In , more people are seeking second citizenship. And the benefits go beyond increased travel mobility. Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, describes alternative citizenship as a “Plan B” that can offer protection and flexibility in an unpredictable world.
Fortunately, several countries have routes to a second citizenship in . Some, such as Portugal and Greece, offer citizenship by naturalization after a few years of residency, while others, like Antigua and Barbuda, provide immediate citizenship through investment.
This guide lists the 29 easiest countries to get citizenship in based on different pathways: naturalization, investment, marriage, and birth. You’ll learn which countries provide the fastest path to a second passport, the best European citizenship options, and how to qualify.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship: Key Takeaways
The 5 Easiest Ways to Get Citizenship in 2026
01/ Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) allows foreigners to get immediate citizenship in another country by making a qualifying investment.
Popular investment routes for Citizenship by Investment include:
- A non-refundable donation to a government or national economic fund.
- An approved real estate investment.
- Government bonds or securities.
- Business or enterprise investment.
As noted in the Global Intelligence Unit (GIU) briefing, “The Transformation of Citizenship“, one of the main advantages of Citizenship by Investment programs is that they allow qualifying applicants to acquire citizenship without extensive residence requirements.
Many programs are also known for relatively fast processing times, often within a few months, and no language tests or minimum residence requirements.
02/ Citizenship by Naturalization (residency route)
Citizenship by Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen after legally living in a country for a set of years. It is one of the most accessible long-term pathways to a second passport.
Rules vary by country. For example, some countries allow eligible residents to apply after two to five years, while others require a decade or more.
In Portugal, for instance, applicants must live in the country legally for ten years to apply for citizenship.
03/ Citizenship by Descent (jus sanguinis)
Citizenship by Descent allows eligible applicants to claim citizenship through family ancestry, such as through a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Countries such as Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Hungary offer this route. Although it does not require an investment, applicants must prove their family lineage and may need to meet language or residence requirements, depending on the country.
04/ Citizenship by Birth (jus soli)
Citizenship by birth is granted to individuals born within a country’s territory. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina allow children born there to receive citizenship regardless of their parents’ nationality.
In some countries, like Brazil and Argentina, parents can later qualify for residency or citizenship through family reunification.
05/ Citizenship by Marriage
Citizenship by marriage allows a foreigner to acquire the citizenship of their spouse’s country.
This process is also known as naturalization through marriage, as most countries don’t grant citizenship automatically, requiring foreign spouses to complete a residency period first.
Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Brazil are some of the countries that allow citizenship by marriage and have reduced residency requirements for married applicants.
Applicants must prove the legitimacy and duration of the marriage, maintain legal residency, and meet additional requirements such as language proficiency or integration tests.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship
| Citizenship Route | Main Requirement | Timeframe | Who It’s Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Investment | Make a qualifying investment, donation, or real estate purchase | 1 month to 2 years | High-net-worth individuals seeking a fast second passport |
| Citizenship by Naturalization | Live legally in a country for a required number of years | 2 to 10+ years | Foreign residents planning long-term relocation |
| Citizenship by Descent | Prove ancestry through a parent, grandparent, or earlier ancestor | Several months to 2+ years | People with an eligible family heritage |
| Citizenship by Marriage | Marry a citizen and meet residency or marriage duration requirements | 1 to 5+ years | Foreign spouses of citizens |
| Citizenship by Birth | Be born in a country that grants citizenship by birthplace or parentage | Automatic at birth | Children born in eligible countries |
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Investment
Vanuatu
As noted in the Global Citizenship Programs Report 2026, Vanuatu is considered the most operationally efficient program globally.
Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program requires a minimum contribution of $130,000 and has a processing time of one to three months, making it one of the fastest and most affordable citizenship programs in the world.
In 2024, Vanuatu introduced a series of reforms to increase due diligence standards and rebuild international trust in the program. The changes included biometric passports with improved security features and the creation of a national security unit to strengthen applicant screening procedures.
The application process is fully remote, and there are no requirements for physical presence or language tests.
A Vanuatu passport provides visa-free access to 118 countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, and several Latin American destinations.
Dominica
Dominica has the most affordable Caribbean citizenship by investment program in . The minimum contribution is $200,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund or in approved real estate.
Dominica Citizenship by Investment can be acquired in six to nine months, with no residency requirements. The process can be done entirely remotely, including the mandatory virtual interview.
Family inclusion is available, and the main applicant can include the spouse, children, parents, and grandparents.
