citizenship; any child born to a citizen of the Republic of Tinland or born within the jurisdiction of the confederation is considered a citizen of the Republic of Tinland.
Additionally, the children under the age of sixteen (16) of a naturalized citizen and residing within the Republic of Tinland at the time that their parent is naturalized automatically become citizens.