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Guyanese Citizenship – am I eligible?

June 1st, 2006 § 81 comments

The Constitution and laws of Guyana provide for the acquisition of Guyanese citizenship by four means:

Birth
Descent
Naturalisation and
Registration

A person is a Guyanese citizen if he/she is born in Guyana . Such person is eligible for a Republic of Guyana passport and all other privileges given to any Guyanese.

A person born outside of Guyana is a citizen of Guyana at the date of his birth if at that date his father or his mother is a citizen of Guyana. Such persons are not required to meet residency requirements; the birth must be registered by the parents as an overseas birth registration upon which the parents can apply for a Republic of Guyana passport for the child.

A person is eligible for Guyanese citizenship by naturalization and must show that he is ordinarily resident in Guyana and has been so resident throughout the period of five years immediately preceding his application, that he is of good character and that he intends to reside in Guyana. On approval, the person will be granted a Certificate of Naturalisation and will have to take the oath of allegiance to Guyana.

A person who marries a Guyanese citizen is also eligible to apply to be registered as a Guyanese citizen having met all the legal requirements i.e. having legally entered the country and having been legally in Guyana. Unlike persons applying for naturalization who must fulfill a specific number of years of residency, there is no such requirement in this case.

Persons can also apply to be registered as Guyanese citizens if they are citizens of a Commonwealth country as stated in the Constitution of Guyana or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. The person must show that he has been ordinarily resident in Guyana or has been in the service of the Government of Guyana or has had partly such residence and partly such service, throughout the period of five years ending with the date of his application.

It should be noted that in the interests of national security or public policy, the Minister of Home Affairs may refuse to register or naturalise a person as a citizen of Guyana.

Guyanese citizenship cannot be obtained by any other means other than those stated above.
As such, persons are urged to be wary of internet schemers or any other fraudulent persons, who offer any other means of obtaining Guyanese citizenship and a Guyanese passport. It is advised that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Support Services Section, be contacted for assistance with respect to any inquires on citizenship maters.

Please contact the Ministry of Home Affairs with specific questions of queries:

Ministry of Home Affairs
60 Brickdam
Stabroek
Georgetown, Guyana

Telephone & Fax Contact Information:
Main Number…………………………………….226-2444
Switchboard……………………………………..226-2445

Minister………………………………………..225-7270
Minister Fax…………………………………..227-4806
Permanent Secretary………………………..225-6221
Principal Assistant Secretary Admin……….226-4881
Administrative Division………………………226-2444
226-2445
226-1717
Principal Assistant Secretary Finance……225-4353
Finance Division…………………………….226-2444
226-2445
226-1717
Senior Personnel Officer……………………227-8915
Personnel Division…………………………..226-2444
226-2445
226-1717
Security Policy Co-ordinator……………….226-2221
Security Policy Co-ordinator Fax………….225-3893
Head Public Sector Security……………….227-4712
CICAD Drug Consultant……………………..226-9633
Research & Planning………………………..226-2444
226-2445
226-1717
223-7441
Permanent Secretary Fax…………………226-2740
Head Immigration Support Service………223-7867
Parole Board………………………………..225-1851

Tagged: citizenship, Guyana, passport

§ 81 Responses to “Guyanese Citizenship – am I eligible?”

Cleavon says:

February 21, 2009 at 9:49 am

Hi, i’m a born Guyanese citizen living in the US and i’m currently in the military there. I’m trying to find out about getting married to my girlfriend living there still in Guyana and her coming over here. We wanted the wedding to be done over there in Guyana, but we don’t know where to start, and with all the legal stuff concerning immigration and all. Can anyone give and insight or maybe someone with some experience offer some info. Would greatly appreciate it.

Cleavon.
omega says:

March 6, 2009 at 8:24 am

I am a born Guyanese leaving in Jamaica, and would like to get the new Passport without stepping foot in Guyana? I there any Alternative?
Voice of Guyana says:

March 18, 2009 at 10:32 pm

@omega –

you could apply for a passport via mail, but we’re not sure what you mean by ‘get the new Passport’
is your passport currently expired, lost or damaged?
lisa says:

April 24, 2009 at 9:48 pm

hi, my name is lisa i am a guyanese by birth i, live in a caribbean island for about 3 years i, got married in september i, would like to know if i can apply for a guyana passport for my husband who is not from guyana but from the caribbean island, but he visit guynana once, please tell me the process of getting a guyana passport for my husband.
and how long it will take, but i did not marry in guyana , i marry in the caribbean island where he’s from.
Sumit says:

June 26, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am an ex Indian Army Officer presently serving in A british MNC at Zambia as Manager (Security Operations). Iam an Indian and have an Indian Passport.I wish to know if I can apply for citizenship of Guyana.

