Фото: t.me/customs_bel
The Canadian government continues to advise its citizens not to travel to Belarus. On July 2, it added a new reason to its updated travel advisory concerning the children of Belarusian citizens.
Canadian authorities warn that children of Belarusian citizens who were born in Canada and hold Canadian citizenship may also have Belarusian citizenship without being aware of it. If they travel to Belarus, they could become subject to compulsory military conscription.
Indeed, Belarus’ citizenship law states that a child acquires Belarusian citizenship by birth if, on the day of the child’s birth, “at least one of the child’s parents is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, regardless of the child’s place of birth.”
Canadian authorities also warn that Belarusian citizens may be denied access to Canadian consular services regardless of whether they also hold Canadian citizenship.
“If you have family ties to Belarus, you should contact the nearest Belarusian embassy or consulate about potential citizenship obligations before travelling to Belarus”, the advisory says.
In the Canadian government’s travel advisories, Belarus is listed in the highest-risk category with the warning to “avoid all travel.”