The 7 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship, From Europe to the Caribbean
With election day officially here, anxiety over who will be the next US president is hitting a fever pitch—and searches for “easiest countries to get citizenship” are surging. In recent months, a wave of travel-minded Americans have been forming a plan B if the election's results don’t go the way they’d hoped: According to the American Bar Association, immigration lawyers across the US have reported a jump in the number of inquiries into obtaining a second passport or residency in another country.
For those looking for a second passport or permanent residence abroad, there are a couple of options. The first is to obtain a passport by ancestry in a country where a parent or grandparent was born; the second is through “golden passport” or visa programs that offer citizenship or residency in exchange for a significant donation or investment. The easiest countries to get citizenship are located in the Caribbean and Europe, two of the most popular regions for golden passport schemes. “Most people are interested in gaining citizenship in European Union countries, which brings flexibility by allowing people to study or take a job within the 27-nation group without additional visas, attorneys say,” according to the American Bar Association’s report.
Although election anxiety is likely the driving force behind many of the inquiries, these programs are also popular among travelers taking advantage of remote work policies or planning for retirement. Whatever your reason for seeking dual citizenship, here are seven nations with a fairly straightforward process for obtaining a second passport or permanent residency status.
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Italy
As one of the most popular destinations in the world for American travelers, Italy is an appealing option for a second passport. If you’re interested in living in the land of “la dolce vita,” you have a few options for citizenship. Anyone born to an Italian mother or father can obtain Italian citizenship by submitting the right documents. Americans with Italian grandparents can also apply for citizenship, even if their parents were born in the US. If you don’t have close Italian heritage, you can aim for the country’s investment visa, which is valid for up to five years. But you’ll need to shell out anywhere from €250,000 to €2 million (about $274,000 to $2.2 million USD) to start the process, depending on the type of investment. After 10 years, residents on the investment visa can apply for citizenship.
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Ireland
If you have a parent who was an Irish citizen when you were born or a grandparent who was born on the island of Ireland, you are eligible for Irish citizenship by descent, and you can apply for an Irish passport. In order to get your passport, you must apply for citizenship through the country’s Foreign Birth Registration. According to the official website, this “can be a complex process that may require you to submit official documentation relating to three generations which may have been issued by several jurisdictions.” It can take nine months to process an application, but the effort is well worth it. Once you receive your passport, you’ll be able to live, work, and travel freely in Ireland as well as any EU member country.
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Greece
One of the most affordable residency-by-investment programs in Europe can be found in Greece, making it one of the easiest countries to get citizenship right now. In exchange for a minimum investment of €250,000 in certain types of real estate, Greece offers a permanent residency visa that can be renewed every five years. However, the minimum investment balloons to €800,000 if you’re looking for property in the most popular areas of Greece—including places like Athens, Santorini, or any island with a population of 3,100 people or more. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after seven years. Applicants can include their spouse, children, and parents on their visa, but in order to be considered, investors must have a clean criminal record and must also submit a valid passport, proof of investment, health insurance, and other supporting documents.
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Portugal
Another affordable option that offers residents visa-free access to the EU is Portugal. For a minimum investment of €250,000, applicants can receive at least five years of residency in Portugal. That amount must go toward an “artistic production or in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage,” according to Henley and Partners. There are also options to contribute funds to national research projects or to incorporate a business headquartered in Portugal—but those investments come with steeper price tags of €500,000. Either way, applicants must reside in Portugal for an average of just seven days per year, and they can include their immediate family on their visa, too. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after five years.
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Antigua and Barbuda
Interested in obtaining citizenship among the sun-soaked sand and turquoise waters of the Caribbean? Look no further than Antigua and Barbuda, which offers citizenship in exchange for a minimum donation of $230,000 to its National Development Fund. There are also options to make a $260,000 contribution to West Indies University, or to make a real estate investment of at least $300,000 to an approved real estate project. The program allows for applicants to add a wide scope of family members, too, including their spouse, dependent children under age 31 (as well as their spouse and children), parents, grandparents, and unmarried siblings. After a background check and interviews for anyone over the age of 16, your family will be granted their passports.
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St. Kitts and Nevis
The Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the most famous citizenship by investment programs in the world. Launched in 1984, the process is known for being relatively simple and offering applicants numerous benefits, including full citizenship for life for themselves and their family members, as well as citizenship by descent for future generations. The minimum investment is $250,000 to an approved public benefit project. There’s also an option to make a real estate acquisition of at least $325,000 for a condo or $600,000 for a single-family private dwelling. After filling out an application, investors and their dependents over 16 years old must complete an interview and a background check. Once complete, you’ll have unlimited access to the two tropical islands, known for their picturesque beaches and lush green mountains.
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Malta
With its version of a so-called golden visa, Malta allows eligible real estate investors to reside on the Mediterranean island nation indefinitely. The scheme is formally called the Malta Permanent Residence Program, and it is open to investors who both rent or purchase real estate. Renters must invest at least €350,000 if they purchase a property or at least €12,000 per year on a rental property. (Investments are slightly cheaper for properties in the South Malta-Gozo area.) You must also budget for a few other payments, too. According to Henley and Partners, a firm that specializes in residence and citizenship by investment programs, applicants must make a contribution to the Maltese economy that amounts to €28,000 for those purchasing property or €58,000 for renters. There’s also a nonrefundable administration fee (€40,000), and a €2,000 donation to a local philanthropy. Permanent Maltese residents can apply for citizenship after five years.
