Citizenship can be lost involuntarily through denaturalization, also known as deprivation or forfeiture. Citizenship can be lost through a variety of other grounds, that are often not clearly voluntary or involuntary. One action that is taken voluntarily (e.g. serving in a foreign military) can lead to a subsequent involuntary loss. It is possible loss of citizenship may take place without the knowledge of the affected citizen, and indeed without the knowledge of the government. Countries may have legal provisions in place to prevent the loss of citizenship, particularly where the loss would make the person stateless.
These 75 countries have specific laws to withdraw citizenship by serving in the foreign army (military service)
| Country | Article in law | Procedure | Conditions | Category |
| Afghanistan | AFG 31(2) | Withdrawal | Person serves in the army of a foreign country that is at war with Afghanistan. Loss can result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| Angola | ANG 17(2)(b) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen and performs military service to foreign state. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Australia | AUS 35 | Withdrawal | Person is aged 14 or older and is a national or citizen of a country other than Australia. The foreign country must be at war with Australia and the service must occur outside Australia. The same provision extends to a person who ‘fights for, or is in the service of, a declared terrorist organisation’ where that service or fighting occurs outside Australia. | Generally applicable provision |
| Austria | AUT 32 | Withdrawal | Person voluntarily enters military service of another country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Azerbaijan | AZE 18 | Withdrawal | Person voluntarily serves in the armed forces or other military units of a foreign country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Bahrain | BAH 10(a) | Withdrawal | Person enters the military service of a foreign country and continues despite an order issued by His Majesty the Governor ordering him to leave such service. | Generally applicable provision |
| Belarus | BEL 19 | Withdrawal | Person enlists in the military or police services of a foreign country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Bolivia | Supreme Decree no. 27698, 8 | Renunciation | No conditions. Loss can result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | BiH 23 | Withdrawal | Person renders voluntary military service to a foreign country despite legal provisions prohibiting such service. | Generally applicable provision |
| Botswana | BOT 18(b)(iv) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who has assisted an enemy in hostilities in which Botswana was engaged. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Burundi | BUR 33(b) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who takes part in a foreign army in a war declared against Burundi. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Chad | CHA 27(3) | Withdrawal | Person is a citizen by naturalisation who holds a position in a foreign army, and keeps that position for more than 6 months after instructed to resign it. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Congo – Brazzaville | COG 54 | Lapse | Person works for a foreign army and refuses to leave service within three months from notification. | Generally applicable provision |
| Cyprus | CYP 113(3)(b) | Withdrawal | Person acquired citizenship by naturalisation and serves in the army of a country at war with Cyprus. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| East Timor | TIM 14-2(a), NR 17 | Withdrawal | Person is a citizen by naturalisation and renders military service to a foreign State, without being expressly authorised to do so through an agreement between Timor-Leste and the State in question. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Egypt | EGY 16(2) | Withdrawal | Person joins the military service of a foreign country without a prior license from the Minister of War. | Generally applicable provision |
| Equatorial Guinea | EQG 14, Art. 120-121 EG Criminal Code | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who has been convicted for a crime punishable with the penalty of loss of citizenship. Note: Criminal Code prescribes the loss of citizenship for several cases of involvement of naturalized citizens with foreign armies, mostly for cases that amount to actions against the external security of the state. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Estonia | EST 28(1)(1), 28(1)(2), 28(3) | Withdrawal | Person enters military service of another country without permission of Estonia, joins the intelligence or security service of another country or a foreign organization which is armed or militarily organized or which engages in military exercises. Provision does not apply if the person acquired citizenship by birth. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| France | FRA 23-8 | Withdrawal | Person serves in the army of another country despite a request to resign from the French government. Provision does not apply if person would thereby become stateless. | Generally applicable provision |
| Georgia | GEO 21 | Withdrawal | Person joins the military, police or security services of a foreign country without permission of the competent Georgian authorities, unless the person acquired Georgian citizenship by exception and joins the military, police or security services of the country of his/her citizenship. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Germany | GER 28 | Lapse | Person is a citizen of another country and voluntarily joins the army or a comparable armed organization of that country without permission of the German government (exception: if this is permitted under intergovernmental agreement) or a person who has been actively fighting for a terrorist militia abroad, provided that the person will not become stateless due to this deprivation. | Generally applicable provision |
