![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_668d3e384b9fe.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e2c1d23b8.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e2f2dfa1d.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e2e7bf634.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e2e8d70f6.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e282217e3.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e35847c48.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e2b519ef2.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e368e57c8.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e31ef03e3.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e33d5bf59.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3710346a.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e372613c5.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e39320df9.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3631ed03.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3832e501.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3e3ed04d.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3f9bcdd9.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e405c78d6.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3c4851b3.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e45444f37.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e3fc06c12.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e401c8a21.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e40611ad1.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e4836a8e1.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e40cbc9d9.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e437a7b79.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e42f64ea2.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e464d5d71.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6638e48224a5b.jpg)
See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
Option 1: Investment
- Many countries will offer citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution. The specifics will vary from country to country, but investing in the country in various ways can mean citizenship for you.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Option 2: Birthplace - In some places, if you were born in a certain country, then you are a citizen there regardless of your parents’ citizenship. Think of places like Brazil and Canada.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Option 3: Descent
- If your family or ancestors are from a certain country, then the case of citizenship by descent may be an option.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Option 4: Naturalization - In some countries, individuals who aren’t native can become citizens by fulfilling certain requirements or qualifications.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Portugal
- Residency is offered in Portugal to individuals who can, and do, make investments in real estate or who donate or transfer capital.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Portugal
- General additional requirements include keeping your investment in Portugal for five years, meeting the minimum stay requirements, a clean criminal record, and no outstanding Portuguese tax payments.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Spain
- To become a Spanish resident, you’ll need to invest at least €500,000. To apply for actual citizenship, you will also need to prove the 10-year residency requirement and prove that you know Spanish.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Spain
- General requirements include staying in Spain for at least 183 days per year, living there for 10 years, as well as keeping your investment in Spain and having no outstanding Spanish tax payments.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Curaçao - The Caribbean country offers an investor permit program with a minimum investment of US$280,000.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Curaçao
- An additional benefit of this particular program is that it is a route to Dutch citizenship, as Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Malta
- Malta has an investor program that allows for citizenship through donation and investment. If you’ve lived in the country for 36 months, then you’d need to contribute €600,000 to stay.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Malta
- You can also invest in real estate worth €700,000, or sign a property lease for at least a year and worth €16,000.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Antigua and Barbuda
- You can become a citizen by investing in the national development fund with at least US$100,000, or $400,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Antigua and Barbuda
- Extra requirements for residency include a clean criminal record, good health, and a willingness to take the oath of allegiance.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- To become a citizen here through investment, you would have to invest US$200,000 or $400,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- A different option is to donate a non-refundable, US$150,000 minimum to Saint Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Fund.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Turkey
- For Turkish citizenship, the minimum amount is US$400,000 but you can receive citizenship in less than six months.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Turkey
- To gain Turkish citizenship, in addition to your qualifying investment, you must be over 18 with a clean criminal record and never stayed illegally in Turkey.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Countries that offer citizenship by birth
- Some countries offer citizenship to people based on where they are born. For example, places like Argentina, Barbados, Fiji, and Mexico all offer citizenship by birth.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Italy
- To be eligible in Italy for citizenship, you must have an ancestor who was a citizen of Italy on March 17, 1861 or born in the country afterwards without ever breaking the lineage.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Poland
- In Poland, to obtain citizenship you must have an ancestor born post-1900. Additionally, the lineage must not be broken.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Hungary
- You may be eligible if you have an ancestor born between 1941 and 1945 or prior to 1920. It’s also important to show an unbroken lineage.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Other countries where you can apply by descent
- Other countries include Ireland, the UK, Romania, Luxembourg, Greece, and more.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of two years - In Argentina and Peru, you can become a naturalized citizen in two years.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of three years
- With a slightly longer wait time, there are countries with three-year residence requirements. Those include Poland, Paraguay, Honduras, and Serbia.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of four years - Brazil and Ethiopia are countries with a four-year residence requirement.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of five years
- With the longest requirement on this guide, the following countries have five-year requirements: Chile, Albania, Australia, Belgium, and more.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
FAQ: Are there any free citizenship countries? - The only way to get citizenship for free would be to explore the naturalization route.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
FAQ: How many citizenships can you have?
