What does "Commonwealth" mean?
 

Pardon my ignorance...

As I get ready to move to Canada, and on my way to becoming a Canadian citizen, this question came through my mind.

What connects the Commonwealth nations together? Are there any privileges for citizens of one nation into the other?

Does a Canadian citizen have permission to work in England, or Australia? Are there any loopholes for intra-commonwealth subjects?

Please enlighten me. :lecture:

Re: What does "Commonwealth" mean?
 

I think the only thing that connects them together was at one time they were all connected under the British Empire. Nowadays it doenst really mean that much, IIRC commonwealth nations have certain visa priviledges in getting into the UK, but it certainly doesnt apply to entitlement to work or anything like that, its not like the European Union in that respect.

I'm not sure there's any actual cast iron benefits these days of intra-commonwealth links, certainly I've always presumed it easier to migrate betwixt commonwealth nations that between non-commonwealth states. Although the experience of Canadian immigration is challenging that somewhat!

You can hold dual and sometimes even triple commonwealth citizenship. Is that unique among other nations?

Cheers, Iain

Re: What does "Commonwealth" mean?
 

The commonwealth affords very few practical advantages to its subjects, and no immigration benefits worth mentioning (there are a few student work permit programs and the like here and there).

Most western countries allow you to hold any number of citizenships from any countries.

Some countries require that you formally renounce all other citizenships when you take up their's. Singapore is one. I'm sure there are others.

bummer :beer:

Anyways, I am just going to be gratefull on becoming part of a Western Nation, after feeling an outsider for 7 years in the United States.

By the way, will I have to swear alliegance to the Queen, when becoming a Canadian citizen?

After Canada, England has to be the utlimate destination.... :p

Yep, swearing at the queen is mandatory:D In either or both of the official languages. Swearing allegiance to the queen in french is surely in poor taste?:)

Re: What does "Commonwealth" mean?
 

Citizens of Commonwealth countries still have certain privileges in terms of UK immigration:

- only Commonwealth citizens are eligible for the Ancestry Visa and Working Holiday Programs
- in order for a non-British citizen to be eligible for Right of Abode, one must be a Commonwealth citizen (and have been so since 1 January 1983)

Commonwealth citizens legally resident in the UK are entitled to vote and stand for public office.

However there is no special benefit in terms of naturalisation - Commonwealth citizens face the same processes as everyone else. This has been the case since 1983.

The Commonwealth does not have any specific rules about dual citizenship. Some Commonwealth countries allow dual citizenship, others restrict or forbid it.

Jeremy