Naturalisation of aliens (residence)

Example scenarios

• Eligible to apply for naturalisation under Cap 54 s.7.

  An alien of full age and capacity may be naturalised under Cap 54 s.7 on satisfying: (a) good character + adequate knowledge of English (s.5(1)(a)&(b)); (b) 12 months' continuous residence immediately preceding the application (s.7(1)(b)); (c) aggregate of at least 5 years' residence/Government service within the 7 years before that 12-month period (s.7(1)(c)); and (d) intent to reside. Six continuous years easily satisfies the 12-month + 5-of-7 structure; the Brazilian is an 'alien', so the s.7 (not s.5) route applies, fee EC$7,500.

• Not yet eligible — fails both the 12-month-continuous-residence test and the 5-year aggregate.

  Cap 54 s.7(1)(b) requires 12 months' CONTINUOUS residence immediately preceding the application; having returned only 4 months ago, the applicant fails this. s.7(1)(c) requires a 5-year aggregate within the preceding 7 years; ~4 years falls short. The Minister's s.7(2) discretion can re-reckon periods, but cannot manufacture missing residence. The applicant must accrue more time. There is no CARICOM/American reduced-years track in Grenadian law.

• Misconceived — he is already a Grenadian citizen; there is no 're-naturalisation', and naturalisation would not cure the E-2 financial-investment-acquisition bar.

  He is already a full Grenadian citizen by investment; Cap 54 s.7 naturalisation is for aliens who are not yet citizens, so it is unavailable to an existing citizen. Separately, the US AMIGOS Act (FY2023 NDAA §5901) keys the 3-year-domicile E-2 bar to nationality acquired 'through a financial investment'; his nationality was so acquired, and a later domestic reclassification cannot retroactively change how he acquired it. His only cure is 3 continuous years' domicile in Grenada before applying for an E visa.

• Likely refused — the Minister must be satisfied as to good character (s.5(1)(a)); naturalisation is discretionary.

  Even where the s.7(1)(b)-(d) time/intent conditions are met, s.7(1)(a) imports the s.5(1)(a) good-character requirement and the Minister 'may' grant — naturalisation is discretionary, not an entitlement. A serious fraud conviction goes directly to good character and would ordinarily defeat the application. (Contrast marriage registration under s.98/s.5(3), which is an entitlement and lacks a good-character gate.)

• Possibly eligible via the s.7(2) ministerial reckoning discretion — a continuous 12-month period ending up to 6 months before application can count.

  Cap 54 s.7(2)(a) lets the Minister allow a continuous 12-month residence period ending NOT later than 6 months before the application date to count as if it immediately preceded the application. The applicant's 13-month continuous block ended ~5 months ago, within the 6-month window, so the discretion can bridge the gap (provided the 5-of-7 aggregate is also met). This is discretionary, not automatic.

• Eligible — Government service counts toward the s.7(1)(c) 5-year aggregate alongside residence.

  Cap 54 s.7(1)(c) requires, in the 7 years before the qualifying 12-month period, aggregate RESIDENCE and/or SERVICE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT of not less than 5 years. Government service is expressly reckonable. With 12 months' continuous residence immediately preceding the application (s.7(1)(b)) plus 5 years' qualifying government service in the window, and good character + English + intent to reside, the alien satisfies s.7.