Here are the easiest countries to get citizenship — spoiler: US isn’t on the list

Many international students dream of becoming legal citizens in a foreign country. The reasons may vary — a stronger currency, better legal rights, marrying their significant other, or even seeking asylum. 

The easiest countries to get citizenship will ensure you get the right to live and work there in freedom.

You may be able to pay for fast-tracked citizenship or apply for a permanent residency after living there for just a few years. As a citizen, you’ll also have access to their passports, which could be far stronger than the ones in developing countries.

For some, it’s an easy process; they have the money and means to ensure they settle comfortably into their country of choice. For some, the application process can be complicated, bleak, and demeaning, even.

Take the US, for example.

Why migrating to the US in 2025 is going to be difficult

We won’t lie – the US will not be one of the easiest countries to get citizenship for the foreseeable future.

In the past, you could have settled down in the US as long as you fulfilled the requirements or married a US citizen, or simply if you were born within the country. 

But now, President Donald Trump’s executive orders are paving the way for a widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants in the US – and those waiting for citizenship will be affected too. The US government intends to implement stricter, “enhanced vetting” for visa applicants and those already in the country.

One of his first acts as the 47th president of the US was to sign an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. While it hasn’t been officially implemented, it already sets a concerning precedent for what’s to come.

Another order ended the CBP One and parole programme, which cancelled over 30,000 scheduled appointments to apply for asylum.

Then there’s also his motion to implement tariffs on foreign goods – his method for evening the score with foreign nations that tax American goods.

It’s a questionable move that could shatter the rules of global trading and is likely to set off furious negotiations; most importantly, it does not bode well for international students who are already paying an arm and leg for education in the US.

So maybe the “American dream” isn’t as desirable as expected. At least, not for the foreseeable future.

As this Redditor put it – the simple fact is that the US doesn’t owe international students anything. 

“I realised that I came here with the wrong expectation,” they wrote in their post titled “One thing I want to tell potential F1 students.” “I was entitled to enter the US to study, and nothing else. A lot of people (including myself) get mad when they cannot find a job. Or fail to get an H1-B visa. Or fail to get a green card. But at the end of the day, none of that was owed to us.”

Their advice? Set a realistic expectation. The US was never one of the easiest countries to get citizenship anyway – international students should expect to enter, study, and nothing else. 

Thankfully, other options are available for those seeking a better life for themselves or their families. Let’s take a look at them:

The easiest countries to get citizenship for international students

We’ve split them up into categories to make it easier for you to identify which option is up your alley.

Citizenship through naturalisation

One of the most common methods for the easiest countries to get citizenship is naturalisation. 

Naturalisation is granted to lawful residents who have stayed for a certain period of time and wish to become citizens of their own will – as long as they fulfil the country’s legal requirements.  

Take Malaysia, for example. Foreign nationals can become citizens by living in the country for at least 10 years, renouncing their previous nationality, and demonstrating proficiency in the Malay language.

In another example, Study International had previously spoken with Rachel Dancel, a former industrial engineer from the Philippines who made a career and life switch to become a Canadian permanent residency-holding graphic designer. 

Many countries provide shorter residency qualification time frames for certain groups, including adopted children, spouses, refugees, etc.

Two-year residence requirement:

• Argentina
• Peru

Three-year residence requirement:

• Poland 
• Paraguay 
• Serbia
• Honduras 
• Ecuador 
• Canada

Four-year residence requirement:

• Ethiopia 
• Brazil 

Five-year residence requirement:

• Ireland 
• Chile 
• Albania 
• Belgium 
• Barbados 
• Australia

Citizenship by birth

Birthright citizenship allows any child born within a country’s borders to be automatically granted citizenship, even if their parents are not citizens. 

For those intending to give their children a better life, this can be a viable option. Your child will gain valuable legal rights, such as protecting them from unwarranted extradition or enabling them to benefit from social programmes that would not otherwise be available to them.

