Dual citizenship continues to be very popular among foreign nationals around the world. Find out more about which countries are the easiest to obtain a second passport in 2024 and how to apply for it

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As of the beginning of 2024, dual citizenship will be recognized in 49% of the world's countries. You can get a second passport in various ways: get married, confirm family ties with a citizen of the country, go through the naturalization process, or take part in one of the investment programs.

Each country has its own conditions for acquiring citizenship, so depending on the country, it will take you a different amount of time to become a bipatriate.

Which countries are the easiest to get a second passport in 2024? Detailed guide further.

Popular ways of obtaining citizenship and the country with the most simplified procedure

- Citizenship by naturalization

To obtain a second passport through naturalization, a foreigner must live in the country officially for a certain period of time. The minimum term will depend on state legislation.

Usually, the procedure consists of several stages: for example, first you get a temporary immigration visa for 1.5-4 years, then you apply for a residence permit, after a few years you can apply for permanent residence or immediate citizenship.

When making a decision, availability of permanent work, absence of problems with the law, knowledge of language, history and culture are assessed. In this way, a person confirms that he has integrated into society.

Top 10 countries with the fastest naturalization procedure:

Argentina - 2 years, Paraguay - 3 years, Uruguay - 3 or 5 years (depending on marital status), USA - 3-5 years, Brazil - 4 years, Portugal - 5 years, Sweden - 5 years, Canada - 6 years, Norway - 7 years and Denmark - 7 years.

- Citizenship by origin and repatriation

In many countries, there is a law where a foreigner can get a passport if he confirms that he has relatives who are citizens of that state (for example, one of his parents). This procedure is called citizenship by origin.

It is also possible to obtain citizenship after returning to the historical homeland (by repatriation). For example, a passport is issued to those who have a father, grandfather, grandmother or great-grandfather who is a citizen of the country, even if they were born outside the country.

In which countries is it easiest to get a second passport by origin

Bulgaria and Poland have simplified programs for obtaining a second citizenship through repatriation. The passport of these countries can be issued in just one year, and, for example, the simplified Polish repatriation program requires confirmation of kinship only up to the fourth generation: great-grandmother and great-grandfather.

Israel and Italy are also considered countries where it is easy to get a passport if you can trace your ancestry. One of the requirements is that the ancestors never lost their citizenship or acquired another.

Armenia, Hungary, Ireland, Great Britain, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece and Germany also allow obtaining citizenship by origin under a simplified procedure (participation in the German repatriation program lasts more than two years).

Another advantage is that repatriation is inexpensive. You can become a repatriate in Bulgaria for about 3,000 euros; in Romania – 2,500 euros. It is also not necessary to live in the country and know the language.

- Citizenship by place of birth

The procedure according to which the citizenship of a country can be obtained by a child who was born in this country.

In which countries is it easiest to obtain citizenship by place of birth

Argentina is the most popular country for citizenship by birth. Its laws allow obtaining a passport not only for the child, but also for the parents. A child becomes a citizen automatically, parents - after 4-9 months of permanent residence.

In Uruguay, a child can obtain citizenship if the parents remain in the country for 3 months after birth.

Canada also recognizes citizenship by birth. The only thing is that parents can become citizens of the state only through naturalization.

Also, countries with a quick and easy procedure for obtaining citizenship at birth include Barbados, Costa Rica, Fiji, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and Peru.

- Citizenship through marriage

You can get a passport after you have married a citizen of the country. The term of cohabitation will depend on the state in which the marriage is registered. For example, in Italy you need to live together officially for at least two years, in Spain - one year, and in Switzerland as many as 6 years.

Countries with a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship through marriage

In Argentina, the easiest way to obtain citizenship through marriage has been approved. You can issue a passport the day after the wedding.

Brazil, Spain, and Belize (after 1 year of marriage), Italy, Mexico, Colombia (after 2 years of marriage), Uruguay, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia, the United States, and the United Kingdom (after 3 years) also grant citizenship to foreign spouses of their residents. years of marriage).

However, be aware that countries are introducing additional checks to prevent passports from being issued to those who enter into sham marriages.

- Citizenship by investment and exceptional merit

A passport can be obtained for contribution to art, science or sports. For example, in the UAE, citizenship is issued to investors, scientists, doctors, engineers, artists and their family members.

Some countries issue a passport for investments in the economy. At the same time, it is not necessary to live permanently in the state or to pass an exam on knowledge of language and history.

In which countries is it easiest to get citizenship by investment

In the Caribbean and Oceania, citizenship applications can generally be submitted online. The fastest way to get citizenship in Vanuatu is on average it takes 1-2 months, provided you invest $100,000 or more in the country's economy.

Obtaining Maltese citizenship is possible on the basis of exceptional merit through a direct investment of at least €690,000.

Turkish citizenship can be obtained by investing 400,000 dollars in real estate. Foreigners can also invest in business, open a bank deposit, purchase government bonds or shares of investment funds in the amount of 500,000 dollars or more. The processing time for the Turkey CBI program is 3 to 6 months. A foreigner can return the invested money three years after receiving a Turkish passport.

Also, by investing, you can quickly become a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada.

In most countries, moving with the family is allowed.

Therefore, a foreigner can obtain citizenship by descent, naturalization, marriage, investment, and special merit. The requirements depend on each country and the chosen method of obtaining a passport. The easiest country to obtain citizenship by naturalization, birth and marriage is Argentina. Israel, Poland and Italy are the countries with the easiest way to obtain citizenship by origin.

Certain countries have citizenship-by-investment programs, including Turkey, Vanuatu, and some Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia.

Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit World

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need travel insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Travel guide for 200 countries;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues;

Travel insurance around the world (please select the country of interest and citizenship to receive services);

Medical insurance all over the world.