Naturalization of Stateless Persons

Naturalization of stateless persons falls under the broader problem of statelessness which is recently drawing more and more attention. However the issue of facilitated naturalization of stateless persons proposed as one of the measures to reduce statelessness stays grossly overlooked. This book tries to identify international obligations of states relating to the attribution of nationality via naturalization and to formulate international and European standards for facilitated access to citizenship for stateless persons. In light of these standards national regimes of three states – Estonia Hungary and Slovakia – are assessed and compared to each other. The comparative study focuses in particular on assessment of material requirements (residence language and other integration requirements good character economic resources requirements loyalty to the State and security) and procedural aspects of naturalization (application proceedings) as well as other areas of concern arising when it comes to the facilitated access to citizenship. Based on the comparative study general recommendations are drafted.