Thanking you,
Sumit
Voice of Guyana says:

June 30, 2009 at 6:29 am

@ Sumit
You are eligible for Guyanese citizenship once you’ve been residing in Guyana. There is no legal means of applying for citizenship without first living in Guyana that we are aware of.
Corey says:

July 2, 2009 at 2:17 am

Hi, I recently married a guyanese citizen (as of Jan). She also just obtained US citizenship (june) through her mother. I would like to I obtain Guyanese Citizenship? How do I do so in NJ/NY area? Will I give up my US citizenship and how much will it cost?
Darshanand says:

July 8, 2009 at 7:02 pm

Hi,

I am a Venezuelan Citizen – born in Venezuela, i´m living in venezuela with my father. My father was born in Guyana. I am interested in obtaining citizenship and/or passport.How can I start the process in getting citizenship, because the guyana embassy in my country told me they can´t does that process.

Thanks.
Voice of Guyana says:

July 9, 2009 at 2:27 am

@ Darshanand
you must be residing in Guyana to apply for citizenship then you can apply for a passport
Anwar says:

July 9, 2009 at 8:25 pm

hi i was born in guyana and have a guyanese passport .im married to a trinidadian who was born in canada,has a canadian passport,and is also a citizen of trinidad and tobago.we are in pakistan and want to travel to trinidad via london.would we need an in-transit visa if we are stayin in london for less than 24 hrs???ur help wuould be appreciated as soon as possible.
thx…
Voice of Guyana says:

July 9, 2009 at 9:29 pm

@ Anwar
please contact a British High Commission or Consulate or the airline you plan on traveling with. we are not familiar with those laws
SB says:

July 26, 2009 at 4:56 am

I am a Guyanese national and I would like to apply for the CARICOM passport, however I do not reside in Guyana but I live in the northern Caribbean and my current passport which is not machine readable does not expire until 2011. Please let me know the process for obtaining a new passport.

Thanks much
Voice of Guyana says:

July 26, 2009 at 10:24 pm

@ SB
you can apply for a machine readable passport at anytime at any Guyana embassy or consulate
Dr.Ajay Pandey says:

August 2, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Hello,

I am Physiotherapy Doctor and living i INDIA. As I am INDIA citizen holding Indian Passport.

I want to become Guyana Citizen. What is the procedure.

I want to shift to Guyana please help me.

CAn anyone also let me know what are benifits to guyana citizens ?

Waiting for the answer to recive
Thank You
Amanda says:

December 10, 2009 at 8:09 am

I was born in the US and I am 24. My mom was not a US citizen before I was born. How do I get a Guyanese citzenship?
Voice of Guyana says:

December 10, 2009 at 9:03 pm

@ Amanda
contact the embassy in DC or New York and tell them you would like to begin the registration process

the birth must be registered as an overseas birth and you can apply for a Guyana passport
playing with fire 2 says:

December 18, 2009 at 7:26 am

Hello,

Is dual citizenship permitted in Guyana? I am very confused about that. I am planning to marry with a Guyanese, after that I want to apply for citizenship but I am not sure if dual citizenship is possible? Could you please let me know?

Thanks a lot.
Voice of Guyana says:

December 18, 2009 at 5:37 pm

Dual citizenship is not recognized unless the second citizenship is obtained through marriage (US Mar. 2001, 89). The President may “by order” deprive an individual of Guyanese citizenship if he or she acquires the citizenship of another state in any other voluntary or formal manner (Guyana 20 Feb. 1980, Subs. 46(1)), or if he or she exercises any exclusive rights granted to citizens of another country which are voluntarily claimed and exercised in that other country (ibid., Subs. 46(2)).
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,4565c2252,4565c25f95,492ac7c9c,0.html

but we would also advise you to speak to the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Home Affairs
Kevin says:

December 28, 2009 at 2:56 pm

I probably have a strange question , but here goes.

