Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship

Hello, worthy readers! Are you looking for the easiest countries to get citizenship? It means that you are planning to migrate abroad and settle there permanently. You cannot live in a country and enjoy its facilities unless you are not a citizen of that country. 

So, you must be very careful in deciding the country for migration and do complete research on the easiest countries to get citizenship. 

Generally, there are various reasons why people want to get citizenship in a country. To some, it is freedom of rights to attract them, which they get only by being citizens of the country where they live. Meanwhile, some people just want to be called the citizens of a specific country. 

Everyone likes ease and simplicity, particularly in the process of getting citizenship. So, there is no wonder to be nosy about the easiest countries to get citizenship. 

For a while, just keep it away why do you want to get citizenship of another country?  Let’s just find out what are the easiest countries to get citizenship as well as the other valuable information regarding it. 

• Types of citizenship
• Citizenship through residency by investment route
• Easiest countries to get citizenship by investment
• Countries that offer citizenship by birth
• Easy countries to get citizenship by descent

Types of Citizenship

Let’s start with the types of citizenship. The following are the types of citizenship you can get:

Citizenship by Investment

There are some countries that grant citizenship in return for monetary contributions. The amount may differ across national borders depending on a number of variables, including the kind of investment and the volume of applications. 

If you are financially strong enough to afford to invest in citizenship, these countries can be the easiest countries for you to get citizenship. 

Citizenship by Birthplace

If you were born in the country, you are a citizen by birth. Regardless of the nationality of your parents, this is the case. For instance, you will also be a citizen of Brazil if you were born there. The same applies to Canada.  

Citizenship by Descent

It means that one may be eligible to obtain citizenship by descent if at least one parent is a citizen of that country or if the kid was born abroad to a citizen of that country. Ancestors are also eligible for citizenship via descent. 

Citizenship Through Naturalization

You can submit an application for naturalization to get citizenship if you meet some specific necessities or qualifications and if it is legally acceptable in that country. It entails fulfilling certain legal requirements and then applying for citizenship voluntarily. As stated differently, your goal is to become a citizen of that nation voluntarily.  

Ways To Get Citizenship

The Easiest Countries To Get Citizenship: Residency by Investment Route 

Residency visas are often granted in lieu of economic investments in several nations. Portugal and Spain’s Golden Visas are excellent examples.  

Portugal 

Portugal is at the top of the list of the easiest countries to get citizenship where you can get residency by investing in real estate, qualifying Portugal Golden Visa funds, donation, or capital transfer. 

Upon receiving your Golden Visa, you will be granted residency rights in Portugal. You may, however, choose to live somewhere and travel to Portugal just seven days a year. A basic proficiency exam in Portuguese is also relevant. 

General Requirements

• For five years, you have maintained your investment in Portugal.
• You fulfill the requirements for a minimum stay.
• You have no criminal history.
• There are no unpaid taxes owed to Portugal. 

Spain 

Spain is no doubt, one of the easiest countries to get citizenship and residency through the route of investment.

Under the Spain Golden Visa scheme, you must deposit a minimum of €500,000 in order to be granted residency in Spain. You must provide evidence of your 10-year residency and your proficiency in Spanish in order to petition for citizenship. 

General Requirements

• Over the course of ten years, you have spent at least 183 days a year in Spain.
• You haven’t sold your Spanish investment.
• There are no unpaid taxes owed to Spain.
• You know the fundamentals of Spanish language and culture. 

Curaçao

Curaçao is another Caribbean country and one of the easiest countries to get citizenship by residency. The Curaçao Investor Permit program has the benefit of providing a path to Dutch citizenship, as Curaçao is a self-governing nation inside the Netherlands. It requires a minimum investment of $280,000. 

Easiest Countries To Get Citizenship by Investment

The following are some easiest countries to get citizenship by investment:

Malta 

The Individual Investor Program of Malta, or MIIP, creates its identity in the easiest countries to get citizenship by investment. It provides a simple and straightforward route to citizenship in the European Union. 

Through this program, you have the consent to get Maltese citizenship by investing and making donations. You must make a payment of €600,000 if you have lived in the nation for 36 months and €750,000 if you have stayed there for 12 months. 

For Malta citizenship by investment, an additional need is a real estate investment of €700,000 or a property lease with a minimum annual rent of €16,000. 

General Requirements

• Your age must be at least 18 or more.
• You have no criminal history.
• You are able to fulfill the prerequisites for donations and investment.
• You are covered by a foreign health insurance policy.
• You are able to supply biometric information.
• You fulfill the prerequisite for a minimum stay. 

