17 Easiest Countries to Get a Second Passport Fast: Updated for 2026

49% of countries recognise dual nationality, meaning that they allow their citizens to obtain citizenship of another state.

To become a person with dual citizenship, an individual can get married, confirm family ties with a citizen of the country, live in the country for a certain number of years, contribute to culture or science, or participate in an investment programme.

Citizenship by origin or descent

Citizenship by descent, also known as jus sanguinis or citizenship by origin, allows individuals to claim nationality based on their ancestral lineage.

Many countries grant citizenship to applicants who can prove that a parent, grandparent, or earlier ancestor was a citizen, even if the applicant was born abroad. Some examples of such countries include Hungary, Italy, Israel, and Poland.

Citizenship by naturalisation

To acquire second citizenship by naturalisation, candidates must reside legally in the country for a specified number of years, according to state legislation.

Typically, the naturalisation procedure is as follows:

1. A foreigner receives a visa to enter the country to work or study.
2. After the legal entry, they apply for a residence permit.
3. After several years with a residence permit, they apply for permanent residency or directly for citizenship.

In most countries that grant citizenship by naturalisation, a passport can be obtained in 5 to 10 years. However, in certain countries, shorter periods apply: for example, one can become a citizen of Argentina in just 2 years, and citizenship of Uruguay is granted in 3 years.

Citizenship through marriage 

Citizenship through marriage is, in essence, a facilitated form of naturalisation available to the foreign spouse of a citizen. 

In most jurisdictions, eligibility usually depends on a combination of factors, including the duration of the marriage, lawful residence, permanent status, continued cohabitation, and proof that the relationship is genuine.
In Argentina spouses of citizens can obtain citizenship as fast as within days after legalising the union. 

Citizenship for exceptional services

Passports can be granted for contributions to the arts, sciences, or sports. Generally, this pathway to citizenship cannot be planned as it lacks specific criteria and decisions are made by the head of state on a case-by-case basis.

Some countries that grant citizenship for exceptional services include France, the US, the UAE, and Malta.

Citizenship by investment

In some countries, a passport can be obtained by investments in the economy. At the same time, there is typically no requirement to constantly live in the country and take exams on knowledge of language and history.

Investment route is available in: 

1. The Caribbean countries — $200,000+;
2. Vanuatu — $130,000+:
3. São Tomé and Príncipe — $90,000+;
4. Nauru — $90,000+;
5. Türkiye — $400,000+.

Investment options typically include real estate purchase, a non-refundable contribution to a national fund, or business investments.

Citizenship by donation is one of the ways to obtain a passport by investment. This option is non-refundable but is usually the most affordable. Investment thresholds in the Caribbean vary from country to country, with Dominica offering the lowest at $200,000 and St Kitts and Nevis requiring at least $250,000.

In most cases, family members such as spouses, children, and parents gain citizenship alongside the investor. To ensure credibility, all applicants undergo thorough Due Diligence.

Each country has its own conditions for obtaining citizenship, so the same path might take a different amount of time depending on the location.

Obtaining citizenship by naturalisation generally requires passing tests to confirm the knowledge of the history, culture, and language of your new country. Those obtaining citizenship by descent or investment may be exempt from such requirements.

Citizenship by investment is the most straightforward way to a second passport for people who don’t have ancestry or other strong relations with another country. This path can take as little as 2 months. 

In Caribbean

Caribbean citizenship by investment programs feature favourable conditions and a relatively low cost of participation starting at $200,000. These programs are chosen by cosmopolitans looking for the fastest way to get a passport.

The popularity of the programs is also associated with the opportunity for the investor and their family members to travel to Europe and Asia.

In some countries, such as Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda, investors can obtain a 10-year visitor visa to the United States in a simplified manner.

If one acquires a Grenada passport, they are also eligible for an E-2 visa to the USA, allowing them to live and run a business in the country. Grenada is also the only Caribbean country that accepts applications from stateless persons on a case-by-case basis.