| Ghana | No provision | n.a. | n.a. | No provision |
| Greece | GRE 17(1)(a) | Withdrawal | Person has accepted a public service position in another country against the express prohibition by the Greek government. | Generally applicable provision |
| Guinea | GUI 115 | Withdrawal | Person holds a position in a foreign army and retains it notwithstanding the instruction to resign. | Generally applicable provision |
| Indonesia | IND 23d, 24 | Lapse | Person entered the military service of another country without authorisation of the Indonesian state. Loss can result in statelessness. Does not apply to those pursuing education in another country which applies military service as a compulsory requirement. | Generally applicable provision |
| Italy | ITA 12(1) | Lapse | Person serves in the army of another country despite a request from the Italian government to resign from this function. | Generally applicable provision |
| Japan | JAP 16(2) | Withdrawal | Person made a declaration of choice in favour of Japanese citizenship (mode L06) but nonetheless still possess a foreign citizenship, and the Minister finds that taking public office in a foreign country contradicts the person’s choice for Japanese citizenship. | Generally applicable provision |
| Jordan | JOR 18(1) | Automatic | Any person who enters the military service of a foreign state, without the prior permission or leave of the Jordanian Council of Ministers, and refuses to leave that service when so directed by the government of Jordan shall lose his/her nationality. | Generally applicable provision |
| Kazakhstan | KAZ 21 | Withdrawal | Person joins the military service, security service or police of another country with the exception of cases stipulated by international treaties. | Generally applicable provision |
| Kenya | No provision | n.a. | n.a. | No provision |
| Kiribati | Citizenship Act 1979 s 8(1)(e) | Lapse | Person not of I-Kiribati descent who became a citizen after independence day (12 July 1979) loses citizenship if he/she serves in the armed forces of another country, except with express approval of President on advice of Cabinet | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Kuwait | KUW 14(1) | Withdrawal | Person has entered the military service of a foreign State and has remained in such service notwithstanding an instruction from the Government of Kuwait that he leave such service. | Generally applicable provision |
| Kyrgyzstan | KYR 26 | Withdrawal | Person renders military service to another country (except if person performs official duties in order to maintain international peace and security). | Generally applicable provision |
| Latvia | LAT 24(1)(2) | Withdrawal | Person serves in the armed forces, internal military forces, or security services of another country (except for countries with which a dual citizenship arrangement exists) without permission of the Latvian government. Loss cannot result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| Liberia | LIB 22.1(c) | Lapse | Person voluntarily serves in the armed forces of a foreign state unless authorised by the president. | Generally applicable provision |
| Lithuania | LIT 2(5), 24(4) | Withdrawal | Person serves in the military of another country without authorisation of the Lithuanian state. | Generally applicable provision |
| Madagascar | MAD 49 | Lapse | Person holds a position in the army of a foreign state and keeps that position despite the instruction to resign. | Generally applicable provision |
| Mali | MAL 251 | Lapse | Person holds a position in a foreign army of a state that conducts hostilities against Mali. | Generally applicable provision |
| Mauritania | MRT 33(3) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who renders military service to another country. Time limit: within 20 years from the moment of naturalisation. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Micronesia | Citizenship and Naturalisation Act <a4> 206(1)(c) | Withdrawal | Loss of citizenship by service in armed forced of anther state (exception for service in United States Armed Forces) | Generally applicable provision |
| Moldova | MOL 23(1)(b) | Withdrawal | Person is voluntarily enrolled in the service of a foreign army. | Generally applicable provision |
| Montenegro | MON 24(7) | Withdrawal | Person is also a citizen of another country and voluntarily serves in the army of that country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Morocco | MOR 19(5) | Withdrawal | Person renders service to a foreign army and does not cease within 6 months after being notified by the government to stop. | Generally applicable provision |
| Namibia | Const 4(8)(b), NAM 7(3)(e)-(f) | Lapse | Person is a naturalised citizen and services in the armed forces of another country at war with Namibia, or in any other armed forces without written permission of the minister. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Netherlands | NET 15(1)(e) | Lapse | Person is a citizen of another country and in voluntary service of an army of a hostile state. Provision does not apply if person would thereby become stateless. | Generally applicable provision |
| Niger | NIG 35 | Withdrawal | Person holds a high position in service of a foreign state or army, or manages information on behalf of a foreign state, and keeps the position notwithstanding an instruction to renounce it. | Generally applicable provision |
