Loss of citizenship

In a study of the nationality laws of thirty-three European countries, the European Union Democracy Observatory found nine broadly-defined cases in which a citizen of a country may lose his or her citizenship.

Children may also lose their citizenship following adoption by a foreigner or other changes in relation to their parents such as annulment of maternity/paternity.

Finally, citizenship can be lost through a variety of other grounds, that are often not clearly voluntary or involuntary.

One action that is taken voluntarily (e.g. serving in a foreign military) can lead to a subsequent involuntary loss.

These provisions often stem from international treaties that prevent governments from making people stateless, as well as limiting individual's ability to voluntarily make themselves stateless.