jus officii

From Latin iūs (“law”) + officiī (“of office”).

jus officii (uncountable)

1. The right of nationality or citizenship acquired by holding office in that place.

   Coordinate terms: jus sanguinis, jus soli

   • 2010/2011, Ajeng Tri Wahyuni, “STATE RESPONSIBILITY OF VATICAN CITY STATE (HOLY SEE) IN INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR THE SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN (PERPETRATED BY CATHOLIC CLERGYMEN) THAT SETTLED WITH CANON LAW”, in Tilburg University‎^[1], archived from the original on 17 June 2022, page 26:

     In the system of state, a relation between individual and the state is showed with nationality that based on two principles: jus soli (bond of the soil) and jus sanguinis (bond of blood). Vatican City has an exceptional system in relation with its citizens. The constitution of Vatican City is not recognise Vatican City’s nationality, and only admit Vatican City’s citizenship that granted based on jus officii (a bond arising from office holding)

   • 2017 November 2, James Baquet, “Vatican City: seat of the Roman Catholic Church”, in Shenzhen Daily‎^[2], archived from the original on 8 August 2025:

     But in Vatican City, one is a citizen according to jus officii, an “official” status related to one’s work.

   • 2019 October 3, Ellen Curtin, “Everything You Wanted to Know about Vatican City”, in City Wonders‎^[3], archived from the original on 13 June 2025:

     Unlike most other countries in the world, citizenship in Vatican City isn’t solely provided to people that are born in the country. As there are no hospitals in the Vatican State, virtually no one is born in there. Instead, Vatican citizenship is provided on a ‘jus officii’ basis.

   • 2021 February 21, “Why Vatican citizenship is unique and difficult?”, in Best Citizenships‎^[4], archived from the original on 22 March 2025:

     The Vatican may be the smallest and unique country in the world that confers temporary citizenship working for office. It is called ‘jus officii’

   • 2022 July 12, “Is Vatican City Part of Italy?”, in Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program‎^[5], archived from the original on 1 December 2022:

     Vatican citizenship is granted “jus officii,” which means individuals are given citizenship when they are appointed to work for the church in an official capacity.