Foreign national
Encyclopedia
Foreign national is a term used to describe a person who is not a citizen of the host country in which he or she is residing or temporarily sojourning. In Canada
, a foreign national is defined as someone who is not a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident of Canada
. In the European Union
, however, the term foreign national is often used synonymously with "third country national
" to mean someone who is not a citizen of the host country where they are residing, nor are they a citizen of any other EU Member State.
of any country other than the United States." The Brookhaven National Laboratory
, under direction from the U.S. Department of Energy, further explains that, from the perspective of the United States
, a foreign national is, "A person who was born outside the jurisdiction of the United States, is a citizen of a foreign country, and has not become a naturalized U.S. citizen
under U.S. law. This includes Legal Permanent Residents
(also known as Permanent Resident Aliens
)." This definition presumably also applies to anyone who has successfully renounced his or her U.S. citizenship
.
The term "foreign national" came into usage when the previously used term "foreigner" developed negative connotations. They are synonyms.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a foreign national is defined as someone who is not a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, however, the term foreign national is often used synonymously with "third country national
Third Country National
Third Country National is a term often used in the context of migration, referring to individuals who are in transit and/or applying for visas in countries that are not their country of origin , in order to go to destination countries that is likewise not their country of origin...
" to mean someone who is not a citizen of the host country where they are residing, nor are they a citizen of any other EU Member State.
The Term in the US
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security a foreign national is defined simply as "an individual who is a citizenCitizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
of any country other than the United States." The Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base...
, under direction from the U.S. Department of Energy, further explains that, from the perspective of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a foreign national is, "A person who was born outside the jurisdiction of the United States, is a citizen of a foreign country, and has not become a naturalized U.S. citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
under U.S. law. This includes Legal Permanent Residents
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
(also known as Permanent Resident Aliens
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
)." This definition presumably also applies to anyone who has successfully renounced his or her U.S. citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship
Renunciation is a voluntary act of relinquishing one's citizenship . It is the opposite of naturalization whereby a person voluntarily acquires a citizenship, and related to denaturalization where the loss of citizenship is not voluntary, but forced by a state.-Historic practices:The old common law...
.
The term "foreign national" came into usage when the previously used term "foreigner" developed negative connotations. They are synonyms.
See also
- AlienAlien (law)In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
- NationalityNationalityNationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
- ImmigrationImmigrationImmigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
- NaturalizationNaturalizationNaturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
- StatelessnessStatelessnessStatelessness is a legal concept describing the lack of any nationality. It is the absence of a recognized link between an individual and any state....
- Third Country NationalThird Country NationalThird Country National is a term often used in the context of migration, referring to individuals who are in transit and/or applying for visas in countries that are not their country of origin , in order to go to destination countries that is likewise not their country of origin...