Complete list of countries to obtain citizenship by naturalization

Most countries around the world allow for persons who have lived in-country for a certain period of time to apply for naturalization. It’s only human, really, to allow those living among us to also have the benefits of citizenship. Oftentimes, the naturalization process involves tests and language capability, while other factors such as marriage can also affect your timeline.

For this report on the different residency periods required for gaining citizenship in countries around the world, we’ve tried to go as broad as possible in our research, and have relied mostly on citizenship acts and government websites.

2 Years

Argentina. – 2 years

Argentina grants citizenship to foreigners after they have resided uninterruptedly in the country for at least two years. You will be required to be present in the country during the application process, as well as a minimum of six months each year. An Argentinian passport gives holders visa-free access to 150 countries.

Reference: Argentinean citizenship can only be applied for after a number of years. To become an Argentinean citizen, you should reside uninterruptedly for at least 2 years in Argentina, documented at the Dirección de Migraciones. Reference here.

Dominican Republic. – 2 years

The Dominican Republic grants naturalization to foreigners in two years. Citizenship costs US$6,642, and applicants will have to make a US$200,000 refundable investment.

Reference: The shortest path to obtain a Dominican Republic passport and citizenship takes 2 years and costs US$6,642 in fees plus a US$200,000 refundable investment. Reference here.

Peru. – 2 years

Peru grants nationality within two years if the applicant has a valid foreign resident card (CE), has paid foreigner tax, passed exams in Spanish and Peru’s culture and history, and has had no criminal record.

Reference: To get citizenship in Peru you have 2 continuous years with a CE (Waived if at least one of your parents are Peruvian), have paid the foreigner tax (or exoneration if you’re married to a Peruvian), have a valid CE, pass exams in Spanish, history and culture of Peru, verification of no criminal activity and residence (and marriage if applicable), provide all the necessary documentation, have an interview, give back your CE. Reference here.

3 Years

Armenia – 3 years

Those who have established legal residence in Armenia in the three years can become citizens. Applicants must also have a good knowledge of the Armenian language.

Reference: General requirements to be a citizen in Armenia are legal residence in Armenia for the last 3 years, good knowledge of Armenian, acquaintance with the Constitution of Armenia. Reference here.

    Canada – 3 years

Canada grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for three out of the four years prior to citizenship application.

Reference: In order to be eligible for a Canadian citizenship several things must be done. Firstly, you must apply to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent resident status. When you become a landed immigrant and obtain your Permanent Resident Card, you have to live in Canada for 3 years out of a total of 4 years before you are eligible to apply for the Canadian citizenship. Reference here.

Ecuador – 3 years

Ecuador grants citizenship to those who have lived uninterruptedly in the country for three years. How to get Ecuadorian residency and citizenship.

Reference: According to the information published by the Ministry, to apply for naturalization a foreigner must be at least 18 years of age, and must have resided at least three years in Ecuador counted from the date he or she was issued an Ecuadorean foreigner’s identification document. A continuous absence from Ecuadorean territory of more than 90 days is deemed to have “interrupted” the legal residency requirement, however, a prolonged absence due to compelling reasons of health or studies could be considered by the Ministry as not having interrupted the legal residency requirement. Reference here.

Honduras – 3 years

Foreigners can become naturalized Honduran citizens if they have lived in the country for more than three consecutive years. However, those who are Central American by birth can get citizenship after just a year of residence, while Spaniards and Ibero-Americans can get a passport after two consecutive years spent in the country.

Reference: Hondurans by naturalization; Central Americans by birth who have a year of residence in the country, Spaniards and Ibero-Americans by birth who have two consecutive years of residence in the country, other foreigners who have resided in the country more than three consecutive years, the obtaining of naturalization decreed by the National Congress by extraordinary service provided to Honduras, the immigrants that forming part of selected groups brought by the government for scientific purposes, agricultural and industrial, after a year of residing in the country fulfill the requirements of Law, and the foreign person married to a Honduran by birth. Reference here.

Israel – 3 years

Israel grants naturalization to those who have lived in the country as a permanent resident for three out of five years prior to citizenship application.

Reference: Eligibility to becoming a citizen in Israel is determined per the Citizenship Law. The clauses of the law state who is an Israeli citizen, who is eligible to become a citizen, and how one may become a citizen. In accordance with the law, a person can be a resident in Israel for 3 out of the 5 years prior to the citizenship request under a permanent residence status. Reference here.

Paraguay – 3 years

Paraguay grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived and worked in the country for at least three years. A Paraguayan passport allows visa-free travel to South American and European countries.

Reference: Foreigners may apply for Paraguayan citizenship if they meet the following criteria: being older than 18 years old, permanent resident in Paraguay for more than 3 years, working in either a professional field, an office, in science, art, or industry and having good behavior following the law. Reference here.

Poland – 3 years

Poland grants citizenship to those who have lived continuously in the country for at least three years as a permanent resident or long-term EU resident. Such applicants must also prove that they have a regular and stable source of income, as well as the legal title to his home. Those who are married to a Polish citizen can get naturalized after two years of uninterrupted stay as a permanent resident or long-term EU resident.

Reference: A foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 3 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit, and who has a stable and regular source of income in Poland and legal title to the occupied dwelling; a foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 2 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit and who has been married to a Polish citizen for at least three years or holds no citizenship; a foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 2 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit which was obtained in connection with refugee status granted in Poland. Reference here.

Serbia – 3 years

Serbia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least three consecutive years before applying for citizenship.

Reference: If you are a foreigner and you have permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia, you may acquire citizenship of the R. of Serbia if you fulfill the following requirements: that you have turned 18 and have not been deprived of business capacity; that you have been released from a foreign citizenship or that you have presented evidence that you will be released from it, if admitted to citizenship of the Republic of Serbia; that you had registered permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Serbia for at least three years without interruption before submitting the application; that you submit a signed statement that you consider the Republic of Serbia to be your country. Reference here.

4 Years

Brazil – 4 years

Brazil grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least four consecutive years. However, the length of stay is one year for those who are married to a Brazilian citizen or those who have a Brazilian child, and three years for those who own property or business of a certain value in the country. Applicants must be able to provide for their family, and be proficient in Portuguese.

Reference: In order to apply for Brazilian citizenship, an alien must satisfy certain conditions. The alien must: I. have civil capacity according to Brazilian law; II. must be registered as a permanent alien in Brazil; III. must be in continuous residence in Brazilian territory for at least four years immediately before applying for citizenship; IV. must read and write the Portuguese language, evaluated on the basis of the social and intellectual situation of the applicant; V. must practice a profession or have enough possessions to guarantee his and his family’s maintenance; VI. must have good behavior; VII. cannot have been indicted or convicted in Brazil or abroad for a felony; [and] VIII. must be in good health[.] The four-year residence requirement may be reduced to three years if the alien possesses real estate or an enterprise in Brazil; two years because of the alien’s professional, scientific or artistic abilities; and one year if the alien has a Brazilian spouse, a Brazilian child, a Brazilian parent, or has performed a relevant service to Brazil. Reference here.

Ethiopia – 4 years

Foreigners who have resided in Ethiopia for a minimum of four years can qualify for citizenship. Applicants are required to renounce all other nationalities.

Reference: A foreigner who applies to acquire Ethiopian nationality by law shall: 1/ have attained the age of majority and be legally capable under Ethiopian law; 2/ have established his domicile in Ethiopia and have lived in Ethiopia for a total of at least four years preceding the submission of his application; 3/ be able to communicate in any one of the languages of the nations/nationalities of the Country; 4/ have sufficient and lawful source of income to maintain himself and his family; 5/ be a person of good character; 6/ have no record of criminal conviction; 7/ be able to show that he has been released from his previous nationality or the possibility of obtaining such a release upon the acquisition of Ethiopian nationality or that he is a stateless person; and 8/ be required to take the oath of allegiance stated under Article 12 of this Proclamation. Reference here.

5 Years

Afghanistan – 5 years

Foreigners who have resided in Afghanistan for five years can qualify for citizenship.

Reference: Persons who reside in Afghanistan for five continuous or alternate years shall be considered as Afghan citizens provided that they have reached adulthood, have made the application for citizenship, and have not been involved in any major misdemeanor or crime. Reference here.

Albania – 5 years

Albania grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for five years. Applicants must also have basic knowledge of the Albanian language.

Reference: A person may be naturalized as an Albanian citizen if he/she fulfills the following criteria: if he/she reside in Albania for five years, if he/she is over 18 years old, has not been convicted to sentences of three or more years in prison (except for political sentences), has basic knowledge of the Albanian language and does not endanger the security of the Republic of Albania. Reference here.