| Panama | Const 13 | Lapse | Person is a citizen by naturalisation and renders services to an enemy country. Loss can result in statelessness. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Papua New Guinea | Constitution s 70(1)(e) | Lapse | Automatic loss of citizenship by service in foreign armed forces, except with express approval of Head of State on advice of National Executive Council. | Generally applicable provision |
| Philippines | Commonwealth Act no. 63, 1(4) | Withdrawal | Person renders services to or accepts commission in the armed forces of a foreign country (with exceptions if services are rendered with the consent of the Philippines). | Generally applicable provision |
| Qatar | QAT 11(1) | Withdrawal | Person joins the military forces of another country, and persists in this enlistment despite an order to desist therefrom. | Generally applicable provision |
| Romania | ROM 25(1)b | Withdrawal | Person serves in the army of a country with which Romania has broken diplomatic relations or is at war. | Generally applicable provision |
| Sao Tome and Principe | STP 12(c) | Lapse | Person has voluntarily rendered military service to another country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Saudi Arabia | SAU 13(b) | Withdrawal | Person worked at the Armed Forces of any foreign Government without the permission of the Saudi government. Person is given a 3 month warning before citizenship is withdrawn. | Generally applicable provision |
| Seychelles | SEY 11A(b) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who has joined non-Seychellois armed forces without prior written permission. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Solomon Islands | Citizenship Act 2018 s 25(2), (3) | Withdrawal | Person who enters armed forces of another country without prior consent of Minister, unless compelled to do so by law of other country. Person who serves in armed forces of a country at war with Solomon Islands. Applies to all citizens, but a decision to withdraw citizenship cannot render person stateless: s 26(2)(b) | Generally applicable provision |
| Somalia | SOM 10(c) | Lapse | Person voluntarily serves in the armed forces of a foreign country and continues to retain post notwithstanding instruction to resign. | Generally applicable provision |
| South Africa | SA 6(3) | Lapse | Person is a naturalised citizen and engages under the flag of another country in a war that the republic does not support. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Spain | SPA 25(1)(b) | Lapse | Person acquired citizenship other than by birth (‘de origen’) and voluntarily serves in the army of another country. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
| Suriname | SUR 11(5), SUR 11a | Lapse | Person enters military service of another country without permission of Suriname. Loss cannot result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| Syria | SYR 21(d) | Withdrawal | Person has engaged in any activity or work for a country which is in a state of war with Syria. | Generally applicable provision |
| Tajikistan | TAJ 23 | Withdrawal | Person has entered the military service or security service of another country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Togo | TOG 27 | Person holds a position in the army of another country and keeps it notwithstanding an instruction to renounce it. | Generally applicable provision | |
| Tunisia | TUN 31 | Withdrawal | Person joins military service of a foreign state and does not leave military service when ordered to do so. | Generally applicable provision |
| Turkey | TUR 29(c) | Withdrawal | Person voluntarily serves in the military of another country without permission of Turkey. | Generally applicable provision |
| Turkmenistan | TUR 17 | Withdrawal | Person enlists in the military service, security service or police in other state (with the exception of cases stipulated in international treaties). | Generally applicable provision |
| Uganda | UGA 17(1)(b) | Withdrawal | Person voluntarily serves in armed or security forces of a country hostile to or at war with Uganda. | Generally applicable provision |
| Ukraine | UKR 19(3) | Withdrawal | Person has voluntarily rendered military service to a foreign country. Loss cannot result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE 15(a) | Withdrawal | Person engages in military service for any foreign country without permission and refuses to abandon such service when requested to do so. | Generally applicable provision |
| United States of America | INA 349(3) | Withdrawal | Person enters, or serves in, the armed forces of a foreign state if such armed forces are engaged in hostilities against the United States, or the person serves as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer, with the intention of relinquishing US citizenship. Loss can result in statelessness. | Generally applicable provision |
| Uzbekistan | UZB 21 | Withdrawal | Person joins the military service, security bodies, or police in a foreign country. | Generally applicable provision |
| Vanuatu | Citizenship Act s 14(1)(c) | Withdrawal | Loss of citizenship if person enters or serves in the armed forces of another country except with express approval of the Prime Minister acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers. Provision does not apply to dual citizens. | Generally applicable provision |
| Yemen | YEM 19(a) | Withdrawal | Person is a naturalised citizen who enters into military service in a foreign country without prior authorisation. | Loss only applies to certain categories of citizens |
Source: Globalcit
