Legal Definitions - denization

Definition: Denization is the act of making a person a denizen, which means giving them certain rights in a foreign nation or allowing them to live habitually in a foreign nation. In English law, a denizen is a person who holds a position between being an alien and a natural-born or naturalized subject.

• A person who moves to a foreign country and is granted the right to work and live there is an example of denization.
• In English law, a denizen is a person who is allowed to own property and engage in trade, but cannot hold public office or vote in elections.

These examples illustrate how denization grants certain rights to individuals who are not native to a particular country. It allows them to live and work in a foreign nation, but does not grant them all the rights and privileges of a natural-born or naturalized citizen.