Chad

Last Updated: 2026-04-02

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Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	15 years lawful residence
Language requirement	French or Arabic (working knowledge; no formal test)
Civics test	None
Processing time	12—48 months (extremely variable)
Naturalization fee	Administrative fees
Dual citizenship	Not permitted
Citizenship by birth in Chad	Conditional jus soli (double jus soli)
Citizenship by descent	Primarily through the father; limited maternal transmission
Governing law	Ordonnance No. 33/PG-INT of 14 August 1962 (Code de la Nationalite Tchadienne), as amended

Dual Citizenship

Chad does not permit dual citizenship. The 1962 Nationality Code provides that a Chadian citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Chadian citizenship. Likewise, naturalization applicants must renounce their prior nationality.

In practice: Enforcement is inconsistent, particularly for members of the large Chadian diaspora in France, Cameroon, and Sudan. However, unlike some francophone African countries where the prohibition exists only on paper, Chad has historically taken a somewhat harder line — particularly for public officials and military personnel. The transitional government has not signaled any reform.

Key implications:

Naturalization in Chad requires formal proof of renunciation of prior nationality.
Chadians who naturalize abroad technically lose their Chadian citizenship by operation of law.
The prohibition applies equally to persons naturalizing in neighboring CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) states — there is no regional exception.
The Constitution requires that the President hold exclusively Chadian nationality, reinforcing the formal prohibition at the highest level of the state.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Chad applies a conditional double jus soli rule:

A child born in Chad to at least one parent who was also born in Chad acquires Chadian nationality at birth, regardless of the parents’ nationality.
A child born in Chad who would otherwise be stateless acquires Chadian nationality.
A child born in Chad to foreign parents, neither of whom was born in Chad, does not acquire nationality at birth but may claim it upon reaching majority if habitually resident.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

The 1962 Code retains a patrilineal bias in descent-based nationality:

A child born to a Chadian father acquires nationality at birth, regardless of place of birth.
A child born to a Chadian mother and a foreign or stateless father has a more limited claim. The mother’s nationality may be transmitted, but the provisions are less automatic and may require a declaration or additional procedure.
Gender discrimination in nationality transmission has been criticized by CEDAW and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, but legislative reform has not yet been enacted.
There is no statutory generational limit for patrilineal descent.

By Adoption

A minor child adopted by a Chadian citizen may acquire Chadian nationality upon finalization of the adoption, provided the adoption is carried out under Chadian law. The law follows French civil law adoption categories (adoption pleniere vs. adoption simple), with full adoption conferring nationality and simple adoption not doing so automatically.

By Marriage

A foreign woman who marries a Chadian man may acquire Chadian nationality by declaration at the time of marriage or within a specified period thereafter. The declaration is subject to government review and potential opposition.

Gender asymmetry: A foreign man who marries a Chadian woman does not benefit from a comparable facilitated pathway. He must naturalize through the standard 15-year residency process. This is one of the most significant gender disparities in the Code and has drawn repeated criticism from international human rights bodies.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Lawful residence	15 years of habitual residence in Chad
Good character	No criminal convictions; good morals
Health	Sound physical and mental health
Means of subsistence	Must demonstrate economic self-sufficiency
Integration	Demonstrated assimilation into Chadian society
Language	Working knowledge of French or Arabic
Renunciation	Must renounce prior nationality
Fee	Administrative fees
Decision	By decree of the head of state

The 15-year residency requirement is one of the longest in the world. Reduced periods may apply for persons who have rendered exceptional services to Chad, but such exceptions are rare and entirely discretionary.

Historical context: Chad’s nationality law dates from 1962, just two years after independence from France. It has undergone minimal reform despite decades of civil conflict, political instability, and significant demographic shifts. The transitional military government (in power since 2021, with a contested transition in 2024) has not signaled any intent to modernize the Nationality Code.

Sahel context: Chad is a member of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and participates in regional frameworks, but these have no direct bearing on nationality acquisition. The country’s position as a major military partner of France and the United States in counterterrorism operations has not translated into any preferential nationality arrangements for foreign military personnel stationed in the country.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary renunciation: A Chadian citizen who has acquired another nationality may renounce Chadian citizenship by declaration. The renunciation must not render the person stateless.

Involuntary loss:

Ground	Details
Voluntary acquisition of foreign nationality	Automatic loss
Fraud	Nationality obtained by fraud may be withdrawn
Acts against the state	Conviction for treason or acts against Chad’s vital interests
Unauthorized foreign military service	Without governmental authorization

Restoration of Nationality

Former Chadian citizens who lost nationality may apply for reintegration by decree. The applicant must reside in Chad, demonstrate good character, and show continuing ties to the country. Reintegration is discretionary and follows a process similar to naturalization.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

A child found in Chad (foundling) is presumed Chadian until proven otherwise.
A child born in Chad to stateless parents acquires Chadian nationality.
The double jus soli provision provides a safeguard against multi-generational statelessness.
Chad has ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Chad has not ratified the 1954 or 1961 Conventions on Statelessness.

Document Checklist

Completed nationality application form

Birth certificate (original + certified copy)

Valid passport or identity document

Proof of 15 years habitual residence in Chad (for naturalization)

Criminal record clearance (casier judiciaire)

Medical certificate of good health

Proof of means of subsistence or employment

Marriage certificate (if applying via marriage)

Proof of renunciation of prior nationality

Two passport-size photographs

Attestation from local authorities confirming residence and good conduct

Sources

Ordonnance No. 33/PG-INT du 14 aout 1962 — Code de la Nationalite Tchadienne. https://www.presidence.td/
Constitution of Chad — Nationality and citizenship provisions. https://www.presidence.td/
UNHCR Refworld — Chad nationality law profiles. https://www.refworld.org/
Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) — Country profile for Chad. https://globalcit.eu/
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights — Reports on nationality and gender discrimination in Chad. https://www.achpr.org/
UNHCR — Chad displacement and statelessness situation reports. https://www.unhcr.org/
CEMAC — Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, regional integration framework. https://www.cemac.int/

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