Buying real estate is one of the most popular program options. Once registration of ownership is completed, the investor can lease the property. After a few years, the property can be sold, and the invested money returned.

In Oceania

Vanuatu offers one of the fastest citizenship by investment routes in the world, with passports issued in 2+ months. Applicants can choose between 2 options: 

1. Non-refundable contribution to a state fund  — $130,000. 
2. Contribution to the Cocoa Sustainable Development Fund — $165,000, which allows the investor to redeem a $50,000 fund unit after 5 years.

The application may include a spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50. Vanuatu citizenship also provides travel opportunities, with visa-free access to 90+ countries, including Australia, India, and Singapore.

Nauru offers citizenship under the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme. Investors contribute $90,000 for a single applicant, plus $2,000 for each family member aged 16 and above, and an additional $15,000 for each sibling. 

Nauru offers one of the lowest investment thresholds and at the same time allows for fast processing and broad family inclusion and does not require investors to visit the country.

In Africa

São Tomé and Príncipe also provide a fast citizenship by investment route, with processing times comparable to those of Vanuatu and taking 2+ months. The minimum investment starts at $90,000, making it one of the most affordable routes to second citizenship.

Citizenship may be granted not only to the investor, but also to a spouse, dependent children, parents and grandparents over 55. A passport of São Tomé and Príncipe allows visa-free travel to 70+ countries.

In Europe

Türkiye citizenship can be obtained by investing $400,000 in real estate. Apartments, villas, plots of land, and shares in real estate projects all qualify.

Foreigners can also invest in business, open a bank deposit, and purchase government bonds or investment fund units. Under these four options, the minimum sum is $500,000. 

The processing time of the Türkiye CBI program is 8+ months. A foreigner can return the invested capital 3 years after obtaining a Turkish passport.

Citizenship by investment offers practical advantages for families, entrepreneurs, and investors. The strongest benefits are those linked to speed, flexibility, family inclusion, and investment structure rather than promises that may change over time.

1. Fast route without long-term relocation

One of the main advantages of citizenship by investment is the relatively short timeline compared with standard naturalisation. In many cases, applicants do not need to live in the country continuously or pass language and history exams before obtaining citizenship.

For example, Vanuatu and São Tomé and Príncipe offer citizenship in 2+ months, while Nauru grants it in 3+ months. All three routes are considerably faster than traditional residence-based pathways, which usually take several years.

2. Citizenship for the whole family

Another important benefit is the possibility of including close family members in the same application. This makes citizenship by investment relevant not only for individual investors but also for families seeking a shared long-term solution.

In Vanuatu, the application may include a spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50. In São Tomé and Príncipe, citizenship may also be granted to a spouse, dependent children, parents and grandparents over 55.

Nauru offers broader family eligibility: the application may include a spouse, children, parents and grandparents of the investor or their spouse, as well as siblings. The programme does not set age thresholds for these family members, which makes it more flexible in terms of dependants inclusion.

3. More flexibility for business and tax planning

A second citizenship can also support broader business and financial planning. Depending on the country, it may create additional options for structuring international operations or becoming a tax resident under a different regime.

Dominica is attractive to some investors because its tax residents do not pay dividend tax. Grenada may be relevant for entrepreneurs who want to open a branch of a company in the United States.

4. Investment options with a potential exit

Citizenship by investment is not always limited to a non-refundable contribution. In some jurisdictions, investors may choose real estate and keep an asset that can later be sold, which makes the route more flexible from a capital-planning perspective.

For example, Dominica offers a returnable real estate option for $200,000, with the exit period of 3 to 5 years. In St Kitts and Nevis, investors may choose real estate from $400,000, with a 7-year holding period before resale.

5. Long-term status that does not depend on residence renewals

Unlike a residence permit, citizenship by investment is granted as a permanent status rather than a temporary one that must be renewed every few years. Once citizenship is granted lawfully, the main ongoing formality is renewing the passport every 5 to 10 years, depending on the country.

