Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship In 2026: Top 16 Countries
Eighteen countries currently offer realistically attainable citizenship to foreign nationals, through four different routes: citizenship by descent (you inherit it from a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent), citizenship by marriage (you marry a citizen), naturalisation (you live there long enough), and citizenship by investment (you pay for it). Each route has dramatically different cost, time, and difficulty profiles. The CBI marketing industry pushes the expensive paid programs because they earn commissions; the cheapest and easiest routes for most people are descent and long-residency naturalisation. This guide walks through every realistic route, what each actually requires, and which catches the marketing materials leave out.
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Eighteen easiest countries to get citizenship in currently offer realistic naturalisation paths for foreign nationals. The paths split into four very different categories: citizenship by descent (you inherit nationality from a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent), citizenship by marriage (you marry a citizen and qualify for an accelerated naturalisation timeline), citizenship by residency / naturalisation (you live in the country long enough on legal residence), and citizenship by investment (you pay for it). Each route has dramatically different cost, time, and difficulty profiles. The right route for any individual depends on their personal history, family connections, and budget.
Most articles on this topic are written by citizenship-by-investment (CBI) firms with a direct conflict of interest: they earn commissions on the expensive paid programs and have a financial reason to steer readers away from the cheaper and often easier routes. The reality for most people is the opposite of the marketing message: descent claims, if available, are by far the cheapest and fastest path; long-residency naturalisation in countries like Argentina, Portugal, or Ireland is materially cheaper than any CBI program; and most CBI programs have real catches the marketing materials understate, including currency volatility, passport-strength uncertainty, and ongoing tax exposure.
This guide walks through every realistic citizenship path active in 2026, what each actually requires in time and money, who qualifies, and the catch on each program. The countries are grouped by route rather than ranked overall: an Italian descent claim is the easiest path on earth if you have an Italian great-grandfather but irrelevant if you don’t, while Argentine naturalisation at 2 years is available to almost anyone willing to actually live there. Use the guide to identify which routes are realistic for your situation rather than to find a single best answer.
The four routes to easy citizenship
Before walking through individual easy citizenship countries, the four routes are worth understanding. Each has different mechanics, different ceiling values, and very different odds of being a realistic path for any particular person.
Easiest countries by descent
Citizenship by descent (also called jus sanguinis, “right of blood”) is the cheapest and usually fastest path to a second citizenship for anyone with ancestors from a country offering it. The countries below have the most generous descent rules, allowing claims through grandparents or great-grandparents rather than just parents. Document gathering is the long pole: birth certificates, marriage certificates, and naturalisation records for each generation back to the qualifying ancestor.
Italy historically had the most generous descent rules in Europe: citizenship transmitted through unlimited generations of paternal-line ancestors (and maternal-line for births after 1948), with no formal ceiling on how far back you could trace. The first court precedent extending descent to over 10 generations made global headlines. However, in March 2025 Italy enacted a major reform tightening the descent law: claims now generally limited to ancestors no more than 2 generations back (grandparents), and stricter genealogical evidence requirements. Pre-reform applications already in process retain the old rules.
Ireland offers citizenship by descent through Irish-born grandparents (2 generations) via the Foreign Births Register. Great-grandparent claims may be possible if the parent registered before the applicant’s birth, creating a generational extension. The Irish passport is one of the strongest in the world for international mobility, and Ireland allows full dual citizenship. The Department of Foreign Affairs processes applications via dfa.ie/citizenship.
Poland offers citizenship confirmation (not naturalisation) to descendants of Polish citizens through unlimited generations, provided the chain of citizenship was never broken by foreign naturalisation before each generation was born. The procedure is technically “confirmation” that the applicant already holds Polish citizenship inherited at birth, rather than acquisition. Polish passport offers full EU rights including freedom of movement, work, and study.
Hungary offers simplified naturalisation (effectively citizenship by descent) to anyone who can prove Hungarian ancestry and demonstrate Hungarian language proficiency at a basic level. The procedure was introduced in 2010 to allow descendants of Hungarians in the territories Hungary lost after WWI (now in Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia) to claim citizenship. Hungarian passport offers full EU rights. Hungary allows dual citizenship.
Israel’s Law of Return grants citizenship to any Jewish person, their children, grandchildren, and spouses of any of those. The framework is one of the broadest descent-based programs in the world. Processing through the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration is typically 6 to 12 months from initial application to immigration as an Israeli citizen (oleh). Israel allows dual citizenship for most applicants.