- This depends on your home country and preferences. Often this is also affected by why you need the passports, i.e. whether for business or lifestyle needs. Sources: (Get Golden Visa) See also: Go away! Countries that want to reduce the number of tourists
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
Option 1: Investment
- Many countries will offer citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution. The specifics will vary from country to country, but investing in the country in various ways can mean citizenship for you.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Option 2: Birthplace - In some places, if you were born in a certain country, then you are a citizen there regardless of your parents’ citizenship. Think of places like Brazil and Canada.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Option 3: Descent
- If your family or ancestors are from a certain country, then the case of citizenship by descent may be an option.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Option 4: Naturalization - In some countries, individuals who aren’t native can become citizens by fulfilling certain requirements or qualifications.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Portugal
- Residency is offered in Portugal to individuals who can, and do, make investments in real estate or who donate or transfer capital.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Portugal
- General additional requirements include keeping your investment in Portugal for five years, meeting the minimum stay requirements, a clean criminal record, and no outstanding Portuguese tax payments.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Spain
- To become a Spanish resident, you’ll need to invest at least €500,000. To apply for actual citizenship, you will also need to prove the 10-year residency requirement and prove that you know Spanish.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Golden Visa in Spain
- General requirements include staying in Spain for at least 183 days per year, living there for 10 years, as well as keeping your investment in Spain and having no outstanding Spanish tax payments.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Curaçao - The Caribbean country offers an investor permit program with a minimum investment of US$280,000.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Curaçao
- An additional benefit of this particular program is that it is a route to Dutch citizenship, as Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Malta
- Malta has an investor program that allows for citizenship through donation and investment. If you’ve lived in the country for 36 months, then you’d need to contribute €600,000 to stay.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Malta
- You can also invest in real estate worth €700,000, or sign a property lease for at least a year and worth €16,000.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Antigua and Barbuda
- You can become a citizen by investing in the national development fund with at least US$100,000, or $400,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Antigua and Barbuda
- Extra requirements for residency include a clean criminal record, good health, and a willingness to take the oath of allegiance.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- To become a citizen here through investment, you would have to invest US$200,000 or $400,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- A different option is to donate a non-refundable, US$150,000 minimum to Saint Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Fund.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Turkey
- For Turkish citizenship, the minimum amount is US$400,000 but you can receive citizenship in less than six months.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Turkey
- To gain Turkish citizenship, in addition to your qualifying investment, you must be over 18 with a clean criminal record and never stayed illegally in Turkey.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Countries that offer citizenship by birth
- Some countries offer citizenship to people based on where they are born. For example, places like Argentina, Barbados, Fiji, and Mexico all offer citizenship by birth.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Italy
- To be eligible in Italy for citizenship, you must have an ancestor who was a citizen of Italy on March 17, 1861 or born in the country afterwards without ever breaking the lineage.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Poland
- In Poland, to obtain citizenship you must have an ancestor born post-1900. Additionally, the lineage must not be broken.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Easiest countries by descent - Hungary
- You may be eligible if you have an ancestor born between 1941 and 1945 or prior to 1920. It’s also important to show an unbroken lineage.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Other countries where you can apply by descent
- Other countries include Ireland, the UK, Romania, Luxembourg, Greece, and more.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of two years - In Argentina and Peru, you can become a naturalized citizen in two years.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of three years
- With a slightly longer wait time, there are countries with three-year residence requirements. Those include Poland, Paraguay, Honduras, and Serbia.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of four years - Brazil and Ethiopia are countries with a four-year residence requirement.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Naturalization of five years
- With the longest requirement on this guide, the following countries have five-year requirements: Chile, Albania, Australia, Belgium, and more.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
FAQ: Are there any free citizenship countries? - The only way to get citizenship for free would be to explore the naturalization route.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
FAQ: How many citizenships can you have?