Some countries apply the principle of jus soli, which means that a child acquires citizenship by being born in the country’s territory. In some cases, this may also create a facilitated immigration path for parents, although the legal consequences vary from one jurisdiction to another.
Argentina was often seen as one of the best-known destinations for birth tourism because a child born in the country acquired Argentine citizenship at birth, while the parents could use this connection to regularise their own status. 

However, under the 2025 migration reform, parents of a child born in Argentina now receive temporary residence at the first stage. They may later apply for permanent residence if they satisfy additional requirements, including:

• proof of sufficient financial means;
• clean criminal record.

In Uruguay, a newborn child receives citizenship upon registration if the parents stay there for 3 months after the birth. Foreign parents can obtain citizenship by naturalisation within 3 years.

Canada also recognises jus soli, or citizenship by birth. Every child born in Canada becomes a Canadian citizen, including those born by non-Canadian parents. Parents are not granted citizenship and can only obtain it by naturalisation.

In Spain, children can obtain citizenship by naturalisation if they are born to parents with a residence permit. To qualify, a child must stay in the country uninterruptedly for one year after birth.

In Portugal, citizenship is granted to children born to parents who have held the country's residence permits for at least a year before the birth. This applies to parents who have obtained residence permits for any purpose, including digital nomads, financially independent individuals, or investors.

Countries with similar fast and straightforward procedures include Barbados, Costa Rica, Fiji, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and Peru.

The only exceptions in all countries are children of diplomats who are normally not eligible for citizenship by birth.

Israel, Poland, and Italy^[1]

Source: constitutional court ruling, Constitutional Court of Italy

Countries specify the date after which relatives must have been born for their descendants to qualify for citizenship. For example, one can apply for a Polish passport if their ancestors were born in Poland after 1900. The same applies to Italy, where the year is 1861.

Here are other countries that allow obtaining citizenship by descent through a facilitated procedure under certain conditions:

1. Armenia — a parent, grandparent, or siblings were citizens of Armenia by birth.
2. Hungary — ancestors were born before 1920 or between 1941 and 1945.
3. Ireland — born outside the country to an Irish citizen or has an Irish-born grandparent[2]

   Source: Irish descent rules, Immigration Service Delivery 

   .
4. The UK — born outside the UK after January 1st, 1983, to a British citizen.
5. Spain — ancestors such as parents or grandparents are Spanish citizens by birth.
6. Romania — one or both parents or grandparents are Romanian citizens by birth.
7. Luxembourg — an ancestor was a Luxembourg citizen on January 1st, 1900.
8. Lithuania — an ancestor was a citizen of Lithuania before June 15th, 1940, or lost their nationality between 1940 and 1990.
9. Latvia — one or both parents or grandparents are citizens of Latvia by birth.
10. Greece — one or both parents or grandparents are citizens of Greece by birth.
11. Germany — one or both parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are German citizens by birth.

Argentina provides the easiest way to obtain citizenship through marriage. Foreign spouses of Argentine citizens may apply for naturalisation without meeting the usual two-year residence requirement. The marriage must be legally valid under Argentine law, including same-sex marriages. 

In Spain, a spouse may apply after one year of legal residence if, at the time of application, they have been married to a Spanish citizen for one year and are not legally or de facto separated^[3]

Source: Spanish nationality rules, Punto de Acceso General

In Italy, a foreign spouse of an Italian citizen may apply after two years of legal residence in Italy or three years abroad. If the couple has children, the required period is reduced by half, so the application may be submitted after one year of legal residence in Italy or one and a half years abroad^[4]

Source: Italian marriage citizenship, Consulate General of Italy in Capodistria

Mexico and Colombia also grant citizenship to foreign spouses after 2 years of marriage. 

Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia, the US, and the UK also have facilitated routes for spouses. In the US, a spouse of a US citizen may naturalise after three years as a lawful permanent resident while living in marital union with that citizen^[5]

Source: spousal naturalisation rules, USCIS

Greece and Uruguay also operate a similar 3-year naturalisation timeline for citizens’ spouses.  

In all cases, the marriage must be authentic for a foreigner to be eligible for their spouse’s citizenship. Countries are introducing additional checks to identify those who enter into fictitious marriages.

