Marrying someone from a different country no longer raises eyebrows these days, at least not in open, contemporary societies. You stroll along the boulevards and avenues of large cities, or the cobblestone streets of small towns and villages, and you’ll come across the familiar sight of two lovers hand in hand or cheek to cheek, who obviously do not share the same roots. Intoxicated by love, oblivious to others, both share a vision of living happily ever after, regardless of race, color, or creed. When children are born, the perpetual question arises: Who will the baby look like? What color will they be?
Our father used to say that the human race keeps improving—people born today will be taller, more good-looking, smarter, healthier, and living with the best technology. They’ll probably be more intelligent than Socrates, Einstein, or Christian Barnard because they have access to modern tools, resources, and street-smarts to thrive in an already crowded world full of the best and brightest.
We’d like to venture a guess: The human race is improving and looking better not just because of technological advancements but also because of what we’re doing to the genetic pool. By blending races together, we’re transforming societies into happily heterogeneous assemblies of black and white, yellow and brown, white and yellow, black and yellow, and many other combinations.
One day at a restaurant, a group of giggling people in their late 20s enjoyed pizza and cokes, joking about the fact that they all hailed from different countries, thus comparing themselves to a miniature United Nations.
One big happy party.
Marrying into a Different Nationality – Issues to Consider
Okay, you might say, marrying a foreigner is a no-brainer because it happens everywhere. As long as two people of different races are in love, that’s all that matters, and there’s nothing much to argue about. Let them get on with their lives and produce beautiful, exotic offspring.
However, it’s not always that simple. Yes, we know some mixed couples who would do it all over again, given the chance. Some unions go smoothly without any issues, while others are not as trouble-free.
Before marrying someone from a different nationality, there are several important questions to consider. Do all countries treat the rights of men and women equally? Can spouses retain their nationalities, or must they adopt their partner’s nationality? Are there laws that dictate what nationality the children should inherit?
Marrying a foreigner—especially one from a non-western country—can present some challenges. We’re not saying obstacles, but challenges. These challenges still need to be addressed.
Marrying into a Different Nationality – Examples
Lawyers representing clients who married foreigners and are contemplating divorce must familiarize themselves with the laws of both countries to avoid legal entanglements for both parties. There are as many nationality laws as there are countries, and partners may need to prioritize their love for each other while sorting out what’s best for themselves and their children’s future.
Here are a few examples:
- In Egypt, a law passed in 2004 allows Egyptian women marrying foreigners to pass Egyptian nationality to their children. Before 2004, Egyptian women could not pass their nationality to their children.
- In March 2005, Algeria passed a law allowing Algerian women married to foreigners to pass their nationality to their husband and children.
- In Iran, a recent law allows children born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers to apply for Iranian citizenship, provided they meet certain conditions.
- In Switzerland, children acquire Swiss citizenship if either parent is Swiss. However, there’s an exception: Children of a Swiss woman who acquired citizenship through marriage do not automatically gain Swiss citizenship but can apply for naturalization.
- Canadian nationality laws allow a Canadian citizen to acquire the citizenship of a foreign spouse without losing Canadian citizenship. However, the Canadian government has no control over the other country’s policies, and the foreign spouse’s country may prevent the Canadian spouse from receiving government assistance.
- The eligibility age for marriage in China is 22 for men and 20 for women. While most Chinese nationals can marry foreigners, some, such as diplomats, security officials, and individuals in critical jobs, cannot legally marry foreign nationals. Chinese students are free to marry, but they may face expulsion from school. U.S. citizens marrying Chinese students should keep this in mind.
While we haven’t covered every country, you now have an idea of the implications of marrying a foreign national. Marrying involves a degree of risk, and marrying someone from another country might involve even higher risks. This is where long engagements might be important.
Love is an overpowering feeling, and we sometimes tend to ignore the impending realities of a mixed marriage. Planning a marriage requires thinking with our heads, not just our hearts. While marriage is a bond between two people, it actually involves marrying the entire family and culture of the other person.
Have you considered the potential conflicts that could arise when marrying someone from a different country? Is your foreign spouse expecting you to live with their parents, or in the same compound, as is common in their culture? Have you thought about what food you’ll eat, what religion your children will practice, and how you’ll spend vacations?
These questions may seem trivial, but they are important to consider. Be prepared for the cultural divide.
Granted, we read sensational news stories too often, but we’ve heard of instances where an innocent person marries a foreigner only to discover their partner was an escaped convict from their home country. It’s worth keeping these things in mind. We can be easily charmed by foreign ways and habits, and that’s fine—being attracted to foreign lifestyles is natural.
But it doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind…
The Joys of Marrying into a Different Nationality
Yes, there are things to be cautious about, but there are also many joys. Since foreigners continue to marry each other, they must be doing something right.
And they are, enjoying every minute of it.
So, what are the advantages of marrying someone from a different nationality?
- We contribute to the enrichment of our country’s cultural mosaic. We welcome new ways of thinking, new customs, and new cuisines, while learning the basics of a new language.
- We develop a deeper understanding of people and cultures beyond our borders. We learn to tolerate the unfamiliar, experiment with behavior we never thought possible, sharpen our observation skills, refine our listening abilities, and stimulate our curiosity.
- We take the best of both worlds and share these with our children. We broaden their horizons, bring vibrant colors into their lives, and expand their minds to different ideas and perspectives.
- Most importantly, we acquire the gift of laughter. We laugh at ourselves, at our spouse, at our children. Laughter helps heal wounds and diminishes ignorance of other cultures.
Remember the song, love is lovelier the second time around? We might add, love is lovelier across frontiers.