Australia – 5 years

Australia grants naturalization after two years of residence out of the previous five. This must also include 12 months in the two years before one’s citizenship application.

Reference: Immigrants are eligible for Australian citizenship after just two years’ residence in the previous five years, but this must include a total of 12 months in the two years immediately before making a citizenship application, which costs $120. Reference here.

Azerbaijan – 5 years

Foreigners who have stayed in Azerbaijan for a minimum of five years can qualify for citizenship.

Reference: A foreigner or stateless person residing on the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic for the last 5 years, who submits a document certifying his/her knowledge of the state language, may be admitted to citizenship of the Azerbaijan Republic upon his/her personal application, in accordance with this Law, regardless of his/her origin, social and property status, race and nationality, sex, educational background, language, religious views, political and other convictions. Reference here.

Barbados – 5 years

Barbados grants citizenship after five years of residence out of the previous seven. Applicants must also spend the 12 months prior to their citizenship application in Barbados, and should plan to live in the country after they get their citizenship.

Reference: Non-Commonwealth Citizens may apply to the Minister for naturalization provided they fulfill certain requirements, such as residing in Barbados for 5 of the 7 years prior to the application, and all 12 of the months prior to the application (or any 12 continuous months which are within 6 months of the application, contingent upon the Minister’s approval), and intend to reside in Barbados thereafter, as well as swearing allegiance to the Queen of Barbados. Reference here.

Belgium – 5 years

Foreigners who have resided in Belgium for five years can qualify for citizenship. Applicants must have a record of excellence in the areas of sport, culture or science.

Reference: Effective of 1 of January 2013, five years of legal residence needs to be met to submit the application for naturalization. However, a new law defined naturalization as an exceptional act resulting in appreciation that the applicant possesses exceptional merits in the fields of sport, culture, or science. Reference here.

Belize – 5 years

Belize grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least five years.

Reference: Citizenship (naturalized Belizean) is possible for those permanent residents living in Belize for five years. To acquire citizenship, applicants must have been a resident or have permanent residency status for a minimum of five years. After five years, permanent citizens submit an application for citizenship and this is usually processed within 6 months. Reference here.

Bulgaria – 5 years

Bulgaria grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least five years. Applicants are required to relinquish all other citizenships, have a stable income and occupation, and a good grasp of the Bulgarian language.

Reference: A person who is not a Bulgarian citizen can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if by the date of filing the application for naturalisation they have been given a permit for permanent stay in the Republic of Bulgaria. Reference here. This process can be shortened through the use of a citizenship by investment product – explore the ones available at passports.io.

Cambodia – 5 years

Cambodia grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for a minimum of five years. Applicants must have a stable source of income, as well as know the country’s culture and language.

Reference: Cambodian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has resided for at least five years in the country, knows the language and culture, has a steady means of support, and is of good moral character. Reference here.

Cape Verde – 5 years

Cape Verde grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for a minimum of five years.

Reference: can be granted to a foreigner who normally resides in Cape Verdean territory for at least five years, who is considered of age or emancipated by the State laws of Cape Verde, has moral or civil fitness, has capacity to take care of him/herself and provide for him/herself. Reference here.

Chile – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in Chile for five years can apply for naturalization. They are also allowed to hold on to multiple citizenships.

Reference: There are two paths to obtaining Chilean citizenship, one as a foreigner who has resided in Chile for five years, or, through parents or grandparents with Chilean nationality. There is little difference in day-to-day benefits between being a permanent resident and becoming a citizen. After five years of residency you can register to vote, and apply for a Chilean passport. As mentioned above you don’t need to renounce your current citizenship, but you can hold dual nationality. Reference here.

Colombia – 5 years

Colombia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for five years. However, the length of stay is just one year for those from Latin American or Caribbean countries, two years for Spanish citizens, and two years for spouses of a Colombian citizen or parents of Colombian children.

Reference: A person who has lived in Colombia as a permanent resident for five years may apply for naturalization with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. There are exceptions to the usual residence requirements in some cases, including: one year of residence for citizens of a Latin American or a Caribbean country; two years residence for citizens of Spain; two years residence for a person married to a Colombian citizen or who has Colombian children. Reference here.

Congo – 5 years

Congo grants citizenship to those who have legally stayed in the country for a minimum of five years.

Reference: Congolese citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following condition: Person has legally resided in the country for at least five years. Reference here.

Czech Republic – 5 years

The Czech Republic grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for about five years.

Reference: Resident foreigners or stateless persons who have for at least five years held a right of permanent residence and have resided in the Czech Republic for most of that time can apply for Czech naturalization if they can prove they have lost or will lose their original citizenship upon being granted Czech citizenship (valid till December 31, 2013), are of good character and are proficient in the Czech language (current or former Slovak citizens are exempt from language requirements). Reference here.

El Salvador – 5 years

El Salvador grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least five years. Spanish citizens and those of Hispanic origin, however, can get naturalized after just one year’s stay, while those married to a Salvadoran citizen can acquire citizenship if they have lived in the country for two years before or after the marriage.

Reference: Foreigners who wish to obtain the Salvadoran Citizenship by Naturalization could apply, after complying with the requirements, specially regarding the time they have resided in El Salvador, which according to the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador, are the following; For citizens of Spain and those of Hispanic origin who have been residing legally in the country for a year; for foreigners of whichever origin who have been legally residing in the country for five years. For foreigners married to Salvadoran women or foreigners married to Salvadoran man who have resided in the country for two years before or after the marriage. Reference here.

Fiji – 5 years

Foreigners can apply for Fiji citizenship if they have lived in the country for five out of the 10 years before the application. They are also allowed to hold on to multiple nationalities.

Reference: A foreign national can apply for Fiji citizenship if he or she has been lawfully present in Fiji for a total of five (5) of the ten (10) years immediately before the application is made. With the introduction of the multiple citizenship policy applicants do NOT need to renounce their other citizenship – Section 11 (2) of the Citizenship of Fiji Decree 2009. Reference here.

Finland – 5 years

Finland grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for five consecutive years. However, citizens of other Nordic countries can qualify for citizenship after just two consecutive years of residence. All applicants must be proficient in Finnish, Swedish or Finnish sign language.

Reference: A foreigner may be granted Finnish citizenship upon meeting certain requirements, including: five years continuous residence; or a total of seven years residence since age 15, with the last two years’ residence continuous; and knowledge of at least one of Finnish, Swedish or Finnish sign language. Reference here.

France – 5 years

France grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for at least five years.

Reference: After living in France for five years, you can apply for French citizenship or a French permanent residence. Reference here.

Georgia – 5 years

Georgia grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for five years. Georgia’s passport allows visa-free access to 67 countries, but not the Schengen states.

Reference: Anyone who has stayed in Georgia for a total period of five years may apply for a Georgian citizenship. They will be asked to undergo a language proficiency test which will also test the G.K. (general knowledge) of the applicant about the history and the heritage of Georgia. Reference here.

Haiti – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in Haiti for a minimum of five years can apply for citizenship.

Reference: Haitian nationality may be acquired by naturalization, when the person requesting it has resided in Haiti for five years. Reference here.

Indonesia – 5 years

Indonesia grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for either five consecutive years, or 10 non-consecutive years. Applicants must also relinquish all other nationalities, have a fixed income, and be able to speak Bahasa Indonesia.

Reference: A foreign citizen can apply to become an Indonesian citizen with the following requirements; being the age of 18 years or older, or being married when applying, having resided in Indonesia for a minimum of 5 consecutive years or 10 non consecutive years, physically and mentally healthy, can speak the Indonesian language and acknowledge Pancasila and Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945, never be convicted of a crime for which the punishment is imprisonment for one year or more, if having Indonesian citizenship will not give the person dual citizenship, and be employed or have fixed income and pay the citizenship fee. Reference here.

Iran – 5 years

Iran grants citizenship to foreigners who have stayed in the country for a total of five years.

Reference: Individuals can obtain Iranian nationality if they; Have reached the full age of 18, have resided five years, whether continuously or intermittently, in Iran, are not Draft Dodgers (Deserters of military service), have not in any country been convicted of non -political major misdemeanors or felonies. Reference here.

Ireland – 5 years

Foreigners who have live in Ireland for at least five years can apply for naturalization.

Reference: If you don’t qualify to become a citizen by birth or marriage, you can still apply for naturalization if you’ve lived in Ireland for 5 years. Examples of people who might benefit from such a situation would be those who have been working here over a long period of time using work permits, or non-Irish dependents of Irish citizens. Reference here.