The top 8 countries with the fastest ways to obtain a passport by naturalisation are the following:

1. Argentina — 2 years.
2. Paraguay  — 3 years.
3. Armenia — 3 years.
4. Uruguay — 3 or 5 years, depending on the marital status.
5. USA — 3 to 5 years.
6. Brazil — 4 years.
7. Germany — 5 years.
8. Sweden — 5 years.

Language exam requirements for naturalisation

Most countries require naturalisation applicants to demonstrate language proficiency at a level defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or equivalent national standards.

Germany expects applicants to demonstrate German at CEFR level B1. In Brazil, applicants prove intermediate Portuguese through the CELPE-Bras exam. In Canada, the language threshold is Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French, which is broadly comparable to CEFR B1.

Physical residency requirements per year

Physical presence requirements define how much time an applicant must spend in the country each year to maintain legal residence and remain eligible for naturalisation. In many cases, countries expect applicants to keep their permanent residence status by living there for more than 183 days a year.

Some countries set exceptions to the general physical residence rule. For example, those who obtained Portugal residence by investment must be present in the country only for 7 days a year to become eligible for citizenship.

Many countries recognise or allow dual or multiple nationality, although the rules vary significantly by jurisdiction and by the method through which citizenship is acquired, such as birth, descent, or naturalisation.

Within the European Union, 16 of 27 Member States impose no restrictions on dual nationality^[6]

Source: dual EU citizens, European Parliamentary Research Service

EU countries that generally permit dual citizenship include: 

• Belgium, 
• Cyprus, 
• Czechia, 
• Denmark, 
• Finland, 
• France, 
• Germany, 
• Greece, 
• Hungary, 
• Ireland, 
• Italy, 
• Luxembourg, 
• Malta, 
• Poland, 
• Portugal, 
• Romania, 
• Slovakia, 
• Sweden.

Outside Europe, dual citizenship is also widely accepted. The United States recognises dual nationality^[7]

Source: dual nationality guidance, U.S. Department of State

A minority of states still maintain restrictive rules. China does not recognise dual nationality for Chinese nationals. 

India does not recognise dual citizenship in the full legal sense. Although people of Indian origin may obtain Overseas Citizen of India status, OCI, a special long-term status rather than a second citizenship. An Indian citizen who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be an Indian citizen under the Citizenship Act.

Japan is also restrictive, as its nationality law generally requires people with multiple nationalities to choose one within the statutory time limit.

The attractiveness of a passport depends on the goals of the cosmopolitan and the state‘s status in the international arena.

Some of the easiest EU countries to get citizenship are Portugal, Greece, and Italy. They offer so-called Golden Visas, allowing foreigners to obtain a residence permit and apply for citizenship in 7—10 years.

With a passport of some Caribbean countries, it is possible to visit the UK and the Schengen countries without a visa. With a US and Canadian passport, more than 160 countries are available visa-free.

If obtaining a passport swiftly is a priority, consider citizenship by investment programs in Vanuatu, Nauru, São Tomé and Príncipe, or the Caribbean. These programs often enable applicants to acquire citizenship in less than a year.

There are no direct citizenship by investment programs in EU countries. Investors wishing to acquire an EU passport can first obtain residency by investment. After holding it for a specified number of years, they become eligible for citizenship by naturalisation.

Residency by investment is available in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, and Latvia.

A residence permit allows a foreigner to live in the country legally and, in many cases, to access healthcare, education, banking services, and everyday administrative procedures. Opening a business and freely entering the territory of all Schengen Area states for 90 days out of 180 are all possible with a residence permit card.

Visas for freelancers and digital nomads usually allow foreigners to obtain a one- or two-year residence permit. Obtaining residency will require registering for taxation and proving sufficient income.

As a rule, digital nomads need to spend most of the year in the country to keep their status. If they continue to reside there long enough, they may later become eligible for permanent residence and then citizenship, if permitted by the country’s rules.