The program is entirely regulated by Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) under the Ministry of Finance.
Antigua and Barbuda
Due to its ease of procedure, Antigua and Barbuda ranks first as the world’s best citizenship investment program in our Global CBI Index 2025.
Citizenship approval takes eight to ten months, and applicants are not required to relocate. The only physical presence requirement is five days within the first five years after citizenship is granted.
The minimum investment for Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment starts at $230,000 through a contribution to the National Development Fund. The qualifying investment is only made after receiving pre-approval, reducing risk.
There are no language or cultural knowledge tests to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. As noted in the Global Citizenship Programs Report 2026, the Antigua & Barbuda CBI also offers the most expansive eligibility in the world, allowing applicants to include spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings
Antigua and Barbuda’s passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 160 countries, including the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
St. Lucia
The St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program has no residency, interview, or language test requirements.
Applicants can choose from four investment routes, the most affordable one starting at a $240,000 contribution to the National Economic Fund.
St. Lucia is also the only Caribbean citizenship program with a refundable government bond investment option, worth $300,000.
Citizenship in St. Lucia is obtained in 12 to 18 months, and the St. Lucia Passport provides visa-free access to 155 countries, including the European Union (EU), Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Grenada
Restructured in 2024 under the Investment Migration Agency (IMA), the Grenada Citizenship by Investment program allows investors to obtain citizenship in six to eight months.
Applicants can choose between two investment routes: a contribution to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) or an investment in approved real estate projects.
The program has no physical presence requirements, and Grenadian citizens gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 countries.
Grenada is also one of the few Caribbean citizenship programs that provides eligibility for the US E-2 Visa.
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis has the fastest Caribbean’s citizenship by investment program, with citizenship granted in four to six months.
Established in 1984, St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment is also the world’s oldest CBI program. According to the Global RCBI Index, the scheme “has long been a benchmark for quality and adaptability in the investment migration industry.”
To qualify, applicants must invest in St. Kitts. The minimum amount is $250,000 to the Sustainable Island State Contribution.
Successful applicants receive one of the Caribbean’s strongest passports, with visa-free access to 167 countries.
The application can be completed remotely, including the mandatory online interview, and there is no minimum stay requirement.
Nauru
Nauru has one of the easiest and most affordable paths to second citizenship in . It allows applicants to qualify through a government contribution starting at $90,000 until 30 June 2026. After that, the standard minimum contribution is $115,000.
The Nauru Citizenship by Investment Program stands out for fast and remote processing. Applicants can complete the entire procedure online, and the processing time takes three to four months.
Family members can also be included in a single application, including spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings.
A Nauru passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 119 countries and territories, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Russia.
São Tomé and Principe
São Tomé and Príncipe has the most affordable citizenship program in .
Launched in 2025, the São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment starts at $90,000 through a contribution to the National Transformation Fund.
The application process is fast and fully remote. Citizenship can be approved in as little as four to ten weeks, with no requirement to live in or visit São Tomé and Príncipe before or after approval.
There are also no language or education requirements, which simplifies eligibility for international applicants.
Turkey
Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment allows foreign nationals to obtain citizenship through an investment starting at $400,000 in real estate.
Other options include a $500,000 bank deposit, government bonds, investment fund shares, fixed capital investment, or creating at least 50 full-time jobs in Turkey.
Applications are processed in around six to twelve months. There are no language tests, education requirements, or long-term residency obligations.
However, as of 2026, applicants and their spouses must travel to Turkey for biometric verification during the application process, but there is no minimum stay requirement beyond that visit.
With a Turkish passport, foreigners have Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 120 destinations and become eligible to apply for the US E-2 Visa.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Naturalization
Greece
Greece is one of the easiest countries to get citizenship in Europe. The country offers a naturalization route through the Greek Golden Visa.
Greece’s Golden Visa requires a qualifying investment starting at €250,000. After approval, a temporary residence permit is issued for five years. After these five years, applicants can apply for permanent residency in Greece.
After a total of seven years of residence in the country, foreigners and their family members can apply for Greek citizenship.
To obtain Greek citizenship by naturalization, certain requirements must be met, such as demonstrating integration into Greek society and passing a Greek language test at a minimum B1 level.
Cyprus
Cypriot citizenship by naturalization can be acquired through the Cyprus Golden Visa, even though it’s not immediate.