Ivory Coast – 5 years

Ivory Coast grants citizenship to foreigners who have resided in the country in the five years prior to citizenship application.

Reference: Naturalization may not be granted to an alien unless he can prove habitual residence in the Ivory Coast during the five years preceding the submission of his application. Reference here.

Jamaica – 5 years

Jamaica grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least five years before applying for naturalization. Applicants must be able to prove that they are financially solvent and of good character.

Reference: A person may be granted naturalization if; he/she has lived in Jamaica for a minimum of five (5) years immediately preceding submission of the application. He/she is of good character, and financially solvent. Reference here.

Japan – 5 years

Foreigners who have stayed in Japan for at least five consecutive years can apply for citizenship. Applicants, however, must be prepared to give up all other nationalities.

Reference: The Japanese government does not have strict rules for the naturalization process, even though the documents that need to be collected for application from an applicant’s home country might take quite some time. The criteria for naturalization are provided in Article 5 of the Nationality Act: Continuous residence in Japan for five years or more, at least 20 years old and otherwise legally competent, history of good behavior generally, and no past history of seditious behavior, sufficient capital or skills, either personally or within family, to support oneself, stateless or willing to renounce foreign citizenship. Reference here.

Kazakhstan – 5 years

Kazakhstan grants naturalization to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least five years. Those who are married to a Kazakhstan citizen can get naturalized within three years.

Reference: According to article 16 of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On citizenship” citizens of Kazakhstan may become; Persons permanently residing in the Republic of Kazakhstan not less than 5 years, married with a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan (residing not less than 3 years), persons with close relatives – citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who reside in Kazakhstan. To close relatives refer: father, mother, siblings, husband, wife, children, grandmother, and grandfather irrespective of their residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Reference here.

Latvia – 5 years

Latvia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least five years.

Reference: Only those persons who are registered in the Population Register may be admitted to Latvian citizenship through naturalization procedures and: 1) whose permanent place of residence, as of the day of submission of an application for naturalization, has been in Latvia for not less than five years calculated from 4 May 1990 (for persons who arrived in Latvia after 1 July 1992, the five-year period shall be calculated from the moment a permanent residence permit is obtained); 2) who are fluent in the Latvian language; 3) who know the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the Constitutional Law “Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person”; 4) who know the text of the National Anthem and the history of Latvia; 5) who have a legal source of income; 6) who have given a pledge of loyalty to the Republic of Latvia. Reference here.

Lebanon – 5 years

Foreigners who have resided in Lebanon for a continuous period of five years can qualify for naturalization.

Reference: The applicant should be of legal age (18 years-old) – something not explicitly stated in nationality law – and has to prove five-year continuous residence. Reference here.

Malta – 5 years

A foreigner who has resided in Malta for a period of five years can become a citizen.

Reference: Prior to 1 August 1989, the residence period for naturalization was 6 years (5 years for citizens of Commonwealth countries). This period is now 5 years. Since the reforms of 2000, persons acquiring Maltese citizenship by naturalization or registration are no longer obliged to prove they had lost or renounced any other citizenship they held. The same reforms also allowed all former citizens of Malta (who were not automatically given Maltese citizenship back) to re-acquire Maltese citizenship by registration. Reference here.

Marshall Islands – 5 years

The Marshall Islands grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for a minimum of five years. Applicants are required to give up all other nationalities, have a stable source of income, and know the country’s language and customs.

Reference: Marshallese citizenship can be applied for upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has resided in the country for at least five years. Person is of good character, is able to speak and understand Marshallese, and understands the customs and traditions of the country. Person has a viable means of support. Person has renounced previous citizenship. Reference here.

Mexico – 5 years

Naturalization in Mexico can take up to five years.

Reference: Before you can apply for Mexican citizenship you need to be able to prove that you have legally resided in Mexico for one, two or five years (depending on your situation) prior to application. Reference here.

Micronesia – 5 years

Micronesia grants naturalization to those who have lived in the country for a minimum of five years. Applicants must relinquish all other nationalities, and be able to speak at least one of the country’s indigenous languages.

Reference: Micronesian citizenship is acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has resided in the country for at least five years. Person is the child or spouse of a citizen of Micronesia, Person is a permanent resident of Micronesia. Person is competent in one of the languages of the country. Person has renounced previous citizenship. Reference here.

Mongolia – 5 years

Mongolia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have stayed in the country for at least five years before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have a stable source of income, as well as know the country’s official language and customs.

Reference: The following conditions shall be met in order to acquire Mongolian citizenship: one shall have the suitable living capability and resources; one shall have the proper knowledge of Mongolian customs and official language of the State, and being permanently resided in Mongolia for the term of up to 5 years before the date of application for citizenship issues. Reference here.

Montenegro – 5 years

Montenegro grants permanent residence to those who have lived in the country for five years while on a temporary residency permit. Permanent residents can then apply for citizenship after residing in the country for another five years.

Reference: Temporary residency permit can be obtained in one month, and is given for a period of one year with the possibility of extension. After the period of five years, temporary residence can become permanent. Applicants can apply for obtaining of citizenship, having lived in Montenegro for five years in the status of permanent residence. Reference here.

Morocco – 5 years

Morocco grants naturalization to those who have lived in the country for five consecutive years prior to applying for citizenship. Applicants must be financially stable, have a record of good conduct, be physically and mentally fit, and have a good grasp of the Arabic language.

Reference: Excluding exceptional cases, a foreigner applying for Moroccan citizenship must fulfill the following conditions; have regular and continuous residence in Morocco during the 5 years preceding the application, be of legal age at the time of the application, be mentally and physically fit, have a record of good conduct and reputation in addition to not being convicted of crime or any offense punishable by Moroccan law, have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language and be able to provide for themselves. Reference here.

Myanmar – 5 years

Myanmar grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for at least five consecutive years. Applicants must reside in Myanmar after they receive their citizenship, and be able to speak any of the country’s local languages.

Reference: The Minister may grant a certificate of naturalization to an alien who makes an application, setting out and satisfying the Minister — that they have reached the age of eighteen years; that for not less than five years before the application they have resided continuously in the Union and subject to its jurisdiction; that they are of good character and can speak any indigenous language; and that they intend, if a certificate is granted, either to reside in the Union or to enter or continue in the service of the Union or any constituent State thereof, or in an undertaking of a religious, charitable or commercial character established in the Union. Provided that they have, within a period not less than one year and not more than five years before making the application, given notice in writing of their intention to apply for naturalization in the form prescribed by Rules under this Act. Reference here.

Namibia – 5 years

Foreigners can apply for Namibian naturalization if they have lived in the country for at least five years.

Reference: After five years of legal residence, a copy of the permanent resident permit, police clearance certificate of country of origin and Namibia Medical report letter from receiver of revenue, confirming period of residence. Reference here.

Netherlands – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in the Netherlands or any of the Dutch territories for an uninterrupted period of five years can become a citizen. Applicants must be fluent in Dutch, as well as relinquish all other nationalities, although there are some exceptions to this rule.

Reference: If you wish to qualify for naturalization, you must meet the following requirements: You are aged 18 or over. You have legally lived in the Netherlands, Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, Saba, Aruba, Curaçao or Saint Martin for an uninterrupted period of 5 years, and you have always extended your residence permit on time… Please note that your residence permit must still be valid during the naturalization procedure. You have a valid permanent residence permit or a residence permit for a non-temporary purpose. You are able to read, write, speak and understand Dutch. … In the previous 4 years you have not received a prison sentence, training or community service order or a large fine (€810 or more). Nor may there be any criminal proceedings pending against you. You are prepared to renounce your current nationality. There are some exceptions to this requirement. Reference here.

New Zealand – 5 years

New Zealand grants naturalization to those who have resided in the country for a minimum of five years.

Reference: To become a citizen, you need to have lived in New Zealand as a resident for at least five years. Reference here.

Panama – 5 years

Panama grants nationality to those who have lived in the country for at least five years. Applicants must have a basic knowledge of Panamanian history and geography, and be able to speak Spanish. However, those who have a child in the country with a Panamanian citizen can become naturalized after three years of residence.

Reference: After five years of residence, if you are willing to deny your nationality of origin, and if you can prove that you speak Spanish and have a basic knowledge of the geography, history and Panamanian political organization, you can apply for Panamanian nationality by naturalization. Or, after three years of residence, if you have a baby born in Panama whose mother or father is Panamanian, you can also apply for naturalization. Reference here.