- This depends on your home country and preferences. Often this is also affected by why you need the passports, i.e. whether for business or lifestyle needs. Sources: (Get Golden Visa) See also: Go away! Countries that want to reduce the number of tourists
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
Countries with the easiest citizenship options
A guide to understanding your options worldwide
© Shutterstock
Does the allure of living abroad call to you? Have you thought more about leaving your home country and pursuing life elsewhere but find yourself stumped at how to accomplish this? While citizenship in other countries can be challenging in many ways, this guide will sort through the countries where it’s comparatively easier to get citizenship. From the different types of citizenship options to exactly where you can move and the respective general requirements for each, you’ll have the knowledge and power to choose which option works best with your goals and life circumstances.
Start planning your new life today! Click through this gallery to explore where you might call home next.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![The essential guide to visiting Alaska](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a71b38c172.jpg)
![These churches are the last of their kind in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6634cb1373c5f.jpg)
![The 30 places you must visit before you die](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a221964d69.jpg)
![Places in Europe where three countries meet](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664760ce0aeed.jpg)
![On the right track: a history of the British railway system](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669cde7cb1d9d.jpg)
![Overlooked travel destinations to discover this year](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66984a29d9eb9.jpg)
![How does Venice manage to float on water?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6699fdba7a0ea.jpg)
![Europe's most underrated cities, according to travel experts](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66991c50f1dc1.jpg)
![Unmissable stops along Ireland's stunning Wild Atlantic Way](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6698020a43b76.jpg)
![The top 30 most-visited countries worldwide](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697d71c4bd43.jpg)
![The unseen side of famous landmarks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66963692260e2.jpg)
![Stunning and lesser-known Greek islands for escaping the crowds](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bcf60734f5.jpg)
![Going to Galicia? These are the best attractions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668fbdc4d48c9.jpg)
![The Brandenburg Gate: a symbol of division or unity?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ce3e981e32.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d3e384b9fe.jpg)
![Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d270905bf7.jpg)
![The biggest mistakes tourists make at national parks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663bb4b2ce984.jpg)
![Hiking the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bb92bc0a2b.jpg)
![Incredible filming locations to visit if you love ‘Star Wars’](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668befa2881e5.jpg)
![Exploring Suriname, South America's smallest nation](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ba211bcec0.jpg)
![Things that will annoy any airport security agent](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bd707da037.jpg)
![Incredible destinations where the sun shines all night](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6687f507924df.jpg)
![The most dog-friendly national parks in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668417654c65e.jpg)
![The 30 best historical destinations to visit in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66866b577eb33.jpg)
![European road trips you need to try once in your life](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682db0e9a474.jpg)
![The only country located in all four hemispheres](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682915f24825.jpg)
![Europe’s most dangerous tourist spots for pickpocketing (and how to protect yourself)](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668292697149b.jpg)
![Incredible places from Greek mythology you can visit today](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66827be7eb410.jpg)
![The best beach towns in the USA](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667d58f120de0.jpg)
![The best beaches to visit on the Adriatic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667c1a8d156ed.jpg)
![The 30 most disappointing cities in the world for tourists](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667aca257797a.jpg)
![Extraordinary desert experiences for adventurous travelers](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66472d27e0d70.jpg)
![The 30 best mid-sized US cities for cultural experiences](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675320070ea0.jpg)
![The best beach destinations on the Baltic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675513b7724d.jpg)
![The European countries with the cleanest beaches](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667539d3e47ce.jpg)
![The best guys' trip destinations](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6672a48c63f48.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Nature
-
3
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
-
4
TRAVEL Staycation
Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again
-
5
HEALTH Covid-19
-
6
HEALTH Cognitive function
-
7
LIFESTYLE Bizarre
You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations
-
8
HEALTH Bad habits
-
9
TRAVEL Destinations
-
10
TRAVEL Architecture