Immigration to Cartadania

Immigration to Cartadania, both in the country's modern borders and the many political entities that preceded it, has occurred throughout the country's history. It has spiked during numerous phenomena and conflicts around the country and has allowed the nation to amass the ninth-largest population and fourth-largest economy on the planet. Today, Cartadania is one of the most popular destinations for immigrants in the world, and a majority go on to become Cartadanian citizens.

Historically, Cartadania has been quite welcoming to immigrants from around the world, but the conditions for immigration have changed over time. Cartadania does afford easier opportunity to those immigrating from countries culturally proximal to Cartadania, such as Ceylonia and Pelaxia, though Pelaxians are able to enjoy many of the same rights as citizens due to Cartadania's membership in UNESARP. On the other hand, some nations have historically been restricted from citizenship except in instances of asylum, such as Caphiria during the Great Wars, though this has since returned to the standard model, and Varshan, which still bares restrictions until 2030.

Among the 4.1 million newborns in metropolitan Cartadania in 2027, 29.1% had one or both parents foreign-born, and about one quarter (23.9%) had one parent or both born outside of Sarpedon. Including grandparents, about 22% of newborns in Cartadania between 2025 and 2027 had at least one foreign-born grandparent (9% born in another Sarpedonian country, 8% born in Levantia, and 2% born in another region of the world).

History
Cartadania has historically always been a country welcome to immigrants in some way or another, especially early in its history as a fully independent country. The ways in which immigration occurred often varied from country to country in regards to arrival, but generally speaking, the vast majority arrived by boat, with some also arriving by land border as well. This method was further exacerbated by the maritime history of Cartadania as it ventured westward towards Vallos, the Polynesian Sea, and eventually to Crona, where it established colonies and transported people back and forth to the metropole.

Owing to the vast amount of surface water that surrounds the country, Cartadania has many ports that formerly accepted immigrants, but there are three that were typically used, the largest of which being Port Valor in Valorica, Triessa. From 1837 to 1954, nearly 31 million immigrants arriving at Port Valor were processed there under federal law by the Triessa Port Authority. It became the most well-known Port in the country as a result of this focus.

Santiago became quite popular for immigration in the 18th century forward as well. Located just off the north shore of the Attalus Bay, Newport Island was also a primary point of entry. Cartadania also welcomed immigrants from across the Commonwealth, as well as by land border with Volonia and Caphiria. Cartadania's population dynamics began to change in the middle of the 19th century, though, as it joined the Industrial Revolution. The pace of industrial growth attracted millions of immigrants over the next century, with especially large numbers arriving from Aciria, Caphiria, Pelaxia, Volonia, and the Coscivian isles off Cartadania's west coast.

The First Great War saw a shift in the opposite direction as Alahuela completely stopped all immigration from the east as a result of conflicts with Caphiria. The imperial encroachment of the continent left the country in disarray, and after the fall of the eastern states, Caphirians seeking asylum were turned away in droves in the first instance since the nation's inception. Veltorinans fleeing imperial reign were granted asylum but were required to present documentation proving their status. This became the status quo until the upheaval of the second Great War, where Cartadania annexed the land previously held back into its control. The policy on imperial immigration continued to stand, with Alahuela further imposing restrictions on Corumm, Dericania, and Faneria, though Cartadania opened its borders to much of the rest of the world at this time. These restrictions fell, one by one, until Alahuela finally relaxed all restrictions on Caphirian immigration in 2014, restoring the prior 5-year rule.

Regulation
Immigration in Cartadania is regulated by the Department of State's Office of Immigration, which designates the immigration law (with consent and approval from the President).

Student visa
Cartadania is an education haven for international students and has been for quite some time. According to surveys conducted in 2027, Cartadania is the world’s fourth most popular destination for foreign students. The government, by opening its gates to international students across the country, has given an economic boom to the education sector. In 2026 alone, it is estimated that a revenue of $57.6 billion was gained from tuition alone. In a given year it is estimated that around 2.4 million international students reside in the country as temporary residents.

The visa issued to international students grants them the right to vote for most public officers, though there is a period of 10 months for which the student must continually be a resident of Cartadania in order to be eligible.

ARGUS visa
The Accord of Romance Governments for University and Solidarity (ARGUS) is an intergovernmental program and union of Romance countries with the goal of reinforcing cultural and linguistic characteristics operated by the governments of Burgundie, Cartadania, and Yonderre for international students. The program grants a visa to students, as well as a national ID card for them to use during their enrollment, though it is only valid for four years unless citizenship is pursued. Though not at all required and not part of ARGUS' mission, many students choose to seek citizenship, a roughly five year process now shortened to two, or in some cases, can be achieved in as little as six months. Otherwise, they are held in similar regard to other international students.