Russia – 5 years

Russia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have continuously lived in the country for at least five years. Applicants should have a legal source of income and be able to speak Russian.

Reference: Naturalization is usually granted if the applicant meets the following requirements: has been a permanent resident of Russia for not less than five years, promises lawful behavior, has a legal source of income and speaks Russian. Reference here.

Samoa – 5 years

Samoa grants naturalization to permanent residents who have lived in the country for a minimum of five years.

Reference: People can apply for Samoan citizenship in one of four ways. It is important to choose the one that is most appropriate. The four ways of obtaining Samoan citizenship are; Citizenship by Birth, for people born in Samoa where at least one parent is a Samoan citizen, Citizenship by Descent, for people born outside of Samoa where at least one parent is a Samoan citizen at the time of birth, citizenship by Permanent Residence, for people who have held a Samoan Permanent Resident Permit for at least five years, citizenship by marriage, for people who have been married to a Samoan citizen for at least five years, and are currently residing in Samoa. Reference here.

Seychelles – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in Seychelles for at least five years can become citizens. Applicants must give up all other nationalities, as well as reside in the country after becoming a citizen.

Reference: Seychellois citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has continuously resided in country for five years, is of good character, is knowledgeable of English or French, is intent on remaining in the country, and has renounced former citizenship. Reference here.

Singapore – 5 years

Singapore grants citizenship to to those who have been permanent residents (2-3 years to obtain permanent residency) for at least two years before their application for citizenship.

Reference: The following categories of people are eligible to be considered for Singapore Citizenship: A person who is at least 21 years of age and has been a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) for at least 2 years prior to the date of application. The SPR who wishes to apply on his/her own merits may approach ICA for a preliminary assessment interview to check his/her eligibility for Singapore Citizenship. Reference here.

South Africa – 5 years

South Africa grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for at least five years. Those who are married to South African citizens can become naturalized after two years as a permanent resident.

Reference: Permanent Resident holders of 5 or more years can apply for citizenship. Anybody married to a South African citizen qualifies for naturalization, two years after receiving his or her permanent residence at the time of marriage. A child under 21 who has permanent residence permit qualifies for naturalization immediately after the permit is issued. Reference here.

South Korea. – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in South Korea for at least five years may apply for naturalization. Applicants must be able to speak Korean, as well as pass an interview and written test.

Reference: This process may include some of all these requirements; at least 5 years of residence in South Korea, proficiency in the language, knowledge of Korean culture and history and an interview & written test. Reference here.

Sudan – 5 years

Sudan grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least five years.

Reference: The Minister may grant Sudanese nationality by naturalization to any alien if they submit an application in the prescribed form and prove to the Minister that; they have attained the age of majority; they are of complete capacity; they have resided in Sudan for five years or more; they are of good morals and have not been previously convicted of a crime against honour or honesty. Reference here.

Swaziland – 5 years

Swaziland grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for a total of at least five out of the seven years before applying for citizenship. Applicants must also reside in the country for the 12 months prior to their application.

Reference: A person may acquire citizenship by registration. A person may register as a citizen of Swaziland if he/she; has been ordinarily and lawfully residing in Swaziland for a continuous period of at least twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for registration; and for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than five years during the seven years preceding the date of application for registration. Reference here.

Sweden – 5 years

Sweden grants citizenship to permanent residents who have resided in the country for at least five consecutive years. Nordic citizens, however, can get naturalized after two straight years of permanent residency.

Reference: If you wish to become Swedish you will need to apply for naturalization. To obtain Swedish citizenship you must meet the following requirements; Be at least 18 years of age, have permanent right of residence in Sweden, have lived in Sweden for at least five consecutive years or two if you are a Nordic citizen and have no criminal record. Reference here.

Taiwan – 5 years

Foreigners who have resided in Taiwan for at least 183 days per year in a period of five straight years can apply for citizenship.

Reference: The applicant must provide evidence that he has stayed for 183 days in Taiwan per year for at least five consecutive years. Any time spent as a foreign laborer, foreign student, or a dependent does not count towards the legal period of stay required by the Law of Naturalization. Reference here.

Thailand – 5 years

Thailand grants nationalization to permanent residents who have stayed continuously in the country for at least five years. Applicants must have a good grasp of Thai, as well as pass an interview.

Reference: You will also have to fulfil the following conditions to apply for Thai citizenship: You must have lived in Thailand continuously, for at least five years before applying; Be a permanent resident; Be 18 years old or older and have reached legal majority in your country of origin; be well behaved and have a good background (criminal record; political background; involvement with illegal drugs and, in the case of Vietnamese applicants, personal behavior will be checked); Know the Thai language, including speaking, listening and understanding; Be able to sing the National Anthem Sanserm Phra Baramee and pass an interview in Thai conducted by government officers. Reference here.

Turkey. – 5 years

Turkey grants naturalization to those who have resided in the country for five consecutive years. Applicants are required to live in the country after gaining citizenship, have a stable source of income, and be able to speak Turkish.

Reference: A foreign national may apply for naturalization if he or she meets all of the following conditions: Reached the age of majority as defined by the laws of his or her own country or those of Turkey in the case of stateless persons, resided in Turkey for an uninterrupted five years prior to filing the application, intending to settle in Turkey and have taken actions that demonstrate this, be free of any disease that threatens public health, be of good moral character, have an adequate command of the Turkish language, have sufficient income for his or her own livelihood and that of any dependents in Turkey, and pose no threat to national security and public order. Meeting these conditions does not give a foreign national an absolute right to Turkish citizenship. Reference here. This process can be shortened through the use of a citizenship by investment product – explore the ones available at passports.io.

Ukraine – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in Ukraine for a minimum of five years can become citizens. Applicants must relinquish all other nationalities, and be proficient in the Ukrainian language.

Reference: Citizenship of Ukraine may be acquired in one of the following ways; being born within the territory of Ukraine with at least one parent being a citizen of Ukraine; being born abroad but having permanent residence in Ukraine, with at least one parent a citizen of Ukraine, being adopted as a child by citizens of Ukraine, having no other citizenship and at least one parent or grandparent Ukrainian by birth, having no other citizenship, under certain conditions listed in the Statute on Citizenship, being naturalized if without another citizenship, having resided in Ukraine for at least five years, being able to function in the Ukrainian language, and being knowledgeable of the Ukrainian Constitution. Birth within the territory of Ukraine does not automatically confer citizenship. Reference here.

United Kingdom – 5 years

The United Kingdom grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least five years before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have spent no more than 450 days outside the country in those five years, as well as no more than 90 days outside the country in the 12 months before their application for citizenship.

Reference: There are different ways to become a British citizen. The most common is by naturalization. You can apply for British citizenship by naturalization if you have lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your application, spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years and spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months. Reference here.

United States – 5 years

The United States grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for at least five years.

Reference: This page describes the most common path to U.S. citizenship, which allows a green card holder (permanent resident) of at least 5 years to apply for naturalization. Other paths include; Green card holders married to U.S. citizens, Green card holders in the military and their family and Citizenship through parents. Reference here.

Uruguay – 5 years

Uruguay grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for five years. If applicants are married or are part of a family unit living in the country, they can get naturalized within three years, if they can prove they have built ties to the country. This includes renting an apartment or owning land.

Reference: Once you have your permanent residency, you’ll be able to apply for citizenship (and a Uruguayan passport) in 3 years (if married), or in 5 years (for single applicants). Time starts to count from the day you first arrived in Uruguay to file for Permanent Residency, regardless of when Permanent Resident status was actually granted. Reference here.

Uzbekistan – 5 years

Foreigners who have lived in Uzbekistan for a minimum of five years can qualify for citizenship. All applicants are required to give up all other nationalities, and be gainfully employed.

Reference: Uzbek citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: The person has renounced former citizenship, has resided in Uzbekistan for at least five years, and has gainful employment. Reference here.

Vietnam – 5 years

Those who have been permanent residents for at least five years may become a Vietnamese citizen.

Reference: Foreign nationals who have held a Permanent Resident Card for a period of five years may apply for Vietnamese citizenship. Reference here.

6 Years

Guyana – 6 years

Guyana grants citizenship after five years of residence out of the previous seven. This is in addition to the 12 months immediately prior to application that must be spent in the country.

Reference: An applicant must have resided in Guyana for a period of twelve months immediately prior to making an application, in addition to having resided in Guyana for five out of the last seven preceding years before the twelve month period. The authorized Minister may allow certain exceptions concerning specific residency requirements and time periods. Reference here.