To qualify, foreigners must invest at least €300,000 in real estate, company shares, or investment funds, and have an annual foreign income of at least €50,000.
After seven years of residency, investors and their family members (spouse and children) can apply for Cypriot citizenship.
To obtain citizenship in Cyprus, you must pass a Greek language test (B1 level) and a civic knowledge test.
Argentina
Argentina has one of the fastest citizenship by naturalization routes in the world, requiring just three years of continuous legal residence in the country.
Foreigners can move to Argentina through the Argentina Rentista Visa, which requires proof of stable passive income from abroad that is at least 5 times the minimum wage.
The initial permit is valid for one year and renewable. After three years of continuous residence, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency or Argentine citizenship.
One of the main advantages of Argentine citizenship is free access and residency rights across the entire Mercosur bloc, which includes nine countries such as Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia.
Latvia
The Latvia Golden Visa is the most popular pathway to citizenship by naturalization in Latvia.
The program has a starting investment of €50,000, making it one of the most affordable Golden Visas in the world.
Successful applicants and family members are granted residency with no requirement to live in Latvia full-time. Permanent residency in Latvia can be obtained after five years, with eligibility for citizenship after an additional five years.
Applicants must meet the full-time residence requirement during the last five years and take a Latvian language test (B1 level).
Brazil
To obtain citizenship by naturalization in Brazil, foreigners must have lived in the country for eight years.
In 2026, this is possible thanks to Brazil’s Investment Visa (VIPER), which allows foreigners to move to Brazil in exchange for a minimum investment of R$150,000.
Applicants receive a four-year temporary residence permit. After these four years, they can apply for permanent residency. After 4 years of permanent residency (a total of eight years from application), they can acquire Brazilian citizenship.
With a Brazilian passport, investors can access an entire continent through the Mercosur Residence Agreement. The block comprises 9 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Citizens of any participating country can obtain residency in all the others,
Investors can include spouses, partners, and dependent children in the Brazil Investor Visa application, and are required to spend at least 14 days in Brazil every two years to maintain residency.
Paraguay
Paraguay is also a fast route to second citizenship in the Americas. The main route is naturalization via the Paraguay Independent Means Visa.
This visa allows foreign investors to obtain legal residence in Paraguay by demonstrating stable, passive income from abroad of at least $1,300/month.
They get a temporary residency valid for 2 years. After two further years, they can get permanent residency. After three years of permanent residency, applicants may be eligible to become Paraguayan citizens.
Uruguay
The Uruguay Rentista Visa is another Passive Income Visa that can lead to citizenship by naturalization in Latin America.
The program requires applicants to demonstrate a minimum monthly income of about $1,500
Applicants receive a permanent residency permit. After 3 years of legal residence if married, or 5 years if single, holders also become eligible for Uruguayan citizenship.
Portugal
Under the updated Portuguese nationality law introduced in May 2026, non-EU nationals become eligible for Portuguese citizenship after 10 years of legal residence in the country. For EU and CPLP citizens, the requirement is reduced to seven years.
The process starts with obtaining a temporary residence permit. Two of the most accessible options are the Portugal D7 Visa for those with a passive income of at least €920/month, and the Portugal Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment of €250,000.
Residence permits are valid for two years and renewed every two years. After five years of legal residence, applicants can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. After 10 years in total, they can acquire Portuguese citizenship.
Italy
Italy provides an indirect route to citizenship by naturalization through the Italy Golden Visa Program.
Also known as the Investor Visa, the program requires a minimum investment of €250,000 and grants a two-year renewable residence permit to investors and family members.
Permanent residency can be obtained after five years, with eligibility for Italian citizenship after 10 years. You need a B1 level of Italian and proof of consistent tax payments in Italy.
Spain
Spain is another European country that allows foreigners to obtain citizenship after a period of residence.
The first step is to obtain a visa. The most popular options in include the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, which requires a minimum monthly income of €2,400, and the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, designed for non-EU remote workers.
After five years of continuous residence in Spain, it’s possible to apply for permanent residency.
Citizenship becomes available after a total of ten years of legal residence, provided the applicant has spent at least 183 days per year in Spain.
Nationals from Spain’s former colonies, as well as Brazil, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and people of Sephardic origin, can apply for citizenship after just two years of residence.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Descent
Ireland
Ireland is one of the easiest countries to obtain citizenship by descent. If you have an Irish-born parent or grandparent, you may be eligible to register in the Foreign Births Register and acquire Irish citizenship.
