Jus soli facts for kids

Jus soli is a Latin phrase that means "right of the soil." It is often called birthright citizenship. This is a rule where anyone born in a country automatically becomes a citizen of that country. It does not matter what their parents' nationality is.

This idea is about where you are born. If you are born on the "soil" of a country, you get its citizenship. This is a simple way for countries to decide who their citizens are.

What is Jus Soli?

Jus soli means that if you are born in a country, you become a citizen of that country. It is like saying the ground you are born on gives you your citizenship. This rule is used in many countries around the world. It helps decide who belongs to a nation.

For example, if a baby is born in the United States, that baby is usually a U.S. citizen. This is true even if the parents are not citizens. This rule makes it clear who gets citizenship at birth.

How is it Different from Jus Sanguinis?

Jus soli is different from another rule called jus sanguinis. Jus sanguinis means "right of blood." With jus sanguinis, you get your citizenship from your parents. It does not matter where you are born.

Most countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania use jus sanguinis. This means citizenship is passed down through families. For example, if your parents are citizens of France, you would be a French citizen. This is true even if you were born in another country.

Where is Jus Soli Used?

Jus soli was first part of English common law. Common law is a system of laws based on past court decisions. Many countries that were once part of the British Empire use jus soli. This includes countries like the United States and Canada.

In contrast, jus sanguinis came from Roman law. This rule became common in civil-law systems. These are legal systems used in many countries in continental Europe.

Are There Exceptions?

Even in countries that use jus soli, there can be some exceptions. Sometimes, children of foreign diplomats do not get citizenship. This is because diplomats are considered to be on their home country's territory. Their children are not seen as being born on the host country's "soil."

Also, some countries have a version of jus soli with conditions. Citizenship by birthplace might only be automatic for children of certain immigrants. This means not every child born in the country automatically becomes a citizen.

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