Mozambique – 6 years

Foreigners who have lived in Mozambique for at least six years can apply for naturalization. However, applicants are required to give up all other nationalities.

Reference: Get the citizenship of the country as possible, fulfilling the following conditions: The citizen must renounce previous nationality, to be of age and live in the country for more than five years. Reference here.

Portugal – 6 years

Portugal grants naturalization to those who have resided in the country for a minimum of six years.

Reference: A person aged 18 or over may be naturalized as a Portuguese citizen after 6 years of legal residence. There is a requirement to have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and effective links to the national community. Children aged under 18 may acquire Portuguese citizenship by declaration when a parent is naturalized, and future children of such Portuguese nationals will be considered Portuguese citizens by birth. A naturalized Portuguese citizen only starts to be considered Portuguese once the naturalization process is done. Therefore they cannot transmit nationality to their descendants if they have already been born and are over 18 by the time the naturalization process is finished. Reference here.

7 Years

Antigua – 7 years

Antigua grants naturalization to those who have resided in the country for at least seven years before their citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in the country should add up to no less than five years. Citizenship by investment is granted instantly.

Reference: a citizen of any country mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act, being a person of full age and capacity may, on making application therefor to the Minister in the prescribed manner, be registered at the discretion of the Minister as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda if he satisfies the Minister that they(a) have been ordinarily resident in Antigua and Barbuda; or (b) have been in the service of the Government; or (c) have had partly such residence and partly such service, for a period of not less than seven years ending with the date of his application, of which not less than five years in the aggregate must have been spent in Antigua and Barbuda, or for such shorter period so ending, as the Minister may in the special circumstances of any particular case accept. Reference here.

Belarus – 7 years

Belarus grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for seven years before their application for citizenship. Applicants must also give up all other nationalities, have legal income, and be able to speak Belarusian or Russian.

Reference: Citizenship by naturalization can be gained if the applicant; had permanent residence in Belarus for 7 years preceding the application, has enough knowledge of one of the state languages (Belarusian or Russian), has legal income and has no foreign citizenship, or will lose the foreign citizenship after acquisition of Belarusian citizenship, or has renounced their citizenship. Reference here.

Costa Rica – 7 years

A foreigner who has legally resided in the country for at least seven years can become a citizen. However, the length of stay is five years for Spanish nationals and Spanish Americans, and two years for spouses of Costa Rican citizens.

Reference: Naturalization by residence (Law 1155): formally residing in Costa Rica for five years, for Spanish-Americans and Spanish people, and seven years, for people of other nationalities. Reference here.

Grenada – 7 years

Grenada grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least seven years, of which the last two must be spent as a permanent resident.

Reference: Previously, the law required that a foreign national had to reside in Grenada for seven years before citizenship can be obtained. But the new law requires that permanent residence status must be obtained and the applicant resides on the island for an additional two years. It’s no longer a case of having lived there for seven years then applying for citizenship; the applicant will have no choice but to obtain permanent residence first, preferably within the seven-year period, living there for two and then applying for citizenship. The seven year period has not changed – what has changed is the mandatory requirement for permanent residence to obtain citizenship status. All applicants will still have to live there for seven years. Reference here.

Iceland – 7 years

A foreigner can become an Icelandic citizen if he or she has lived in the country for seven years. However, the length of stay is four years for those from Nordic countries, and three years for those who are married for at least four years to an Icelandic citizen.

Reference: A person may be naturalized as an Icelandic citizen after seven years’ residence in Iceland. There are various concessions to the residence requirements; a reduction to four years for a citizen of another Nordic Council country, where a person is married to (or in a recognized union with) an Icelandic citizen, the residence requirement is reduced to three years, the Icelandic spouse must have held citizenship for five years, and the marriage must have subsisted for four years. For persons in a recognized cohabitation with an Icelandic citizen, the residence period is five years, subject to the same criteria as for spouses, a reduction to two years for the child of an Icelandic citizen, provided the parent has held Icelandic citizenship for five years, one year’s residence is required for former Icelandic citizens, the residence requirement for recognized refugees is 5 years, and a person born in Iceland and not holding any other citizenship may be granted citizenship after three years’ residence. Reference here.

Kenya – 7 years

Kenya grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for seven consecutive years. Applicants are required to reside in Kenya after gaining citizenship, contribute to the country’s national development, and speak Kiswahili or any local dialect.

Reference: A person who has attained the age of majority and capacity who has been lawfully resident in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years may on application be registered as a citizen if that person: (a) has been ordinarily resident in Kenya for a period of seven years, immediately preceding the date of application; (b) has been a resident under the authority of a valid permit or has been exempted by the Cabinet Secretary; (c) has resided in Kenya throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application; (d) has an adequate knowledge of Kenya and of the duties and rights of citizens as contained in this act; (e) is able to understand and speak Kiswahili or a local dialect; … (g) has not been convicted of an offense and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three years or longer; (h) satisfies the Cabinet Secretary that he or she intends to reside in Kenya after registration; (i) has been determined, through an objective criteria, and the justification made, in writing, that he or she has made or is capable of making a substantive contribution to the progress or advancement in any area of national development within Kenya; and (j) is not an adjudged bankrupt. Reference here.

Pakistan – 7 years

Pakistan grants nationalization after seven years of residence, in addition to the period of 12 months immediately preceding one’s citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in Pakistan should add up to no less than four years.

Reference: Any foreigner who has been granted the naturalization certificate under naturalization Act 1926, the Federal Government register as a citizen of Pakistan under section 9 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951. The naturalization certificate can be attained under section 3 of the Naturalization Act 1926 on the following grounds: That the applicant has resided in Pakistan through the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application, and has during the seven years immediately preceding the said period of 12 months resided in Pakistan for a period amounting in the aggregate to not less than four years. Reference here.

Turkmenistan – 7 years

Turkmenistan grants naturalization to those who have lived as permanent residents in the country for at least seven years. Applicants must have legitimate employment in the country and be able to speak Turkmen.

Reference: An individual may be accepted into the citizenship of Turkmenistan by his petition if he; Makes a commitment to obey and respect the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan; Knows the state language of Turkmenistan sufficiently well to communicate; Has had permanent residence on the territory of Turkmenistan for the past seven years; Has a legitimate source of livelihood on the territory of Turkmenistan. Reference here.

8 Years

Croatia. – 8 years

Croatia grants citizenship to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least eight consecutive years. Applicants are required to relinquish all other nationalities and must be knowledgeable in Croatia’s language and culture.

Reference: A foreigner can acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization if they have submitted a request for Croatian citizenship and fulfill the following requirements; that they are 18 years old and that they are not deprived of working capacity; that they are dismissed from their foreign citizenship, or that they submit proof that they will acquire dismissal if granted Croatian citizenship; that they have lived and have had a registered residence in the Republic of Croatia until the submission of the request for at least 8 years in continuation, and have been granted foreigner status on their permanent residence; that they are proficient in the Croatian language and Latin script, and are familiar with the Croatian culture and social arrangement; that it can be concluded from their behavior that they respect the legal order and customs of the Republic of Croatia. Reference here.

Estonia – 8 years

Estonia grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least eight years, of which five must be spent as a permanent resident. Applicants must pass an examination on the country’s Constitution, and be able to speak Estonian.

Reference: Those seeking to become Estonian citizens via naturalization are required to fulfill the following criteria; the applicant is aged 15 or over, resided in Estonia legally for at least eight years and, of that, have spent the last five years with permanent residence in Estonia, and be familiar in the Estonian language. People who have graduated from an Estonian-speaking high school or an institute of higher education are assumed to fulfill this criterion without the need to take a full examination demonstrating familiarity with the Estonian Constitution, showing a demonstrated means of support and taking an oath of loyalty. Those who have committed serious crimes or are foreign military personnel on active duty are ineligible to seek naturalization as an Estonian citizen. Reference here.

Germany – 8 years

Foreigners who have lived in Germany for eight years can become citizens. Applicants must be financially stable, and able to speak German.

Reference: German citizenship can only be applied for after a number of years. To become a German citizen, you generally have to be resident in Germany for 8 years and fulfill certain conditions. Reference here.

Ghana – 8 years

Ghana grants citizenship after seven years of residence, in addition to a period of 12 months immediately preceding one’s citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in Ghana should add up to six years. Applicants are also required to reside in the country after they gain citizenship.