Easiest countries by naturalisation
For people without qualifying ancestry, the most realistic easy citizenship path is naturalisation by residency: actually moving to a country and living there for the required period. The countries below have the shortest standard residency requirements (2 to 5 years) compared to the European norm of 8 to 10 years. Argentina at 2 years is the fastest naturalisation pathway in the world for someone without ancestry or marriage connections.
Argentina has the shortest standard residency requirement for naturalisation of any major country: 2 years of continuous legal residence. The process is administered through the federal courts rather than the executive branch, which means individual judges have wide discretion and processing times vary significantly. Argentine passport offers visa-free travel to most of Latin America, Schengen Europe, and significant other destinations. Argentina allows dual citizenship.
Paraguay offers naturalisation after 3 years of legal residence, with relatively light requirements. The country is one of the more accessible places to obtain legal residence in the first place (income-based residence programs and investment routes both viable). Paraguayan passport offers visa-free access to most of South America, parts of Europe, and selected Asian destinations.
Peru offers naturalisation after 2 years of continuous legal residence. The country is increasingly considered alongside Argentina and Paraguay as one of the fastest Latin American naturalisation paths. Peruvian passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most of Latin America and many other destinations. Peru allows dual citizenship for most applicants.
Portugal offers naturalisation after 5 years of legal residence under the standard pathway, one of the shorter standard EU naturalisation timelines. The Portuguese passport is consistently ranked among the top 5 strongest passports globally for visa-free access. Portugal allows dual citizenship. The pathway became extremely popular through the Golden Visa program until 2023 (real estate investment route), though that program has since been substantially narrowed.
Belgium offers naturalisation after 5 years of legal residence under the standard naturalisation pathway, plus integration and language requirements. The Belgian passport is one of the strongest in the EU for visa-free access. Belgium allows dual citizenship. The pathway is materially shorter than Germany (8 years) or Austria (10 years).
The CBI marketing industry has a structural conflict of interest with anyone reading their content
Citizenship-by-investment firms (Henley & Partners, Astons, Latitude Group, Global Citizen Solutions, dozens of smaller competitors) dominate the search results for “easiest citizenship countries”. They are not neutral information sources. They earn substantial commissions on every CBI program they sell, often USD 30,000 to USD 80,000 per applicant. They have a direct financial reason to steer readers toward expensive paid programs and away from descent claims, marriage routes, or long-residency naturalisation, none of which earn them commissions. The pattern in their content is consistent: descent claims and marriage routes barely mentioned, naturalisation pathways skipped or covered cynically, CBI programs glamourised. For most people reading these articles, the cheapest realistic path is the one the marketing materials don’t cover. Run the descent test first (anyone in your family from Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, or anywhere that allows multi-generation descent claims?), then the marriage test, then the naturalisation test, and only then think about CBI. The CBI programs are real options but they should be the option of last resort, not the first option presented to you.
Easiest countries by investment (CBI)
Citizenship by investment (CBI) is the most-marketed but generally the most expensive route. Five Caribbean nations plus Malta, Vanuatu, Turkey, and Egypt currently operate active CBI programs. Each requires a substantial financial contribution (donation, real estate purchase, government bond, or business investment) in exchange for an accelerated citizenship grant. The Caribbean programs are the cheapest entry point starting around USD 200,000; Malta is the only EU CBI program at much higher cost. The catches are real and worth understanding before any payment is made.
St Kitts and Nevis runs the oldest CBI program (launched 1984) and remains one of the most established. Headline option: Sustainable Island State Contribution starting at USD 250,000 for a single applicant, or real estate purchase from USD 400,000 in approved developments. Processing is typically 4 to 6 months. The St Kitts passport offers visa-free access to roughly 150 destinations including Schengen Europe and the UK. Dual citizenship allowed.
Antigua and Barbuda CBI offers four investment options: National Development Fund donation from USD 230,000 for a family of four, real estate from USD 300,000, business investment from USD 1.5M, or University of West Indies Fund from USD 260,000 (covering family). Processing 4 to 6 months. Antiguan passport visa-free to approximately 150 destinations including Schengen.
Dominica typically has the lowest entry price among Caribbean CBI programs: USD 200,000 donation to the Economic Diversification Fund for a single applicant, or USD 200,000 minimum real estate. Family of four pricing around USD 250,000. Processing is fast, typically 3 to 5 months. Dominican passport visa-free access to approximately 145 destinations including Schengen.
