By Elisa Brey, Paraguay Country Expert

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) was created in 2007. Since the establishment of a Working Group on South American Citizenship in 2012 the General Secretary of UNASUR has been highly involved in this project. He declared that South American citizenship should be based on common identity, free mobility and access to rights, especially the right to work, right to education (considering recognition of diplomas, for example) and legal protection. Solidarity and complementary between Member States have been recognised as basic principles, together with democracy and respect of human rights. 

In July 2016 several countries of South America met at the headquarters of UNASUR with the aim to consolidate the initial steps of the project for a South American Citizenship. Among other issues, they discussed the creation of a Platform of Assistance to South American Citizens. Read more here.

In July 2016, the South American Citizenship was the main issue discussed during the V Convergence Bureau. The purpose was to initiate coordination to avoid duplication and create synergies between the different integration mechanisms. Read more here.

For more details on current and past citizenship legislation in the countries of South America, please consult our country profile pages.

For a comparative study on citizenship in South America, check out Diego Acosta’s comparative paper.