Reference: A person qualifies for naturalization if (a) He/She has legally resided in Ghana throughout the period of 7 years with a valid residence permit, and twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application for naturalization; (b) He/She must be HIV/AIDS Negative, preceding the date of the application for naturalization; (c) Six years of physical (actual) residence in Ghana during the seven years before the application for naturalization. (This excludes the year of ordinary residence); (d) He/She is of good character as attested to in writing by the President of Ghana; (e) He/She has not been sentenced to any period of imprisonment in Ghana or anywhere for an offense recognized by law in Ghana; (f) He/She is a person who has made or who is capable of making a substantial contribution to the progress or advancement in any area of national activity; (g) He/She is a person who has been assimilated into the Ghanaian way of life or who can easily be so assimilated; (h) He/She intends to reside permanently in Ghana in the event of a certificate being granted to him/her; and (i) He/She possessed a valid residence permit on the date of their application for naturalization. Reference here.

Greece – 8 years

Greece grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least eight out of 10 years before their citizenship application.

Reference: A Foreigner who is 18 years old may acquire Greek citizenship by naturalization. The following are required for naturalization: a) a declaration by the foreigner to the authorities of the place they will be domiciled at, stating their will to be naturalized; b) if the foreigner is not of Greek ethnic descent they must have resided in Greece for in total eight out of the ten years before their application for naturalization or three years after their declaration for naturalization. These conditions are not required for persons who were born and reside in Greece; c) an application for naturalization lodged to the Ministry of the Interior. Reference here.

Hungary – 8 years

Hungary grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least eight consecutive years. However, the length of stay is three years for those who are married for at least three years to a Hungarian citizen. Applicants must pass an examination on the country’s Constitution, and have a stable source of income.

Reference: A person may be naturalized as a Hungarian citizen on the basis of the following requirements; 8 years continuous residence in Hungary, no criminal past at all, a stable livelihood, good character, passing a test in basic constitutional studies. The residence requirement is reduced to 3 years for; spouses of Hungarian citizens who have been married for three years (or who are widows or widowers), parents of Hungarian citizen minor children, persons adopted by Hungarian citizens, recognized refugees. Reference here.

Macedonia – 8 years

Foreigners who have continuously stayed in Macedonia for a minimum of eight years can qualify for citizenship. Applicants must have been financially stable and have a residence in the country.

Reference: An alien who has submitted an application for admission into citizenship of the Republic of Macedonia may acquire citizenship of the Republic of Macedonia by naturalization, if they fulfill the following requirements: To have reached 18 years of age; until the submission of the application, to have been legally and continuously residing in the territory of the Republic of Macedonia for at least 8 years; and to have a residence and a permanent source of funds for existence to the level that provides material and social security under conditions determined by law. Reference here.

Mauritius – 8 years

Mauritius grants citizenship after seven years of residence, in addition to the period of 12 months immediately preceding one’s citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in Mauritius should add up to no less than five years.

Reference: Under section 9 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act, a non-commonwealth citizen may be naturalized as a citizen of Mauritius if they have resided in Mauritius for: a continuous period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of their application and during the seven years immediately preceding the period of 12 months referred to above, for aggregate periods amounting to not less than 5 years. Reference here.

Papua New Guinea – 8 years

Foreigners who have lived in Papua New Guinea for at least eight consecutive years can apply for nationalization.

Reference: A person who has resided continuously in the country for at least eight years may apply to the Minister responsible for citizenship matters to be naturalized as a citizen, and the Minister may, if he is satisfied as to the matters referred to in Subsection, can in his deliberate judgment (but subject to Division 4 (Citizenship Advisory Committee), grant or refuse the application. Reference here.

Romania – 8 years

Romania grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for a minimum of eight years.

Reference: Citizenship may be granted to foreign citizens or a person without citizenship who qualifies by the inclusion of one of the following three categories: Was born in Romania and currently resides there; Has resided in Romania for at least eight years; has been married to a Romanian citizen for at least five years. Reference here.

Slovakia – 8 years

Slovakia grants naturalization to permanent residents who have lived in the country for at least eight years. However, spouses of Slovak citizens can qualify for exceptions to the residence requirement. Applicants must be able to speak the Slovak language and have no criminal record in the previous five years.

Reference: Slovak citizenship is acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has been permanently residing in the territory for at least eight years, has a command of the Slovak language, and has not been pronounced guilty of a deliberate crime within the last five years. Exceptions to the residence requirements can be made in the case of Persons married to a Slovak citizen (after 5 years of marriage); and Cases where a “great benefit to the Slovak Republic” is at stake. Certain former citizens of Czechoslovakia are also eligible. Reference here.

St. Lucia – 8 years

Foreigners who have stayed in St. Lucia for at least eight years can qualify for naturalization. Applicants are required to give up all other nationalities and reside in the country after gaining citizenship.

Reference: St. Lucian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person is of good character, is familiar with the language and customs, has resided in the country for eight years before submitting the application, intends to reside in St. Lucia, and has renounced previous citizenship. Reference here.

Trinidad – 8 years

Trinidad grants citizenship after seven years of residence, in addition to the period of 12 months immediately preceding one’s citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in Trinidad should add up to no less than five years.

Reference: The Minister may grant a certificate of naturalization to any alien of full age and capacity that makes the prescribed application therefor and satisfies the Minister – )that he has resided in Trinidad and Tobago throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of his application and that during the seven years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, they have resided in Trinidad and Tobago or have had service under the Government, or have had partly such residence and partly such service, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than five years. Reference here.

9 Years

Denmark – 9 years

Denmark grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least nine consecutive years. Applicants must have permanent resident status.

Reference: If you want to become a Danish citizen by naturalization, you will have to go through a complicated application process and fulfill a number of conditions. In order to apply for Danish nationality, you must have lived in Denmark for a certain number of years and have a permanent residence permit. If you do not have a permanent residence permit, you should apply for one at the Danish Immigration Service. In most cases, you will need to have lived in Denmark continuously for a minimum of 9 years to apply for citizenship. If you have refugee status in Denmark, you only need to have lived in Denmark for 8 years continuously. Reference here.

10 Years

Austria – 10 years

Austria grants nationalization to those who have stayed in the country for at least 10 consecutive years. Applicants must also give up their previous nationality, unless they are unable by law to relinquish it, and be able to speak German.

Reference: It is possible to apply for Austrian citizenship by naturalization after 10 years of continuous residence in Austria. Additional requirements include; knowledge of the German language ‘having due regard to the alien’s personal circumstances’ and renunciation of foreign citizenship (under the law of the applicant’s home country), unless this is impractical. This requirement can be waived in exceptional cases. Naturalization as an Austrian citizen based on 10 years of continuous residence is discretionary. Reference here.

The Bahamas – 10 years

The Bahamas grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for at least 10 years. Applicants must reside in the country for at least six years before applying for naturalization.

Reference: In order to become a citizen, persons must be one of the following; A legal permanent resident in The Bahamas who has had legal status for 10 years, including the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application, and who has resided in The Bahamas for a minimum of 6 years preceding the 12 months mentioned above; a female spouse of a Bahamian citizen, born in The Bahamas after 9th July, 1973 to non-Bahamian parents, a child (adopted or biological) who has at least one Bahamian parent (Naturalized or otherwise), and a child born in the Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents. Reference here.

Bosnia – 10 years

Bosnia grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for at least 10 years. Applicants must give up all other nationalities, and have a stable income and no criminal record.

Reference: An alien may acquire Bosnian citizenship by naturalization or by virtue of an international agreement. By naturalization, an alien acquires citizenship if s/he fulfills the following criteria: is 18 years of age; has a release from a foreign citizenship or evidence that the release would be granted if Bosnian citizenship is acquired; has had a permanently registered residence in the RBiH for the last 10 years prior to applying for citizenship; has a permanent income ensuring his/her material and social security; has not been sentenced to expulsion from RBiH territory as a security measure; and has not been sentenced for committing a crime against the social order, crimes against humanity and humanitarian law, or a crime against the Army. Reference here.

Botswana – 10 years

Foreigners who have lived in Botswana for a total of at least 10 years can become citizens.

Reference: Naturalization in Botswana applies to foreigners who have resided in Botswana for a period of ten (10) years in aggregate or more. Reference here.

East Timor – 10 years

East Timor grants naturalization to those who have stayed in the country for a minimum of 10 years. Applicants must be financially stable, and be able to speak at least one of the country’s official languages.