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is granted to foreign remote workers who earn at least €2,849 per month. A 3-year residence permit can be extended for an additional 2 years. After that, digital nomads who reside permanently in Spain become eligible for permanent residency. After five years, they can apply for citizenship.

The Italy Digital Nomad Visa can be issued to a remote worker who earns at least €2,700 per month from sources outside Italy and has €30,000 in savings. The residence permit card is valid for one year and is subject to extension every year. As in Spain, digital nomads can become permanent residents in 5 years and citizens in 10 years.

The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa is one of the options to become a resident of this country. It can be obtained in over 6 months by foreigners with a monthly income of at least €3,680. Digital nomads must buy or rent real estate and live in Portugal.

The residence permit is issued for 2 years and can be extended for 3 years, provided that the applicant continuously resides in Portugal. After 5 years of residency, the digital nomad can apply for permanent residence. Citizenship is availabe after a further 5 years.

Financially independent cosmopolitans can also apply for a long-term visa in several EU countries. In this case, they need to prove sufficient passive income. The applicant is assumed to refrain from conducting professional activity in the country
Programs for financially independent cosmopolitans operate in Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal. These are some of the easiest countries to immigrate to. In the future, applicants can get permanent residency or citizenship.

The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa is granted to financially independent persons and does not give the holder the right to work in the country. To qualify, the applicant must prove passive income of at least €28,880 per year, plus €7,200 per dependant, as well as rent or buy residential property in Spain and obtain health insurance. 

The permit is issued for one year and can then be renewed for two-year periods. After 5 years of residence, the holder may apply for permanent residency, and after another 5 years, for citizenship. 

To keep the status and progress towards permanent residency, the applicant is generally expected to live in Spain for most of the year.

The Austria Residence Permit is issued to financially independent persons and does not grant the right to work in the country. Requirements include buying or renting housing in Austria, having basic proficiency in German, and earning a stable income. The minimum income is not specified but is usually around €100,000.

To retain residency, a foreigner must spend at least 183 days a year in Austria.

The Switzerland Residence Permit allows foreigners to reside in the country without the right to work there. To be eligible, foreigners pay a lump-sum tax of at least ₣450,000 each year. The actual sum is calculated individually. 

Foreigners must stay at least 183 days a year in Switzerland to maintain residency.

The Portugal D7 Visa is a Passive Income Visa granted to foreigners with a monthly passive income of at least €920. Financially independent people must buy or rent a property in Portugal and spend most of the year there. They can apply for Portugal citizenship after 10 years of residency with a D7 Visa.

The list of countries where US nationals can obtain a second passport includes 62 states, most of them from Europe. United States citizens seeking second citizenship have access to multiple pathways, including descent, investment, and naturalisation. 

Citizenship by descent usually determines the choice of country, as eligibility depends on a person’s family line and ancestral ties. 

The Republic of Ireland grants citizenship to US nationals with an Irish-born grandparent or great-grandparent. Italy citizenship can be obtained if any of the applicant’s relatives were born in Italy after 1861.

Second citizenship by investment is a popular option for US citizens who want to secure a Plan B. Caribbean countries, such as Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia, offer a simple path for investors to obtain citizenship in as little as 6 months.

Not all states are open to new citizens. In some countries, programs for immigrants simply do not exist.

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, with only 800 inhabitants and 450 citizens. It does not offer any citizenship opportunities for foreigners. Only cardinals who live in the Vatican, diplomats representing the Holy See, or employees of the Catholic Church can become citizens of the Vatican or Rome.

Liechtenstein is a mountainous country between Austria and Switzerland with a population of 40,000 people. A country's passport is issued after 30 years of uninterrupted residence in the country. However, it is possible to become a Liechtenstein citizen after being married for 5 years to a citizen of the country.

There are no immigration programs in Liechtenstein. Each case is considered individually. As the application is processed, the country of origin, financial condition, and availability of real estate in the country, as well as services to the state are taken into account.

China allows foreigners to become citizens if they have relatives with a Chinese passport. Naturalisation is possible, but the law does not specify the period during which it is necessary to live in the country.

