citizenship dual-citizenship
Is my father a dual citizen of Venezuela?
<p>I needed to know whether or not my father is a dual citizen of Venezuela and I would 100% appreciate if you guys could help me the answer.</p>

<p>So landmark events are:</p>

<ol>
<li>He was born in Egypt but his parents were of Venezuelan citizenship and living (in which I assumed he would have inherited theirs)</li>
<li>He migrated to Australia and obtained Australian citizenship in 1973 (aged 16)</li>
<li>He still currently lives in Australia and possesses an Australian citizenship.</li>
</ol>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_nationality_law" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_nationality_law</a> Wikipedia’s information states that he is still likely to be a dual citizen as born or naturalized citizenship are only revoked voluntarily or by a criminal court order.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_VENEZUELA.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_VENEZUELA.html</a> This site states he would not be a dual citizen as it is not recognised unless he is younger than age 25.</p>

<p>I did call up the embassy and try to ask but they weren't very helpful.</p>

<p>Could you tell me what is correct? </p>

<hr>

<p>EDIT: From the looks of <a href="https://venezuela.justia.com/federales/constitucion-de-la-republica-bolivariana-de-venezuela/titulo-iii/capitulo-ii/#articulo-34" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this official source</a>: 
Dual citizenship <strong>is recognised</strong> as it says (Aritcle 34) that nationality is not lost when gaining another nationality.</p>

<p>I need to know the laws that were <strong>current in 1973</strong> but I cannot find it.</p>

<p>Under both the <a href="http://www.venezuelaemb.or.kr/english/ConstitutionoftheBolivarianingles.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">current constitution</a> (article 32) and the previous 1961 constitution (<a href="http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Venezuela/ven1961.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">article 35</a>) "Any  person  who  was  born  in  a  foreign  territory,  and  is  the  child  of  a  father and mother who are both Venezuelans by birth". However, in the 1961 version the constitution declares (art. 39) that </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Venezuelan nationality is lost by option or voluntary acquisition of
  another nationality... (La nacionalidad venezolana se pierde Por
  opción o adquisición voluntaria de otra nacionalidad)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>which is contrary to Art. 35 of the current constitution   </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Venezuelans   by   birth   cannot   be   deprived   of   their nationality.   The   Venezuelan  nationality  by  naturalization  can 
  be  revoked  only  by  a  judgment  handed  down by a court in
  accordance with law (Los venezolanos y venezolanas por nacimiento no
  podrán ser privados o privadas de su nacionalidad. La nacionalidad
  venezolana por naturalización sólo podrá ser revocada mediante
  sentencia judicial, de acuerdo con la ley).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The wording of earlier art. 39 does not say whether loss of nationality is automatic or simply possible. <a href="http://www.clbec.gob.ve/pdf/constituciones-1811-1999.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This document</a> gives the constitutions between 1811 and 1999, and it contains on p. 614 a note applicable to the loss of nationality:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Mientras la Ley establece las normas sustantivas y procesales
  correspondientes, la pérdida de nacionalidad por revocatoria de la
  naturalización se ajestará a las disposiciones de la legislación
  vigente, pero el interesado podrá apelar de la decisión administrativa
  ante la Corte Suprema de Justicia en el plazo de seis meses a partir
  de la fecha de publicación de la revocatoria en la GACETA OFICIAL</p>
  
  <p>(While the Law establishes the corresponding substantive and
  procedural norms, the loss of nationality due to revocation of
  naturalization will be subject to the provisions of current
  legislation, but the interested party may appeal the administrative
  decision before the Supreme Court of Justice within a period of six
  months from the date of publication of the revocation in the OFFICIAL
  GAZETTE)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This indicates that revocation of citizenship is an administrative decision (not an automatic consequence of taking another nationality), and would have been published in the Gaceta Oficial, if it had happened. </p>