Reference: The Minister of Justice may grant East Timorese citizenship to a foreigner who so requests and cumulatively meets the following conditions on the date of request: a) To be an adult in light of the law of Timor-Leste and the State of origin; b) To be a usual and regular resident of Timor-Leste for at least ten (10) years prior to 7 December 1975 or after 20 May 2002; c) To be able to speak one of the official languages; d) To meet moral and civic standards for integration into the East Timorese society; e) To be able to manage oneself and provide for his or her subsistence; f) To know the history and culture of Timor-Leste. Reference here.

Egypt – 10 years

Egypt grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least 10 consecutive years. Applicants must be proficient in Arabic, have a stable livelihood, and no disabilities or criminal record.

Reference: To be eligible for Egyptian citizenship, you must have lived in the country for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, and you must be over 21 years of age. You cannot have a criminal record, and you must be able to prove that you are mentally sound and have no serious physical disabilities that would make you “a burden on the state.” You must be able to demonstrate competency in Arabic and prove that you have a legal means of earning a living. Reference here.

Eritrea – 10 years

Foreigners who have lived in Eritrea for 10 years can apply for naturalization. Applicants must give up all other nationalities, be able to speak at least one local language, be financially stable, and have no disabilities.

Reference: An applicant must be foreigner who has stayed in Eritrea for a reasonable period of time (ten (10) years, must have entered the country legally, must be of high integrity and of good character, must be familiar with at least one local language, must not be affected by mental or physical handicaps, must prove that he/she will not become a burden to Eritrean society, must prove that he/she can support their family, must have renounced the nationality of another country, must be willing to be permanent resident in the country if granted Eritrea citizenship. Reference here.

Italy – 10 years

Italy grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least 10 years. However, European Union nationals can qualify for citizenship after four years of residence.

Reference: A foreign resident who isn’t married to an Italian can apply for citizenship after four years’ residence if they are a European Union (EU) national, otherwise after ten years; stateless people resident in Italy and foreigners serving the Italian state can apply after five years. Reference here.

Laos – 10 years

A permanent resident can become a Lao citizen if he/she has stayed in the country for at least 10 continuous years, although this residence requirement can be reduced for those who have strong professional qualifications. Applicants are required to renounce all other nationalities, have a stable source of income, prove that they have contributed to the country’s development, and be proficient in Lao.

Reference: Foreign citizens or stateless individuals may acquire Lao nationality upon request if: They are eighteen years of age or more when requesting Lao nationality; They respect the Constitution and the laws of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; They speak, read and write fluently in Lao; They possess evidence of their social and cultural integration [and their] knowledge of and respect for Lao traditions; They are in good health, and are not suffering from any serious infectious disease or drug addiction; They have not been sentenced by any court to imprisonment; They participate in the protection and development of the country; They have not caused harm to the national interest; They agree to relinquish their previous nationality (unless they have no nationality); They have [established] continuous permanent residence in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for ten years before requesting Lao nationality, although the time limit may be reduced for individuals whose professional qualifications are at an expert level; [and] They have professions and qualifications in certain areas and have a stable economic status. Reference here.

Libya – 10 years

Foreigners who have lived in Libya for a period of at least 10 years may become citizens. Applicants must have a stable source of income and no criminal record.

Reference: It’s possible to give Libyan nationality to the persons that are interested in it based on a decision from the General Popular Committee after the recommendation of the coordinator of the General Popular Committee for General Security if he/she meets the following conditions: Reached the maturity age and is legally responsible; entered Libya legally and according to a valid travel document issued by the authorities of the country that he/she holds nationality; has resided in Libya legally for a period not less than 10 years since they entered the country; has a regular source of income; has good conduct and never been convicted with an offense or a crime that affected the honor or the security unless the conviction was dismissed; free of all contaminated and transmitted diseases; his/her age is not more than 50 years at the time of presenting the request. Reference here.

Lithuania – 10 years

Lithuania grants nationalization to those who have been permanent residents for the 10 years preceding their application for citizenship.

Reference: Granting of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania through naturalization is one of the grounds for acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, when a person meets the following conditions; they have been legally, permanently resident in the Republic of Lithuania for the last ten years and at the time of the application for the granting of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and the decision regarding the granting of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, they have the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania. Reference here.

Luxembourg – 10 years

Foreigners who have resided in Luxembourg for a minimum of 10 years can apply for citizenship. Applicants must be able to speak all three of the country’s national languages – French, German and Luxembourgish.

Reference: To become a citizen you must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Luxembourg for at least 10 years and be fluent in all three national languages (French, German and Luxembourgish). Alternatively, you can apply for citizenship after five years of living in Luxembourg if you have ties with the country through birth, adoption or marriage. Reference here.

Malaysia – 10 years

Malaysia grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for 10 out of the previous 12 years, including the 12 months immediately before their citizenship application. Applicants are required to renounce all other nationalities and be able to speak Malay.

Reference: Those applying to become naturalized citizens must have “an adequate knowledge of the Malay language” and have resided in the country for ten of the past twelve years, including the twelve months immediately preceding the application. These requirements are set out by Part III of the Constitution. Reference here.

Moldova – 10 years

Those who have lived in Moldova for at least 10 years may become citizens.

Reference: Citizenship of the Republic of Moldova may be granted upon request to a person who reached 18 years of age and who, though not born in this territory, has resided lawfully and habitually there for at least the last ten years; or has been married to a citizen of the Republic of Moldova for at least three years; or has resided lawfully and habitually for at least three years with parents or children (including adoptive parents and adopted children) who are citizens of the Republic of Moldova, has resided lawfully and habitually in the territory of the Republic of Moldova for five years before reaching the age of 18, is stateless or a recognized refugee according to provisions of the National Law, and has resided lawfully and habitually in the territory of the Republic of Moldova for at least eight years. Reference here.

Monaco – 10 years

Monaco grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least 10 consecutive years before applying for citizenship. Applicants are required to renounce all other nationalities.

Reference: Those seeking to become Monégasque citizens via naturalization are required to fulfill the following criteria and send their request on stamped paper addressed directly to the Prince; renounce any foreign nationality, no longer be required to perform national service abroad, have resided in Monaco for a minimum of 10 continuous years since the age of 18 at the time of making the application. Reference here.

Nicaragua – 10 years

Nicaragua grants citizenship to foreigners who have had two five-year residency terms. The country allows dual citizenship for those from Central American countries and nations with which it has dual citizenship agreements.

Reference: When you attain your second five-year residency, you can choose to be a citizen. There are advantages and disadvantages but it is legal to have both a USA and a Nicaraguan passport. Reference here.

The Philippines – 10 years

Foreigners who have lived in the Philippines for at least 10 consecutive years can qualify for becoming citizens.

Reference: Under Section 2 of the Revised Naturalization Law, the applicant must possess the following qualifications; He/she must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age on the day of the hearing of the petition, he/she must have resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of not less than ten (10) years and he/she must be of good moral character and believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have conducted themselves in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of their residence in the Philippines in relation with the constituted government, as well as with the community in which they are living. Reference here.

Saudi Arabia – 10 years

Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to those who have been permanent residents for a continuous period of 10 years.

Reference: A foreigner may be granted Saudi Arabian nationality if he/she meets the following conditions; He must have reached the age of maturity at the time of submitting the application and have been a permanent resident of the Kingdom for 10 consecutive years. Reference here.

Slovenia – 10 years

Slovenia grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for 10 years. This includes five consecutive years that must be spent in the country. Applicants are required to give up all other nationalities, be financially stable, and be able to speak Slovenian.

Reference: A person may acquire Slovenian citizenship by naturalization upon satisfying the following conditions: a total of 10 years residence in Slovenia, including 5 years continuous residence before the application, renunciation of foreign citizenship (or providing proof it will automatically be lost), competency in the Slovenian language, be of good character, aged at least 18 and sufficiently established in Slovenia so as not to require welfare payments. Reference here.

Spain – 10 years

Foreigners who have resided in Spain for at least 10 years can become citizens. However, the length of stay is one year for spouses of Spanish citizens.

Reference: Most foreigners must have held a residence permit for ten years before they can apply for Spanish nationality. The main exceptions are those who have been granted political refugee status or asylum, who can apply after five years, and nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Jews of Spanish origin, all of whom qualify after just two years. A one-year residence period is sufficient for someone born in Spain or born outside Spain with a Spanish mother or father, or anyone married to a Spanish citizen (even if the marriage has been dissolved). Reference here.

Switzerland – 10 years

Switzerland grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least 10 years.

Reference: If you are a non-EU/EFTA citizen, after you have lived in Switzerland for 10 years (less for some nationalities) you can apply for a Swiss settlement or permanent residence permit. You can also apply to become naturalized as a Swiss citizen after 10 years. Reference here.

