If a baby was born in the Vatican, what nationality can the child be?

Question

Is the baby automatically Italian? The Vatican is considered a separate state, distinct from Italy. Hence the question.

Or would the nationalities of the parents have a bearing in this situation?

Answer 1

Although highly unlikely, as there are no hospitals in the Vatican City State, the baby would have the nationality of the state.  This would have to be ratified by the Vatican and the birth registered there and if refused (I don't know why they would) the baby would then be stateless and have to be registered in a parent's country.

A more likely and common situation occurs on planes and ships, where in theory the nationality is that of the plane or the ship, although in practice, the baby will be registered in a parent's country.  This happened to a friend of mine who was born on a French ship and the French asked him to do military service when he reached 18, even though he took the nationality of his parents!

Answer 2

I think that it's nearly impossible, it's a really really small "country".. but if it happens I think that will be vaticanese or italian.. or maybe swiss like the guardians.. Ask the pope :)

Answer 3

Where exactly would this child be born in St Peter's Square? I mean I'm sure it could happen, but don't you think they'd take her to the hospital, Vatican City is surrounded by Rome. The nationality of the parents always have a bearing.

Answer 4

Nationality would follow the parents

Answer 5

good question!

i havent a clue

Answer 6

ive a question, if an unmarried couple gave both to a child, what would that childs ser name be

Answer 7

If the parents are citizens in Italy, and the baby is born in Italy, the baby's nationality is Italian. If the parents are citizens in also like America, the baby has American and Italian citizenship.

Answer 8

Vaticanese?

Answer 9

The Vatican IS a country recognized by most of the world and is separate and distinct from Italy. If a child were born in the Vatican, It would be a dual-national having citizenship in both the Vatican and its parents country of origin. Incidentally, all professing, practicing Catholics are considered Dual-Nationals by the church.

Answer 10

lol, great qn!!

Answer 11

Who is the "Father"?

Answer 12

Isn't it down to the area in which the birth is registered?

I doubt there are birth, deaths and marriage regestry offices in the vatican, meaning the child will be registered at an italian office.

Answer 13

A very good question indeed. i can only think it would be as follows;

Birth Place; The Principality of The Vatican City.

Answer 14

that's a good question.

i think the nationalities of the parents would be the key thing.

the thing i'd compare it to is being born on a boat in international waters

Answer 15

I am totally guessing.  I would guess technically it would be of Italian decent.  I don't know if they actually have a term for those born within Vatician walls.

Answer 16

A child would nominally be a citizen of Vatican City. For a woman this would be revoked when she married and for a man when he reached 25, assuming that he was not an employee of the Vatican.

This does present a practical problem as the Vatican only issues passports for diplomats and military personal and it seems unlikely that an adult would be permitted to hold a diplomatic passport based of his or her parental status.

The Treaty of Lateran provides that a person stripped of Vatican citizenship is automatically entitled to Italian citizenship so this would prove the obvious solution for a child of a Vatican employee unable to take the nationality from his or her parents.

Answer 17

Citizenship in the Vatican city is only granted as Duel citizenship when you get a job there and is revoked when the job is terminated. The baby would be whatever nationality its parents were, until its old enough to get a job.

Answer 18

It would be the nationality of the parents. Unlike America, neither Italy nor the Vatican have automatic citizenship via the mere fact of birth.