Citizenship confers certain rights on an individual based on their relationship with a nation-state and include the right to work, own property and vote. In return, the citizen undertakes to abide by the laws and customs of the state. Citizenship units people from different backgrounds under a common identity.
Most people acquire their citizenship by traditional means; by birth or by marriage. But people can also choose naturalization. In this process, a person who lives in a country for a specific amount of time can apply to be a full citizen.
Since 1984, another way of gaining citizenship in a country has been to invest in it according to the needs set out by their respective Governments.