Lanzerwaldian nationality law

Nationality law in the Republic of the United Cities in the Lanzerwald is both based on the principles of jus sanguinis and jus soli, one has to be born in the territory of one of the cities of the republic and of at least one parent who is a citizen of one of the cities of the republic to be able to acquire citizenship at birth. Cities are allowed to make exceptions to only one principle of the law, e.g. they can provide citizenship to a child of Lanzerwaldian parents from their city born abroad, or to a child of foreign, or thrall, parents born within their city jurisdiction. Such exceptions are proposed on a case-by-case basis by the city mayor, the burgemeester and ratified by the city council, the stadsraad. Exceptions to both principles must be sponsored by the stadtholder and ratified by the national legislative organ, the Steden-Generaal. Usually, exceptions are only granted to those whose parents were displaced by the Lanzerwaldian-Whaler War and who returned shortly after the conclusion of the war. Exceptions are also granted by the Steden-Generaal to thralls that have performed military service.

Those who do not hold citizenship but wish to remain in the territory of the Republic of the United Cities in the Lanzerwald can be classified as follows:

• Free foreigners: visitors to the republic hailing from Calbion, Sanama or the signatory states to the Xäiville Convention who are allowed to visit the republic according to treaties signed by Lanzerwald or its predecessor state, the Republic of Sankt Ludwigshafen. Limits to these visits are dependent on treaty specifications.
• Tourists: visitors to the republic hailing from other states, but who have been granted permission to visit the republic, based upon a successful application to do so. Limits to these visits are specified in the provided visum.
• Undocumented natives: the people inhabiting the Lanzerwald, of tribes that have not aligned themselves with the republic. A-priori they are deemed to be hostile to the republic. While not actively sought by the armed forces, they are forbidden from nearing cities, farms, mines, trade links and military installations.
• Thralls: previously undocumented natives that have fled their tribes and requested asylum in one of the cities of the republic. After registration in one of the cities of the republic, they will be employed by that city for at least one year, usually in harsh jobs such as sewer cleaning or construction. After one year, they can volunteer to join the city militia, and when another year passes they can volunteer to join the Army of the Republic of the United Cities in the Lanzerwald for a period of at least five years. After three years in the army they can petition to the Steden-Generaal to be granted an exception to nationality law and apply for citizenship in the city they first registered. If they at any time before receiving citizenship wish to terminate their employment, the thralls are stripped of their belongings that they have gained in the city, and banned from it.