Switzerland requires 10 years of legal residence before naturalisation eligibility, with additional cantonal and municipal requirements that can extend the total period to 12 years or longer. Applicants must demonstrate integration, language proficiency, and knowledge of Swiss civic life. Some municipalities conduct public votes on naturalisation applications.

The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia impose lengthy residency requirements of 10 years or more and grant citizenship on a highly selective basis. Naturalisation is reserved for individuals with exceptional contributions or specific strategic value to the state.

Dual citizenship can expand a person’s legal rights and international options, but it may also create practical and legal complications. The main risks usually relate to taxation, military or civic obligations, travel rules, and the way different countries treat people with more than one nationality.

Conflicting legal obligations

A dual national may be subject to the laws of both countries at the same time. This can create overlap in areas such as taxation, military service, financial reporting, or other civic duties.

In some cases, one country may continue to treat the person exclusively as its own citizen, even when they also hold another nationality. This can make cross-border legal situations more complicated.

Limited consular protection

Dual citizenship does not always guarantee full diplomatic protection abroad. If a person is in one of their countries of nationality, that state may refuse to recognise the other citizenship for consular purposes.

As a result, the second country may have limited ability to assist its citizens in legal or administrative matters.

Tax and reporting complications

Holding more than one citizenship can increase tax exposure or reporting duties, especially if one of the countries taxes on the basis of citizenship, residence, or worldwide income. Even when double taxation can be reduced through treaties, filing obligations may still remain.

For this reason, dual nationals often need to review their tax position carefully and seek professional advice before changing residence or acquiring another citizenship.

Travel and document-use restrictions

Dual nationals may face special travel rules when entering or leaving one of their countries of citizenship. Some states require their citizens to use that country’s passport at the border, even if they also hold another nationality.

This can create confusion in practice, especially when visa rules differ depending on which passport is used.

Restrictions in the country of origin

Not all countries fully accept dual citizenship. Some states require a person to renounce their previous nationality when they naturalise elsewhere, while others impose restrictions in specific situations.

This means that obtaining a second citizenship can sometimes lead to the loss of the first one or to limits on certain rights under domestic law.

Uncertainty for family and inheritance matters

Dual citizenship can also affect family status, inheritance planning, and the citizenship position of children. Different countries may apply different rules to marriage, parental rights, succession, or the transfer of nationality to the next generation.

Because of this, families with cross-border ties should consider not only the benefits of a second citizenship but also its long-term legal consequences.

Immigrant Invest offers professional assistance to individuals and families seeking second citizenship by investment, descent, or naturalisation pathways. We provide guidance on programme selection, documentation preparation, and compliance with Due Diligence requirements.

With our lawyers, applicants considering citizenship by investment programmes in the Caribbean, Oceania, Africa or Middle East receive guidance on investment options, processing timelines, and family inclusion criteria. 

Our Compliance Department reviews all applications to ensure adherence to anti-money laundering regulations and programme integrity standards.

Applicants who choose the real estate investment option can rely on comprehensive support from our real estate department. Immigrant Invest’s experts assist with identification and Due Diligence of government-approved real estate projects under programmes that offer real estate investment pathways.

1. A foreigner can obtain citizenship by ancestry, naturalisation, marriage, investment, and special merits. The requirements depend on each country and the chosen way to get a passport.
2. The easiest country to obtain citizenship by naturalisation is Argentina. Other countries with a quick path to a passport by naturalisation are Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Argentina also offers the fastest way to citizenship by marriage.
3. Israel, Poland, and Italy are countries with the simplest paths to citizenship by descent. On the other hand, countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Spain, and Portugal, offer citizenship by birth.
4. Some countries have citizenship by investment programmes. They are Türkiye, Vanuatu, Nauru, São Tomé and Príncipe, and some Caribbean states such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.
5. One of the most popular ways to get a European passport is obtaining a residence permit by investment and, after several years, obtaining citizenship by naturalisation. Latvia, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, and Malta offer residency by investment programmes.