Laas Leivat
The current public debate regarding legalizing aspects of dual citizenship has generated passionate advocacy of many pro and con positions involved.
Estonia’s public narrative involves the government’s intention of making the constitution and the current citizenship law compatible. They are currently in contradiction. Simply put, the law states that dual citizenship is not allowed. But those who have citizenship from birth cannot have it revoked due to a constitutional guarantee that citizenship cannot be taken away. This widely held principle determines that constitutions have precedence over law instituted by parliament. The Citizenship Act currently states that those who also hold citizenship by birth in a second country have to give up one of them upon turning 18.
Estonian citizenship, based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis (right to citizenship by blood/descent) is governed by an April 1995 law. (Today the citizenship laws of most countries are based on jus sanguinis.) Eligibility for Estonian citizenship based on birth: those born to parents, at least one of whom was an Estonian citizen at time of birth (regardless of place or ethnicity) are automatically citizens. Based on place of birth: Those born in Estonia are eligible for citizenship if at least one parent has Estonian citizenship at time of birth. Based on marriage: Anyone who married an Estonian citizen before February 26, 1992 is eligible for citizenship. (Pikemalt Eesti Elu 19. augusti paberlehest)
