Noncitizens

Noncitizens are individuals who do not hold the citizenship of the country in which they reside. They may be legal residents, temporary visitors, or individuals who do not have any nationality at all (stateless persons). Broad categories include permanent residents, temporary residents such as visa holders, migrant workers, students and tourists, asylum seekers and refugees, diplomats, and others whose status is defined by immigration law. Stateless persons are a subset of noncitizens who are not considered nationals by any state.

Rights and duties vary by country. Noncitizens may have permission to work, study, access health care, and enjoy other public services, but they often lack political rights such as voting or running for office. They may face immigration controls, require renewing visas, and can be subject to deportation or removal if they violate immigration rules. Some jurisdictions grant paths to citizenship through naturalization, usually requiring a period of residency, language proficiency, knowledge of the country, and good conduct. Others restrict naturalization or require renunciation of other nationalities.

International framework: Statelessness is addressed by treaties such as the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Refugees are protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention and related regional instruments. Policy debates around noncitizens often focus on integration, access to services, labor rights, and the balance between migration control and humanitarian obligations.

Terminology: In some legal systems “alien” or “foreign national” is used; terminology reflects policy choices and may carry different implications in different countries.