There are no residency or language requirements to obtain Irish citizenship by descent.
Processing takes 9 to 12 months. With Irish citizenship, you can live and work in Ireland and across the EU.
The Irish passport ranks seventh in our 2025 Global Passport Index. It provides visa-free access to 124 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Japan, Andorra, and Austria. It also gives holders the right to live and work across the EU.
Poland
Foreigners can apply for Polish citizenship by descent if they have at least one Polish parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Polish citizen after 1920, the year Poland introduced its modern citizenship laws.
The ancestor must have retained Polish citizenship and not lost it under previous nationality laws.
The Polish citizenship process takes between 6 and 12 months.
Italy
According to the new Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy qualify for citizenship by descent.
Under the 2025 law change, Italian citizenship by descent is now limited to two generations.
This means that applicants relying on an Italian-born great-grandparent or earlier generations are no longer eligible.
Consulate applications can take up to two years or more, while court applications are mostly faster and can take around 12 to 24 months.
Portugal
Foreigners can apply for Portuguese citizenship by descent if they have at least one Portuguese parent or grandparent.
Applicants must prove their parents’ or grandparents’ Portuguese citizenship and demonstrate an effective connection to Portugal.
Cyprus
Foreigners can apply for Cypriot citizenship by descent if they have at least one Cypriot parent or grandparent. In some cases, applicants can also qualify through a more distant Cypriot ancestor if they can prove a direct family line.
Applicants must prove their Cypriot ancestry and show that their parent or grandparent did not renounce Cypriot citizenship.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Marriage
Brazil
While marriage does not grant automatic citizenship in Brazil, it does reduce the standard naturalization period.
Foreigners married to Brazilian nationals can apply for citizenship after one year of continuous legal residence in Brazil.
Applicants must be legally married or in a recognized stable union (união estável) with a Brazilian citizen and prove the relationship is genuine.
France
Foreign spouses can apply for French citizenship after at least four years of marriage.
Applicants must prove that the marriage is genuine and have sufficient knowledge of the French language.
Spain
Spain allows foreign spouses to apply for Spanish citizenship after one year of marriage if they meet residency requirements and demonstrate a genuine marital relationship.
Argentina
Foreign spouses can acquire Argentine citizenship, but they must maintain two years of continuous legal residency in Argentina.
The marriage must be legally valid, registered within Argentina’s Registro Civil, including same-sex marriages recognized under Argentine law.
Portugal
To be eligible for Portuguese citizenship by marriage, you must be married to a Portuguese citizen for at least 3 years.
They must demonstrate a genuine marital relationship and basic language skills.
Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship by Birth
In 2026, there are currently 33 countries that offer automatic birthright citizenship, regardless of the parents’ nationality.
The table below provides a list of the easiest countries with birthright citizenship, grouped by type and region.
| Country | Region | Type | Conditions / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Automatic citizenship to anyone born in the country, except children of foreign diplomats. |
| Canada | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Grants citizenship regardless of parents’ nationality or immigration status. |
| Mexico | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Birth in Mexico grants citizenship; exceptions for children of foreign diplomats. |
| Brazil | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Citizenship by birth within the country’s territory. |
| Argentina | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | No residency or citizenship requirements for parents. |
| Chile | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Automatic, with narrow exceptions for diplomats. |
| Barbados | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Citizenship granted regardless of parents’ status. |
| Jamaica | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Applies to all children born in Jamaica, except diplomat children. |
| Uruguay | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Automatic for those born in Uruguay. |
| Venezuela | Americas | Unrestricted Jus Soli | Birth in the country confers citizenship. |
| Portugal | Europe (EU) | Conditional Jus Soli | One parent must have legally resided for at least 1 year before birth. |
| France | Europe (EU) | Conditional Jus Soli | Citizenship if a parent was also born in France or meets residency requirements. |
| Germany | Europe (EU) | Conditional Jus Soli | At least one parent must have been a legal resident for 8+ years. |
| Ireland | Europe (EU) | Conditional Jus Soli | Requires one parent to have legally resided for 3 of the previous 4 years before birth. |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Conditional Jus Soli | Citizenship if a parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK. |
| Australia | Oceania | Conditional Jus Soli | Citizenship if a parent is a citizen or permanent resident. |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Conditional Jus Soli | At least one parent must be a citizen or a resident. |
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is an advisory migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