Aside from the US, 33 countries offer citizenship by birth:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chad
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Lesotho
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Citizenship by marriage 

Like it or not, it’s often assumed that when someone from a developing country marries a Westerner, part of the motivation is that they’re seeking better life opportunities.

But this stereotype cuts both ways – some countries offer expedited naturalisation to Westerners who want citizenship by marriage and the second passport that comes with it.

It’s not an instant score, however. Most countries that offer citizenship by marriage still require you to start living in the country and begin the naturalisation process in the same way as everyone else.

So yes – you’ll still have to put in some time. But when happily married (hopefully), the wait is far less painful. 

Some of the easiest countries to get citizenship through marriage are:

• Brazil 
• Spain
• Portugal
• Mexico 
• Ireland
• Poland
• Columbia
• Switzerland 
• Belize
• Serbia
• France
• Italy

Citizenship by descent

Citizenship by descent – also known as citizenship by ancestry – allows individuals to apply for citizenship based on their family ties, if they can demonstrate a sufficient connection to their ancestors. 

Here are some countries offering it:

Italy

One of the easiest countries to get citizenship by descent. As long as you have Italian heritage, you can acquire citizenship – your ancestor must be a citizen on March 17, 1861, or born in the country after that.

The restriction is that the lineage must not be broken – it means that no ancestor has revoked their nationality or acquired citizenship of another country prior to their children’s birth.

UK

You may be eligible for British citizenship if you have a British parent, even if you were born outside of the UK. However, your children, in turn, may not.

The current eligibility requires you to be born on or after July 1, 2006, between 1983 and June 2006, or before 1983. 

Hungary

According to local laws, you may be eligible for citizenship by descent if you have an ancestor born in the country before 1920 or between 1941 and 1945.

The law also covers areas that used to be a part of Hungary, such as countries like Romania and Slovakia. Similar to Italy, you must show an unbroken lineage and speak basic Hungarian.

Other countries where you can apply for citizenship by descent are:

• Ireland 
• Spain 
• Romania 
• Portugal 
• Luxembourg 
• Lithuania 
• Latvia 
• Israel 
• Greece 
• Germany 
• Armenia

Citizenship by investment 

Some countries offer citizenship in exchange for a significant financial contribution. In short, yes, if you have the money, you can pay your way in. 

If you’re a business owner looking for the easiest countries to get citizenship, perhaps this may be up your alley.

Typical investment options include real estate, business ventures, government bonds, or the usual cold, hard cash. In exchange, investors receive full citizenship, often with additional benefits such as visa-free travel, business opportunities, and potential tax savings.

Countries that offer this method for citizenship use it to attract investments and stimulate economic growth. Here are some examples:

Dominica

If you’re wealthy and enjoy what the sparkling, lush Caribbean offers, Dominica is one of the easiest countries to get citizenship through investments. 

With donations or real estate purchases from US$200,000, you can obtain citizenship in just four to six months and even gain visa-free travel to over 145 countries.

Other countries in the Caribbean offer similar perks. St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda all offer citizenship by investment – as long as you have the money to buy your way in.

Turkey

Powerful markets in Europe and Asia. A fascinating history. A low cost of living. If these sound appealing to you, choose to invest in Turkey. 

This beautiful country offers high-standard European living and serves as a stable economic, financial, and political hub for Europe, Western Asia, and the Middle East. 

You’ll have to deposit at least US$500,000 or purchase property from US$400,000. You’ll be set to receive citizenship within three to five months, with visa-free travel available to over 110 countries, including trade powerhouses like Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. 

Malta

Another European powerhouse and one of the easiest countries to get citizenship through investments is Malta. 

Being a resident in Malta means you’ll have access to the strongest possible passport through investment, in a country that’s a member of the European Union – the Malta passport is the 9th strongest passport in the world, allowing for visa-free travel to over 180 countries.

You’ll need to obtain a residence permit for one to three years before applying for citizenship by investment. Following that, you’ll need to make a large donation starting from US$600,000.