# Citizenship of the Principality of Sealand **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 5, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820 "2000-11-05T17:48:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/1 "2000-11-05T17:48:56Z")
I’m an American citizen. Can I become a citizen of Sealand and retain my U.S. citizenship, or would I lose it? I thought we had a law against dual citizenship in this country. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/2 "2000-11-05T18:02:20Z")
There was a law against it, but the Supreme Court has ruled that the law can’t be enforced. Of course, that may only apply to citizenship in a real country. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/3 "2000-11-05T18:10:16Z")
I think Cecilia answers this question in one of the Straight Dope books; something about some yahoo who wants to renounce his American citizenship. Upshot: Dual citizenship is not encouraged but is perfectly legal. That’s right, Cecilia. If God could be a woman, why not Cecil Adams, who like Ed Zotti does not exist IMHO. THe real Slim Shady is Slug Sigornio. You can’t make that stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/4 "2000-11-05T18:10:43Z")
Cecil mentioned Sealand here: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_300.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html) Other Sealand threads in GQ: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=32729](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=32729) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=26809](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=26809) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=14763](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=14763) ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/5 "2000-11-05T20:38:45Z")
Cecil / Cecilia’s column: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_229.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_229.html) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/6 "2000-11-05T21:55:15Z")
'Course, in all liklihood, you can’t become a citizen of Sealand. According to their website ([http://www.principality-sealand.net](http://www.principality-sealand.net)), their pretty strict about whom they allow to become citizens. Offers from others regarding Sealand passports, according to them, are phony. Also, I’ve heard that a hosting company (backed in no small part by Apple Computer) has essentially “bought” Sealand. The “bought” is quoted because it’s not an outright purchase, but some sort of licensing agreement. In any case, my favorite, small independant nation may suddenly be no more, before long. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/7 "2000-11-05T23:48:37Z")
From what I’ve heard, the plans for Sealand are to use it as a host for websites containing controversial material. No kiddie porn will be allowed, but pretty much anything else would be OK. Also, they won’t turn over the files to any court that tries to subpeona them. That’s what I’ve heard, anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizenship-of-the-principality-of-sealand/39820/8 "2000-11-05T23:57:23Z")
According to their website, they will extend citizenship to anyone who wants to use their skills and talents to further their emergent state. Granted that’s a pretty vague promise, but then it’s not as if they have to worry about the prospective citizen becoming a public charge. WRT controversial websites I’d think anyone who believes in freedom on the Net should consider applying.