Grenada CBI: National Transformation Fund donation from USD 235,000 for a single applicant, or real estate from USD 270,000. The distinguishing feature is that Grenada has a treaty with the United States that lets Grenadian citizens apply for the US E-2 investor visa, which is not available to citizens of any other Caribbean CBI country. Grenadian passport visa-free to approximately 145 destinations including China.
Malta operates the only EU citizenship by investment program (technically called “exceptional naturalisation for exceptional services”). Required investment: EUR 600,000 to EUR 750,000 contribution + EUR 700,000+ real estate purchase + EUR 10,000 to qualifying NGO + residency requirement of 12 to 36 months. Total minimum exposure approximately EUR 1.3M to EUR 1.5M. Maltese passport offers full EU citizenship including freedom of movement, work, and study across all 27 Member States.
Turkey offers citizenship by investment at one of the lowest price points globally: USD 400,000 real estate purchase (raised from USD 250,000 in 2022) held for 3 years, or USD 500,000 government bond, or USD 500,000 in Turkish bank deposit. Processing typically 4 to 8 months. Turkish passport visa-free to approximately 110 destinations. Real estate is the dominant route by volume.
What to verify before any citizenship application
Several issues recur across easy citizenship applications regardless of route. Six practical points cover the most material risks before committing to any program:
1. Dual citizenship rules in your current country. The country issuing your new passport allows dual citizenship (almost all of those listed above do). Your current country may not. The United States allows dual citizenship in practice though policy is complex. Japan, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and several other countries do not formally permit dual citizenship and may require renunciation. Check the rules in your current country before applying anywhere.
2. Tax exposure follows citizenship. Some countries tax citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence (the US is the major example, plus Eritrea). Most others tax based on residency only. Acquiring a second passport from a residency-based country generally does not create tax exposure unless you actually establish tax residence there. US citizens cannot escape US tax through second citizenship unless they formally renounce US citizenship through the IRS expatriation procedure, which has substantial tax implications.
3. Schengen access for Caribbean CBI passports is at risk. The European Commission has spent 2023-2025 escalating pressure on Caribbean CBI programs. Schengen visa-free access for these passports could be suspended at relatively short notice. Anyone buying a Caribbean passport primarily for Schengen access should factor in this political risk. EU passports (Maltese, Portuguese, Irish, etc.) have permanent Schengen rights tied to EU treaty membership and are not exposed to the same risk.
4. Maltese CBI is effectively winding down. The April 2025 EU Court of Justice ruling against Malta’s investor citizenship scheme means the program faces closure or substantial restriction. Treat any Maltese CBI marketing material with extreme caution; verify current program status with Maltese authorities directly before committing.
5. Document gathering is the long pole for descent claims. Italian, Polish, and Irish descent claims all require birth, marriage, and naturalisation records for each generation back to the qualifying ancestor. Records from 19th-century emigration are often incomplete. Budget 6 to 18 months for document gathering before the formal application can be filed. Specialist genealogical researchers in the source country are often worth the cost.
6. Naturalisation requires actual residence. Argentine, Paraguayan, Peruvian, and Portuguese naturalisation all require continuous physical presence during the qualifying period. Maintaining a tourist visa or running international travel during the period typically resets the clock. For people whose actual goal is a second passport without relocating, naturalisation by residency is not a fit; CBI or descent is the right path.
For programs that pay you cash to move and live abroad (often a step on the way to naturalisation), see our countries that pay you to move there guide. For the Portuguese citizenship pathway specifically, our Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) glossary covers the tax regime that made Portugal popular alongside the 5-year naturalisation timeline.
For the broader cost picture when relocating abroad through formal employment, our EOR cost guide walks through total employer cost across markets. If you are weighing destinations for both citizenship pathway and tax treatment, our Spain work visa guide covers the Beckham Law tax regime that runs alongside the 10-year Spanish naturalisation timeline (longer than the countries above but with tax benefits during residence).
Frequently Asked Questions: Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship
The easiest countries to get citizenship in fall into four categories. For descent (jus sanguinis): Italy (now limited to grandparents after the March 2025 reform), Ireland, Poland, Hungary, and Israel under the Law of Return for people of Jewish descent. For naturalisation: Argentina (2 years), Peru (2 years), Paraguay (3 years), Portugal (5 years), Belgium (5 years). For citizenship by investment: the Caribbean programs (St Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada) at USD 200,000-300,000 entry, Turkey at USD 400,000 real estate. The cheapest path for most people is descent if any ancestor qualifies, then naturalisation, then CBI as a last resort.
