Naturalization is usually conferred to those who have entered the country legally and been granted a stay permit or who have been granted political asylum and have resided there for a certain period. Naturalization is the legal procedure through which a person who is not a citizen of a country can get citizenship or nationality of that specific country.

It may be created easily by a statute (requiring no work on the part of the individual), or it may need a petition or a resolution, as well as authorization by legal authorities. Naturalization standards vary according to the country, but they often include a vow to observe and support that country’s laws, accepting and swearing an oath of loyalty, and additional conditions such as a minimum legal residency and adequate knowledge of the dominant language or culture.

Most countries require naturalization aspirants to abandon any other citizenship they currently possess to combat multiple citizenships. However, whether this surrender actually results in the loss of original citizenship in the eyes of both the host and native countries depends on the laws of the respective countries. 

To get naturalized in the country, the following specific requirements are necessary to be fulfilled:

  • Must be permanent residents of the state. 
  • Must be living for a certain period of time in the state.
  • Must be physically present for a certain period of time before applying for naturalization.
  • Must be of good morals and character. 
  • Must haven’t broken any laws of the country.
  • Must be able to understand and speak the country’s national language they are being naturalized into.
  • Must have adequate knowledge of the country’s history, background, and political structure.
  • Sometimes, they may have to take an oath of allegiance to that country.

These are the necessary requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to get naturalized in a country. After getting naturalized in a state, a person becomes entitled to exercise all rights that an ordinary citizen of a state has.

The naturalization laws and requirements vary from country to country, and they are not homogenous throughout the globe. Still, most of the requirements are similar, except the living time in the country’s territory. For instance, the U.S. and Canada require people to reside in the country for 3-5 years as permanent before being naturalized. On the other hand, India requires people to live in the country for 12 whole years before being naturalized. 

Summing Up Differences

NATURALIZATION CITIZENSHIP
A method for acquiring citizenship of a state while you are from another state. It means being a citizen of a state, i.e., an inborn right.
Need to be done through the application process. Granted by the state itself.
Requirements must be fulfilled to get successful naturalization. Easily obtainable when either of your parents is citizens of that state already or by way of marriage.
Procedure and requirements vary from country to country. The process is identical in every country; when you are born in a country, you automatically become its citizen.