Vanuatu – 10 years

Vanuatu grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least 10 consecutive years before applying for citizenship. However, those who are married to a Vanuatu citizen can qualify for citizenship within two years of residence. Currently, Vanuatu has launched a Citizenship by investment program, where it is possible to become a citizen through a donation.

Reference: Any non-citizen may be eligible to apply to become a Vanuatu Citizen only if he or she has lived in Vanuatu for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately prior to application. A non-citizen married to a Vanuatu Citizen is not eligible to apply for Vanuatu citizenship unless he or she meets the two following requirements: I. is legally married; and II. has lived in Vanuatu for a period of at least 2 years prior to application. Reference here.

Zambia – 10 years

Zambia grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for at least 10 continuous years.

Reference: Any person who has attained the age of twenty-one years or is or has been married to a citizen of Zambia; and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a continuous period of not less than ten years immediately preceding that person’s application for registration; or is a woman who has been married to a citizen of Zambia for a period of more than three years preceding 24 July 1988; shall be entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board, in such manner as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament, to be registered as a citizen of Zambia. Reference here.

Zimbabwe – 10 years

Foreigners who have resided in Zimbabwe for at least 10 years can apply to become a citizen.

Reference: Foreign nationals may make applications for registration as citizens of Zimbabwe on condition that: They have ten years legal ordinary residence in Zimbabwe and such applications are made in person at the offices of the Registrar General of Citizenship Zimbabwe. Those applying for Zimbabwean Citizenship must be ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe. Reference here.

11 Years

Tanzania – 11 years

Tanzania grants citizenship after 10 years of residence, in addition to a period of 12 months immediately preceding one’s citizenship application. The total length of an applicant’s stay in Tanzania should add up to no less than seven years.

Reference: Residence in the United Republic of Tanzania throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of the applications and during the ten years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, total residence in the United Republic for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than seven years. Reference here.

12 Years

India – 12 years

India grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for 12 out of the previous 14 years. This is in addition to the 12 months prior to the citizenship application that must be spent in the country.

Reference: You can become an Indian citizen if you have been a resident of India for twelve of the last fourteen years. In addition, you must have spent the twelve months preceding your application in India, without interruption. Reference here.

The Maldives – 12 years

Foreigners who have lived in the Maldives for 12 consecutive years can qualify for citizenship.
Reference: Applicants will need to have resided in the Maldives for a continuous period of 12 years; they shall be deemed to have complied with the said requirement if they have resided abroad, provided that the period is not more than 6 months, and have resided in the Maldives for a period amounting in the aggregate to more than 10 years. Reference here.

15 Years

Jordan – 15 years

Jordan grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for a minimum of 15 years.

Reference: Jordanian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following condition: Person has maintained a residence in Jordan for at least 15 years. Reference here.

Nepal – 15 years

Foreigners who have resided in Nepal for at least 15 years can become Nepali citizens. Applicants must give up all other nationalities, have employment in the country, and be proficient in Nepali.

Reference: Any foreign national of full age and capacity may submit an application to obtain Nepali citizenship if; they have resided in Nepal for at least 15 years, can speak and write in the national language of Nepal, be engaged in any occupation in Nepal, have relinquished their citizenship of another state, are a citizen of a country where there is legal provision or a custom to provide naturalized citizenship to Nepali nationals, and are of good conduct and character. Reference here.

Nigeria – 15 years

Nigeria grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least 15 years. Applicants are required to live in the country after gaining citizenship, relinquish all other passports, be able to support themselves financially, and know the country’s language and customs.

Reference: Like any other country, Nigeria takes its time to grant citizenship to foreigners that meet certain requirements. The main way for foreigners to obtain Nigerian citizenship is via ‘naturalization’, which requires the following – an individual must be at least 17 years of age and have resided in Nigeria for at least 15 years, be of good character, plan to remain in Nigeria, be familiar with Nigerian language and customs, have a viable means of support, and have renounced previous citizenship. Reference here.

20 Years

Andorra – 20 years

Residents who have a permit to live and work in Andorra (“active” residents) can qualify for citizenship within 20 years. Those who have a permit to live but not work in the country (“passive” residents) can qualify after 17 years. Applicants are required to make investments that are worth at least €400,000 in total, give up all other nationalities, live in the country for at least 90 days per year, and be financially independent.

Reference: To get the second passport of Andorra it is necessary to live for 17 years in the territory of the Principality with “passive” residence or 20 years with “active” residence status. Those who get an education in Andorra have the right for getting the citizenship after 10 years of living in the Principality. Reference here.

Bhutan – 20 years

Foreigners who have lived in Bhutan for at least 20 years can qualify for citizenship.

Reference: Non-Bhutanese applicants must be at least 21 years of age and must have resided in Bhutan for at least 20 years as indicated in the census register, except government employees who need to show a 15-year residency. Reference here.

Kuwait – 20 years

Kuwait grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for 20 consecutive years. The length of stay, however, is 15 years for Arab citizens. Applicants must be either Muslim by birth, or a Muslim convert of at least five years, and be able to speak Arabic.

Reference: Kuwaiti citizenship may be granted by the Minister of the Interior to an applicant if he or she satisfies all of the following: has legally lived in Kuwait for 20 years continuously or 15 years if he or she is an Arab citizen – he or she will not be affected if she goes abroad for a business visit; has legal ways of earning a living and has not been convicted of a crime; knows the Arabic Language; is a Muslim by birth or converted to Islam 5 years prior to the declaration of naturalization. But if he or she has the intention of leaving Islam before naturalization they will not be granted citizenship. Reference here.

Oman – 20 years

Oman grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least 20 consecutive years.

Reference: A foreigner can request an Omani citizenship if the following conditions apply; Before submitting a request, the person should have resided in Oman for a continuous period of 20 years or 10 years if married to an Omani woman. Note that their stay is not considered continuous if they leave Oman for over two months in any given year. Reference here.

25 Years

Bahrain – 25 years

Bahrain grants citizenship to those who have resided in the country for at least 25 consecutive years. However, Arab nationals can qualify for citizenship after 15 consecutive years of residence.

Reference: Bahraini Citizenship may be granted, by order from His Majesty the Governor, to any alien of full legal capacity, if requested by the alien, who should meet the following requirements; they have made Bahrain their usual place of residence legally for at least twenty five consecutive years or fifteen years consecutively for Arab nationals, provided, however, that this period shall commence after the effective date of this act. Reference here.

Qatar – 25 years

Qatar grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for 25 consecutive years. Applicants must have a stable source of income, be able to speak Arabic, and have no criminal record.

Reference: Residing in Qatar for 25 successive years, and not resident outside the country for more than two consecutive months during any one of those 25 years; Living in Qatar legally during the duration of that period; Having a sufficient means of income generation; Maintaining a good reputation, demonstrating good behavior and not committing any criminal act or act of “moral turpitude;” and having a fair command of the Arabic language. Reference here.

30 Years

Liechtenstein – 30 years

Liechtenstein grants citizenship to those who have lived in the country for at least 30 years, of which the five years before their citizenship application must be spent as a permanent resident. Applicants must relinquish all other nationalities.

Reference: After 30 years of residence in Liechtenstein. You can apply for naturalization. Years spent in Liechtenstein under age 20 counts as 2 years. You must have been a permanent ordinary resident for at least 5 years before the application. You must also renounce your original citizenship. Reference here.

San Marino – 30 years

San Marino grants citizenship to those who have continuously resided in the country for at least 30 years. Applicants are required to give up all other citizenships.

Reference: To obtain the citizenship it is necessary to renounce any other citizenship and to have effectively continued residence for at least 30 years in the territory of the Republic. The residence certificate is issued exclusively by the public offices concerned. Applicants must prove that they have maintained continuous residence in the Republic (effective residence, ordinary stay permit, continuous special stay permit). Reference here.

The United Arab Emirates – 30 years

The UAE grants citizenship to those who have stayed in the country for 30 years. However, Arab citizens of Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain can qualify for citizenship after seven years of residence. Applicants must be legally employed, be able to speak Arabic, and have no criminal record.

Reference: A foreigner may apply for citizenship by fulfilling the following: Legally lived in the UAE for 30 years or 7 years, if an Arab citizen of Omani, Qatari, and Bahraini origin. No residence limit exists for people who provided honorable services to the country; legally earn a living; maintain good reputation; have enough knowledge of the Arabic language; no criminal record… Naturalized citizens do not have the right to stand for elections. Arab citizens of Omani, Qatari and Bahraini origins may stand for elections after 7 years. Reference here.