In the United Arab Emirates, non-Arab foreigners need to live 30 years in the country before they can apply for a passport. Citizens of Qatar, Oman and Bahrain are subject to more lenient requirements: to obtain a passport, they only need to live in the country for only three years. Applicants for citizenship of the UAE also confirm knowledge of the Arabic language, higher education, reputation and source of income in the country.
San Marino is the only European country in which an applicant for citizenship by naturalization needs to live for 30 years. In other EU countries, the period of mandatory residence to obtain a passport averages from 5 to 10 years.
Switzerland. Applicants for a Swiss passport must have lived in the country for a total of 12 years, three of which in the last five years prior to application. A foreigner also needs to prove that he is integrated into Swiss life, familiar with its customs and laws. An applicant for Swiss citizenship must communicate in writing and orally in at least one of the national languages: German, French or Italian.
Monaco. To become a citizen of the Principality of Monaco, a foreigner must have lived in the country for at least 10 years. Only a long-term lease agreement or ownership of housing in the country is accepted as proof. The cost of real estate in Monaco is the highest in Europe. The average cost of renting a three-bedroom apartment is €20,000 per month, and purchase prices start from €81,500 per m².
Austria. Austrian citizenship can be obtained after 10 years of continuous residence in the country. An applicant for an Austrian passport signs a binding integration agreement under which he undertakes to learn German and pass an exam. If a foreigner confirms knowledge of the German language at level B2, he will be able to obtain a passport ahead of schedule — after 6 years of residence in the country.
Germany. Foreigners who have lived in the country for at least 8 years, have a stable income in Germany, own real estate or have entered into a long-term lease agreement can obtain a German passport by naturalization.
Applicants will need to pass two citizenship exams:
- On knowledge of the German language. The minimum level is B1. If the applicant has mastered the language at a higher level, the period for obtaining citizenship is reduced to six years.
- On knowledge of the legal and social structure of Germany.
Finland. To obtain a Finnish passport by naturalization, a foreigner needs to live in the country for 5 to 7 years, pay taxes on time, not commit offenses and receive a stable income in the country. In addition, you must be proficient in spoken Finnish or sign language.
The language requirement complicates the process of obtaining citizenship: the Finnish language is recognized as one of the most difficult to master in the world.
Japan. An applicant for Japanese citizenship by naturalization must reside in the country for five years and obtain permission from the Minister of Justice and renounce foreign citizenship. The application review process is rigorous and takes one year or more. A foreigner also needs to prove financial solvency: to show that he has enough funds to live in Japan. To do this, provide an extract from the personal account, a contract of sale or ownership of real estate, an employment contract. If a foreigner has no personal income, the financial condition of his family is taken into account when submitting an application.
USA. You can apply for US citizenship five years after receiving a green card. To obtain a passport, the applicant confirms that he:
- lived in the United States for at least 183 days a year;
- did not break the law;
- passed the English language proficiency test at a basic level;
- passed an exam on knowledge of the history and government of the United States.
Applicants get the opportunity to live and work in the country, as well as vote or get a job in the civil service.
Singapore. The Singaporean passport is annually recognized as one of the “strongest” in the world: its holders can travel without visas to 190 countries. Singapore citizenship by naturalization can be obtained by foreigners who have had permanent resident status in the country for at least two years.
Singapore permanent resident status can be obtained by:
- Investors who have invested in the country's economy from 2.5 million Singapore dollars. They will also need to prove sufficient experience in entrepreneurial activities and provide financial statements of their own company for the last three years. The turnover of companies must be at least 50 million Singapore dollars annually.
- A spouse, a child under the age of 21 or an elderly parent of a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore.
- Foreigners with an Employment Pass or S Pass with a monthly income of SGD 2,500 or more.
- Pupils and students.
Singapore forbids dual citizenship, the first one will have to be given up.
In which country to get a second passport to travel freely to popular destinations?
Grenada and Montenegro offer foreigners to obtain citizenship by investment in the country's economy, and Malta — for exceptional services by direct investment. The passports of these countries make it possible to travel and live in countries where it is difficult to obtain citizenship by naturalization.
Citizenships that will make the investor cosmopolitan
| Country | Visa-free destinations | Additional features | Investor’s expenses | Term for obtaining citizenship |
| Malta | 185 countries including Schengen area, Japan, Singapore, the USA and Canada | Citizens of Malta can choose to live in any EU country. They have no residence restrictions in Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein | €690,000 | 1 or 3 years |
| Grenada | 144 countries, including the Schengen area, Singapore and the UK. Citizens of Grenada have a visa-free entry to China for up to 30 days | Investors with Grenadian citizenship can obtain US visas:a tourist B-1/B-2 visa, which allows to stay in the country for up to six months;an E-2 investor visa, which allows to live and work in the country. This visa is not available to Russians | $150,000 | 4 to 6 months |
| Montenegro | 123 countries including the UAE and Singapore. With a Montenegrin passport, you can spend up to 90 days in a Schengen area | Citizens of Montenegro can obtain an E-2 business visa to the USA | €472,000 | 6 months |
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent who helps to obtain citizenship of Malta, Montenegro and the Caribbean countries. If you want to obtain a second citizenship, please contact investment program experts for advice.
