The archipelago, which lies between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, is made up of six major and 992 minor islands, albeit only 147 are inhabited. This stretch of islands is paradise on earth, although the roads are unpaved, and the weather is hot and sticky.
Do you know where the capital of the Solomon Islands is? Come to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, and you’ll find that the city is unlike anything you’ve ever seen — surrounded by pristine nature and volcanic peaks, Honiara has a slow-paced village life supplemented by a strong cultural identity with a turbulent yet compelling and rich past.
There is no better time than now to pack your bags and travel to the Solomon Islands to enjoy the beauty that the islands have to offer!
Solomon Islands nationality law is governed by the Solomon Islands Constitution of 1978, as modified, the Citizenship Act of 2018 and its modifications, and international agreements signed by the Solomon Islands government. These laws define who is a Solomon Islands national or who is entitled to become one.
Nationality, or formal legal membership in a nation, differs from citizenship, which is a domestic connection of rights and obligations between a national and the nation. Solomon Islander nationality is usually acquired by birth in the Solomon Islands or through birth abroad to Solomon Islander parents. In the country, nationality can be obtained at birth or later in life by naturalization.
By Birth
The term “nationality by birthright” applies to:
Persons born anywhere to a parent who is a Solomon Islands national.
By Naturalization
In the Solomon Islands, regular naturalization is obtained by applying for the commission in charge of immigration administration. Applicants must show that they are of good moral character, that they are conversant with Solomon Islander civics, language, and customs, that they plan to live in the Solomon Islands, and that they have lived in the territory for a total of five years in the last ten years. Individuals that may be eligible for naturalization are:
- A native-born Solomon Islander’s spouse, if they’ve been married for at least five years;
- Persons who have at least one native-born Solomon Islander grandparent or great-grandparent; or
- Adoptees once an adoption order has been completed.
The following procedures must be followed when applying for Solomon Islands citizenship:
- The candidate must obtain an application form from the Citizenship Secretariat and complete it. The completed form, along with the requisite documentation and the stipulated fee, must be returned to the secretariat.
- The application is then forwarded to the Citizenship Commission for consideration once the Secretariat has processed it and determined that the necessary documents and information supporting the application have been supplied and meet the criteria.
- The applicant is notified whether his or her application has been approved, postponed, or refused when the Citizenship Commission has made its decision on the application.
- If your application is approved, you will receive a signed citizenship certificate.
- If the application is denied by the commission, the applicant may appeal to the Review Board. The applicant must explain why he or she disagrees with the decision of the Citizenship Commission.
- The Commission’s decision can be upheld or the appeal can be approved by the Review Board.
- The Citizenship Commission will be notified of the Review Board’s decision, and the applicant will be notified of the outcome of his or her appeal application by the Secretariat. Certificates will be developed, signed, and issued if the appeal is approved