Citizenship by birth

• Any person who was born to an Eritrean father or mother in Eritrea or abroad is an Eritrean national by birth.
• A person of "Eritrean origin" is any person who lived in Eritrea in 1933.
• A person who was born in Eritrea to unknown parents is considered an Eritrean citizen by birth until proven otherwise.
• Any person of Eritrean origin or birth shall be granted a certificate of nationality by the Department of the interior upon application.

Citizenship by naturalization (1952 and later)

Anyone who isn’t of Eritrean origin and entered and resided in Eritrea in 1952 or later must apply for Eritrean citizenship with the Minister of the Interior.

The minister of the interior grants citizenship by naturalization to a person, provided that the person: 

• entered Eritrea legally and resided in Eritrea for ten years until 1974. Or lived in Eritrea for twenty years, making periodic visits abroad;
• has high integrity and has not been convicted of any crimes;
• understands and speaks one of the languages of Eritrea;
• doesn’t have any of the mental or physical disabilities referred to in articles 339-340 of the transitional Civil Code of Eritrea, won’t be a burden to Eritrean society, and will be able to provide for himself and the needs of his family;
• renounced the citizenship of another country in accordance with the legislation of that country;
• decided to reside permanently in Eritrea after being granted Eritrean citizenship;
• A person is granted Eritrean citizenship by naturalization and a certificate of citizenship under this article is issued only after he or she has signed an oath of Allegiance before the minister of the interior or any other official appointed by him or her. 
• Any person born to a naturalized citizen of Eritrea after the person has been granted the status of a naturalized citizen becomes an Eritrean by birth.

Citizenship by adoption 

The minister of the interior grants Eritrean citizenship by naturalization and issues a certificate of citizenship to a person who is legally adopted and at the request of an Eritrean citizen by birth or naturalization, or at the request of the adopted person himself.

Citizenship by marriage

Any person of non-Eritrean origin who is legally married to an Eritrean national by birth or to a person who has been granted Eritrean citizenship by naturalization shall be granted Eritrean citizenship by naturalization when such person applies to the minister of the interior, provided that the person:

• lives in Eritrea with her husband for at least three years;
• renounced her foreign citizenship and is ready to obtain Eritrean citizenship;
• signs the oath of Allegiance

Procedure

1. Applicants for Eritrean citizenship should start by obtaining and completing the citizenship application form. Application forms can be obtained from the Ministry of the Interior or from the diplomatic missions of Eritrea, a list of which can be viewed on the website http://www.eritrean-embassy.se/tourism/embassies-consulates-abroad/
2. The applicant must then prepare the necessary documents and ensure that there are three witnesses ready to testify in the applicant's favor. They are invited to give evidence and provide information about the applicant.
3. If one of the witnesses is abroad, he/she should contact the embassy to answer a few standard questions about the applicant. After the witness has answered the questions, he signs a paper with questions and answers, after which the paper is sent to the citizenship division in Eritrea.
4. Officers of the citizenship division can conduct an investigation to determine the suitability of the applicant.
5. After the investigation, the applicant must take an oath, which must be signed.

Required documents

• Proof of identity (identity card, passport);
• Documents which are confirmed citizenship (birth certificate or passport);
• Age confirmation (birth certificate);
• Recent passport photos of the applicant and all children included in the application;
• Confirmation of your residential address;
• Medical examination certificate
• Help from the police