“One People, One Nation, One Destiny”
GUYANA
General: Governed by Chapter II ("Citizenship") of the 1980 Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and the Guyana Citizenship Act, Chapter 14:01.
By Birth: A person born in Guyana on/after the Constitution's commencement is a citizen, except children of foreign diplomats or of a parent who is an enemy alien during wartime occupation, where neither parent is Guyanese.
By Descent: A child born abroad is a citizen at birth if at least one parent is Guyanese by birth, registration, or naturalization (not solely by descent) — meaning descent-based transmission generally does not extend automatically beyond one generation born abroad. Registration of the birth with a Guyanese consulate/embassy is required to obtain proof of citizenship.
By Registration: Available to spouses of Guyanese citizens (commonly cited as after around 3 years of marriage/cohabitation), Commonwealth/CARICOM nationals under specified conditions, and minor children of Guyanese citizens.
By Naturalization: Requires 12 months' continuous residence immediately before application, plus a total of 5 years' residence within the preceding 7 years, good character, and intent to continue residing in Guyana. (Some sources cite ~7 years as a general naturalization benchmark.)
Dual Citizenship: Historically not recognized under the original 1980 Constitution (Article 46 empowered the President to strip citizenship from those acquiring another nationality by a voluntary act other than marriage). Reforms (notably around 2013) have expanded recognition of dual citizenship, particularly to accommodate the Guyanese diaspora; today dual citizenship is generally described as permitted, though dual nationals may be barred from certain high public offices (e.g., the Presidency) under constitutional eligibility rules.
Loss of Citizenship – Voluntary: Renunciation is permitted by declaration to the government; if a person renounces Guyanese citizenship while not yet holding another nationality and fails to acquire one within 6 months, they are treated as never having lost Guyanese citizenship.
Loss of Citizenship – Involuntary: The President may order deprivation of citizenship (for naturalized/registered citizens, not citizens by birth) where the person has acquired another nationality through registration, naturalization, or other voluntary act (excluding marriage), or has exercised rights of that foreign nationality, or obtained citizenship by fraud.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Guyana permits dual citizenship, and descent can be claimed through a Guyanese parent.
Specific Forms: Application for Registration of Citizenship (Descent).
Required Documentation:
Applicant's long-form birth certificate and current valid passport.
Guyanese parent's birth certificate and Guyanese passport.
Parents' marriage certificate (if born to married parents).
If the parent is Guyanese by naturalization or registration, the original registration/naturalization certificate must be provided
Serving The Countries of CARICOM: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
