More than 600 people lost Brazilian nationality in two years

In two years, 616 Brazilians lost their nationality and can no longer call Brazil their country of origin – at least in the document. An unprecedented survey to which the CNN had access shows that the majority chose to lose the nationality of the country of origin in detriment of another.

There were 273 losses in 2021; and, in 2022, the number rose to 343 individuals. Data from the Department of Migration (Demig) of the Ministry of Justice show that a Brazilian lost nationality in 2021 due to cancellation of naturalization; eight for annulment; one for loss of office; and 263 of their own free will. The following year, the number of Brazilians who wanted to stop being Brazilians increased: 335 requests were answered by the government.

According to the Constitution, Brazilians can acquire one or more naturalizations, as long as they meet the requirements. Otherwise, article 12 says that “the loss of nationality will be declared for the Brazilian who”:

• II – acquire another nationality through voluntary naturalization
• II – acquire another nationality, except in the cases:
  a) recognition of original nationality by foreign law;
  b) the imposition of naturalization, by foreign law, on Brazilians residing in a foreign state, as a condition for remaining in its territory or for exercising civil rights.

The national legal system allows Brazilians to have dual or multiple nationalities only if the other nationality stems from birth in foreign territory, foreign ancestry or naturalization by imposition.

Cristina Bolsonaro

Last week, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security concluded the process and canceled the Brazilian nationality of Ana Cristina Siqueira Valle, ex-wife of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and mother of the politician’s fourth child.

The loss occurred because Ana Cristina became a naturalized Norwegian voluntarily, in 2011. The process for Ana Cristina’s loss of nationality was opened by the Migration Department of the Ministry of Justice last year, at the end of the Bolsonaro government.

The folder was alerted to the irregularity by the Electoral Justice, which analyzed the documents of the then candidate for district deputy. She ran for a chair in the DF, but was not elected.