The Bahamas Independence Order 1973

Persons entitled to be registered as citizens

5.—(1) Any woman who, on 9th July 1973, is or has been married to a person—

(a) who becomes a citizen of The Bahamas by virtue of Article 3 of this Constitution; or

(b) who, having died before 10th July 1973, would, but for his death, have become a citizen of the Bahamas by virtue of that Article,

shall be entitled, upon making application and upon taking the oath of allegiance or such declaration in such manner as may be prescribed, to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas:

Provided that the right to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas under this paragraph shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.

(2) Any person who, on 9th July 1973, possesses Bahamian Status under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1967(1) and is ordinarily resident in the Bahamas Islands, shall be entitled, upon making application before 10th July 1974, to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (2) of this Article, a person who has attained the age of eighteen years or who is a woman who is or has been married shall not, if he is a citizen of some county other than The Bahamas, be entitled to be registered as a citizen of the Bahamas under the provisions of that paragraph unless he renounces his citizenship of that other country, takes the oath of allegiance and makes and registers such declaration as may be prescribed:

Provided that where a person cannot renounce his citizenship of the other country under the law of that country he may instead make such declaration concerning that citizenship as may be prescribed.

(4) Any application for registration under paragraph (2) of this Article shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.

(5) Any woman who on 9th July 1973 is or has been married to a person who subsequently becomes a citizen of The Bahamas by registration under paragraph (2) of this Article shall be entitled, upon making application and upon taking the oath of allegiance or such declaration as may be prescribed, to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas:

Provided that the right to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas under this paragraph shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.

(6) Any application for registration under this Article shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed as respects that application:

Provided that such an application may not be made by a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years and is not a woman who is or has been married, but shall be made on behalf of that person by a parent or guardian of that person.

(1)

Statute Law of the Bahamas Islands, No. 25 of 1967.