In the Roman Empire what was stopping a Subject claiming to be a citizen to gain more rights? How could this be confirmed if one moved to a different region? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

In the Roman Empire what was stopping a Subject claiming to be a citizen to gain more rights? How could this be confirmed if one moved to a different region?

by Gymrat1010

There was obviously no ID card or computer database to check. What was stopping say, somebody in Nazareth in the year 1CE, moving from Judea to Gaul and assuming citizenship?

sleep-apnea

You would need a letter of reference from some authority like a prefect, which would be checked since citizens had voting rights. Also you would probably be under greater scrutiny if you obviously didn't come from Italy or Greece and your Latin/Greek was not really good.