Most countries allow a person to get citizenship if they can prove that they are the child of a citizen. All that is required is that the birth certificate includes the details of both parents. If the father is not listed on the birth certificate, a paternity test is required. There are two types: the home paternity test and the legal paternity test. The first is used only to provide information and has no legal validity. The second has legal validity and will be used for a person to get citizenship. The difference between the two is that in the first one, you are the one who takes the samples at home; while in the second one it is a third party who takes the samples and who must certify that the samples belong to the right people.
Documents you must provide
Although each country establishes its own requirements when granting a nationality, the identification documents of the citizen and their child are required, as well as the birth certificate or the results of the paternity test that certifies that there is a biological link. If the link is not biological, i.e., the man agreed to give his surname to a person who is not his blood child, some countries may have more requirements or prohibit the possibility of acquiring nationality. If you are not very good with legal processes, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a professional lawyer. It is important to note that this type of process rarely requires a lawyer, although it is likely that you will require other types of services. For example, if your birth certificate is in a language other than the official language of the country, the authorities will ask you for a certified translation of it.
What to do once you get the nationality?
According to the United Nations, every human being has the universal right to possess an identity document. This document is mandatory and is obtained in the country of birth. However, a second nationality is not always permanent, as some countries may withdraw it if the person does not meet certain requirements, such as not committing crimes. Once you get the nationality, you must make sure that you do not incur in misdemeanours that will lead you to lose it. In fact, once you lose your citizenship, there is no going back. You will be banned from that country for life, and you will lose all your rights as a citizen.