Antigua and Barbuda 

You can obtain citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda with a one-time, minimum investment of $100,000 in a country’s national development fund. You have an additional voice of putting $400,000 into a real estate project with the approval of government approval. 

The investment must be held for five years. You can travel to 151 countries worldwide without a visa if you have an Antigua and Barbuda passport. One of the easiest countries to get citizenship by investing is Antigua and Barbuda. 

General Requirements

• You are aged over 18
• You have no criminal history.
• You are able to fulfill the prerequisites for donations and investment.
• You’re in good health.
• You fulfill the prerequisite for a minimum stay.
• You are prepared to swear allegiance. 

St. Kitts and Nevis 

You must invest more than $200,000 or $400,000 in a real estate project that has received the approval of the government in order to qualify for this citizenship program. You will have to hold the $200,000 investment for seven years if you choose that path. This time frame for the $400,000 approach is five years.

An additional choice is to contribute a minimum of $150,000 to the St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Fund. There is no refund for this. 

General Requirements

• You have no criminal history and are older than eighteen.
• You can afford to make the required investment.
• You can demonstrate where your money came from. 

Turkey

Turkey is one of the easiest countries to get citizenship. Purchasing real estate in Turkey is a common way to obtain Turkish citizenship through investing. $400,000. is the required minimum. You can anticipate receiving your citizenship in less than six months due to the speed of the process. 

General Requirements

• You are older than 18
• You have a clean criminal record
• You have made a qualifying investment
• You have never illegally stayed in Turkey 

Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Birth

The United States of America is among the easiest countries to get citizenship by birth. You are eligible to obtain US citizenship if you were born in the country. Even though they are born on American soil, children born to diplomats and other officially recognized foreign government personnel will not be granted US citizenship. 

Below are some other easiest countries to get citizenship by birth:

• Argentina
• Barbados
• Fiji
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Panama,
• Uruguay

Easiest Countries To Get Citizenship by Descent

There are many easiest countries to get citizenship through descent programs. With the help of these programs, you can obtain a passport even if you are born outside of the country. The following are the easiest countries to get citizenship by descent:

Italy

Italy is one of the easiest countries to get citizenship by descent. If you are of Italian descent, you could be able to obtain citizenship. In order to become a citizen of  Italy, you must have an ancestor who was born in Italy after March 17, 1861, or who was a citizen on that date. 

The stipulation is that breaking the lineage is prohibited. It indicates that before the next in line was born, none of their ancestors had renounced their citizenship or obtained citizenship in another nation. 

Poland 

Just like Italy, Poland is also among the easiest countries to get citizenship and it requires you to have an ancestor born in the country post-1900 as well. You might qualify for citizenship if your ancestor met the requirements. Furthermore, in order for Poland to recognize you, your ancestry must remain intact. 

Hungary

The Hungarian nationality law was enacted in 2011. You could be able to become a citizen if your family fits the requirements. The law states that if you have ancestors who were born in the nation before 1920 or between 1941 and 1945, you might be qualified. 

Moreover, the legislation encompasses regions that were formerly a part of Hungary but are currently part of Slovakia and Romania. You have to demonstrate an unbroken bloodline and have a basic command of Hungarian.
You can also check the requirements for the new Hungary Golden Visa Program in 2024.

Other Countries Where You Can Apply for Citizenship by Descent

• Ireland 
• United Kingdom 
• Spain 
• Romania 
• Portugal 
• Luxembourg 
• Lithuania 
• Latvia 
• Israel 
• Greece 
• Germany 
• Armenia 

Easiest Countries to Citizenship By Naturalization 

The length of time required for citizenship varies by nation and situation. The time you have to wait varies by country, some countries require as little as two years, and others up to ten years. Many countries that you can say are the easiest countries to get citizenship, offer reduced requirements of residency for specific categories, such as spouses, adopted children, refugees, etc.  

Two-Year Residence Requirement

Following are the easiest countries to get citizenship that hold the requirements for the residence of two years: 

• Argentina
• Peru

Three-Year Residence Requirement 

Following are the countries that hold three-year residence requirements:

• Poland 
• Paraguay 
• Israel
• Serbia
• Honduras 
• Ecuador 
• Canada

Four-Year Residence Requirement 

Below are the countries that have four-year residence requirements:

• Ethiopia 
• Brazil 

Five-Year Residence Requirement

If you want to get citizenship in any of the following countries, you must have a residence of five years: 

• Ireland 
• Chile 
• Albania 
• Belgium 
• Barbados 
• Australia

Naturalization Timeframe in Different Countries

In this article, you have explored the easiest countries to get citizenship and there specific legal requirements and conditions. So, don’t just wait, gear up to start your life in a new country whom you could ever call your second home!