I am a US citizen, I married a Guyanese earlier this year. She is currently residing in the US with me. As such, I am entitled to citizenship by marriage/registration. The question would be this: I do NOT have a US passport, have never travelled outside the US, BUT we are wanting to move to Guyana to live. Is it POSSIBLE to get a Guyana passport/or make application for citizenship from the embassy perhaps? Where I wouldn’t have to go thru the trouble to get a US passport just so I could go to Guyana to get my Guyanese citizenship, and end up staying there to live at that time?

Is there a provision to get the paperwork from the Guyana Embassy in the USA
so I don’t have to wait three months and spend money for nothing to get my US passprt to travel to Guyana? ( Just seems like a waste of time to use the US passport for one trip, as we’ll be living in Guyana).

BTW…EXCELLENT website !
mark jacobs says:

January 5, 2010 at 7:08 pm

Kevin to apply for citizenship through marriage you have to present yourself in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Guyana
we do not know of another LEGAL method of obtaining Guyanese citizenship
you should also contact the embassy in Washington DC or the Consulate in New York for verification.
this information is based on what I was told at the ministry of home affairs a few minutes ago
CAN/GUYANAGIRL says:

February 10, 2010 at 10:56 pm

Hi,
My father was born in Guyana but is now a Canadian citizen. I was born in Canada myself, is there anyway I can obtain a Guyanese passport?

vog: your birth first has to be registered as a foreign birth to receive Guyanese citizenship then you can proceed to apply for a passport.
Brunsley Elliot says:

February 17, 2010 at 7:41 am

I was bon in Chile South America in 1972, my father was born in British Guiana, can I and my little brothers obtain a Guyanese passport or citizenship if go to Guyana with him? And how long would take that process?

Thanks.

vog: working on an answer. the process can takes weeks, months or years depending on many factors. do you need assistance? if so, please email us [studio @ voiceofguyana . com remove the spaces]
Neville Taylor says:

February 17, 2010 at 4:50 pm

Hi

I am British born but my father is a Guyanese national. Am I entitled to Guyanese citizenship ?

Thank you

vog: yes you can begin the process at the High Commission in London by registering your birth.
Robbie says:

February 18, 2010 at 6:11 pm

Hello,

I am a Guyanese by birth who attained U.S citizenship when I migrated to America as minor child of an American citizen. I have since had a child of my own, however, she was born in Sweden where we currently live. I am familiar with the process of reporting the birth of child abroad, as I have done so to transfer my U.S Citizenship unto my daughter. My wife and I are planning a trip to Guyana this year, so I thought it would be a good idea to have my daughter obtain Guyanese citizenship as well. Considering that she already has dual citizenship in U.S and Sweden, is it still possible for her to obtain Guyanese citizenship?

Cheers.
Robbie
Travis says:

February 25, 2010 at 4:29 pm

I have an overseas Girlfriend living in the US.We’d like to get married in Guyana.How can we do this?

vog: all she has to do is come to Guyana and you guys arrange the wedding
all the best
linford says:

May 1, 2010 at 6:01 am

Hi
My step father was born in Guyana and has now got permanant stay in England.I want to come and live in Guyana can I obtain a Guyanese passport or would I have to live in Guyana to apply
thanks
Linford
Carol says:

May 21, 2010 at 6:23 am

Hi
My fiance and myself are both canadian citizens but would like to have our wedding in guyana. How can i get a marriage certificate for the wedding and do i have to be in guyana? How long is the process and how long before the wedding do we have to apply?
Thanks

Carol

vog: we’ll have an answer for you in a couple days
maya says:

June 4, 2010 at 1:18 am

hi
How to apply for citizenship without entering country of guyana

vog: this is not legally possible as far as we know.
J Adams says:

June 4, 2010 at 8:46 pm

Hello,

My mother is British Guyanese born (During the 1950s) but she left Guyana when she was 10 years old. I do not believe my birth was registered as an overseas birth but I wondered if I could be eligible for citizenship?

Thank you
Ryan says:

June 10, 2010 at 11:24 pm

Greetings,

My mother was born in Guyana as a Guyanese citizen, and I was born in the US without being registered as an overseas birth at the time. I would like to acquire Guyanese citizenship though. Would I be eligible without having lived in Guyana? Who would I need to contact regarding such a matter?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
RJ
Carolene Collins says:

July 26, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Hi, I came to the US in my late teens and have been living here for the past 20 years. In that time I attained US citizenship. At this point in my life, I would like to regain Guyanese citizenship while keeping the US status as well. What I’m asking is, Can I apply for a dual citizenship? If yes, how do I go about doing so?
Much appreciated.