For descent claims, processing typically runs 6 to 24 months once documents are gathered: Israel under the Law of Return is the fastest at 6 to 12 months, followed by Italian, Irish, and Hungarian descent claims at 12 to 24 months. For naturalisation, Argentina at 2 years has the shortest residency requirement in the world, followed by Peru at 2 years and Paraguay at 3 years. For citizenship by investment, the fastest is Dominica at 3 to 5 months, followed by St Kitts, Antigua, and Grenada at 4 to 6 months. Turkey is 4 to 8 months. Malta CBI takes 12 to 36 months including the residency requirement.
Citizenship by investment costs vary dramatically by program. The cheapest entry points are the Caribbean: Dominica at USD 200,000 (single applicant), St Kitts at USD 250,000, Grenada at USD 235,000, Antigua at USD 230,000 (family of four). Turkey is USD 400,000 minimum real estate. Egypt is USD 250,000 donation. Vanuatu is USD 130,000 donation but the passport has weaker mobility benefits. The most expensive program is Malta at approximately EUR 1.3 to 1.5 million total exposure (contribution + real estate + residency). Add USD 30,000 to USD 100,000 in fees, legal costs, and due diligence on top of the headline price for any program.
Yes. The United States allows dual citizenship in practice, though the legal framework is complex. US citizens can acquire a second nationality through any of the routes (descent, marriage, naturalisation, investment) without losing US citizenship, provided they don’t formally renounce or take certain actions that the State Department interprets as renunciation (such as serving in foreign military hostile to the US). US citizens remain subject to worldwide US taxation regardless of where they live or what other citizenships they hold; only formal renunciation through the IRS expatriation procedure ends the US tax obligation. Acquiring a second passport does not reduce US tax exposure by itself.
Legal yes, controversial widely. Citizenship by investment programs are formal government-run programs in countries that have chosen to monetise their citizenship. The programs are not fraud and the passports issued are real. However: the European Union has spent 2023-2025 escalating pressure on Caribbean CBI programs over due diligence concerns, the EU Court of Justice ruled in April 2025 that Malta’s investor citizenship scheme violates EU law, and several CBI countries face periodic threats of Schengen visa-free access suspension. The programs work but carry political risk that should be priced into the decision. The Caribbean programs in particular should not be relied upon for Schengen access in the long term.
Most countries allow dual citizenship. Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Spain (for citizens of specific countries), Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Belgium, Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany (with substantial reform from 2024 making dual citizenship much easier), all five Caribbean CBI countries, Malta, Turkey, and many others allow dual citizenship. Countries that do not allow dual citizenship include Japan, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and several others. Check the rules in your current country of citizenship before applying for any second nationality, since some countries may automatically revoke citizenship on acquisition of another.
For people with qualifying ancestry, descent claims are by far the cheapest second passport: total cost typically under USD 5,000 in document gathering and government fees for Italian, Irish, Polish, or Hungarian descent. For people without qualifying ancestry, naturalisation by residency in Argentina or Peru can be the cheapest option in nominal cost (low cost of living during the required 2-3 year period) though it requires actually relocating. Among formal citizenship-by-investment programs, Dominica at USD 200,000 has the lowest headline entry, though Vanuatu at USD 130,000 is technically cheaper for a weaker passport. Add USD 30,000 to USD 100,000 in fees regardless of route.
Citizenship by descent claims require a documented chain of births, marriages, and naturalisation records from the qualifying ancestor through each generation to the applicant. For Italian descent: birth, marriage, and naturalisation records for the Italian-born ancestor plus each generation to the applicant. For Irish descent: equivalent records back to the Irish-born grandparent or great-grandparent. For Polish descent: equivalent records plus a check that no generation in the chain acquired foreign citizenship before the next generation was born (the “broken chain” problem). Documents must be original or certified copies, with apostille or legalisation as required by the destination country. Budget 6 to 18 months for document gathering before the formal application can be filed.
Dane Cobain is a Copywriter at Employsome and an accomplished author whose work spans fiction, non-fiction, and professional writing. Over the past decade, he has built a strong track record creating straightforward content for the HR, payroll, and corporate sectors. Dane brings a storyteller’s eye to the evolving world of global employment, with a particular focus on Employer of Record and PEO models. His articles explore industry trends and dedicated Best Of Guides when managing an international workforce.
Our content is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain separate advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your business’s needs. Read our Editorial Guidelines for further information on how our content is created.
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