What role does my nationality play in extradition proceedings?

Nationality is significant in civil law jurisdictions. Germany, France, Poland, and most EU member states have constitutional or statutory prohibitions against extraditing their own nationals to non-EU countries. Instead, they may prosecute domestically under the principle of aut dedere aut judicare. Common law countries like the UK, US, and Australia generally extradite their nationals without restriction. Dual nationals face complex situations — the requested state may refuse surrender based on its own nationality while the requesting state disregards the second nationality. Acquiring citizenship of a non-extraditing country after the alleged offence typically does not provide protection.