Registration of minor children (derivative)

Minor children may be registered as citizens on application (Citizenship Act Cap 54 s.6), including derivative registration when a parent acquires citizenship.

• Registration of minors (parent/guardian application): upon application made in the prescribed manner by the responsible parent or the guardian of a minor, the Minister MAY register the minor as a citizen (Cap 54 s.6(1)). 'Minor' for s.6(1) means a child under 18 of a citizen (Cap 54 s.2(1)). This is a discretionary derivative route ('may'), distinct from automatic acquisition by birth/descent/adoption. - Special-circumstances minor registration: the Minister, in such special circumstances as may be prescribed, may cause a minor to be registered as a citizen (Cap 54 s.6(2)). This is a residual discretionary derivative grant for minors falling outside the ordinary s.6(1) parent/guardian application. - CBI derivative-newborn overlap (child born within 12 months of grant): under the CBI dependant framework, a child born of the main applicant or his/her spouse within twelve (12) months of the grant of citizenship is a 'dependant' (Grenada Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 3 of 2019 s.2, inserting paragraph (h) into the principal Act's dependant definition). This lets a derivative minor be added to an INV grant post-approval without a fresh investment, paralleling the Cap 54 s.6 derivative-minor logic in the CBI context.

• 'Responsible parent' definition for minor registration: in relation to a child, 'responsible parent' means the father; or where the father is dead, or where custody of the child has been awarded to the mother by a court of competent jurisdiction, 'responsible parent' means the mother (Cap 54 s.2(1)). This governs who may make the s.6(1) application on the minor's behalf.

Primary statute: Citizenship Act Cap 54 s.6. Operative 1976-11-05–present. Authority: Ministry of Home Affairs.