Key Takeaways
• Several countries offer citizenship in 2 to 5 years with dual citizenship, including Argentina, Canada, and Barbados.
• Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs require $200,000+ investments and have processing times from 2 to 6 months.
• Most countries use online applications and stricter checks; Canada and Australia favor skilled workers for faster residency.
For many people around the world, getting a second passport or new citizenship has become easier in 2025. Changes in technology, new rules for skilled workers, and updates to investment programs have made the process faster and more open. If you want more freedom to travel, better security, or new chances for your family, it’s important to know the steps and what to expect. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to the journey of getting citizenship, including Citizenship by Investment, dual citizenship rules, and what you need to do at each stage.
Here is a complete list of the Top 16 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship in 2025, based on the latest overviews of citizenship-by-investment programs and accessible naturalization routes:
Important highlights:
- The Caribbean nations (Dominica, St Kitts & Nevis, etc.) excel for speed and minimal physical residency.
- Portugal, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay provide fast naturalization often with easy residency requirements.
- Vanuatu stands out for the fastest processing, often in just 2–4 months.
Other Honorable Mentions: Armenia, Armenia, Ecuador, Israel, Serbia, and Honduras also have relatively short residency or flexible investment/naturalization paths.
Choosing Your Destination
The first step is to pick the country where you want to become a citizen. In 2025, several countries stand out for their simple rules and clear paths to citizenship. Here’s what you should look for:
- Residency requirement: Most countries ask you to live there for 2 to 5 years before you can apply for citizenship. Some places offer shorter paths if you are a skilled worker or investor.
- Dual citizenship: Many popular countries allow you to keep your old citizenship while getting a new one. Always check the rules in both your home country and your new country.
- Investment options: Some countries let you get citizenship quickly if you invest a certain amount of money. These Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs are popular but now have higher costs and stricter checks.
- Integration checks: In Europe, you may need to pass language tests or show you understand the country’s culture.
Here are some of the easiest countries for citizenship in 2025:
- Argentina, Peru: Only 2 years of residency, dual citizenship allowed.
- Paraguay, Israel, Poland, Serbia, Honduras: About 3 years, dual citizenship allowed (Serbia checks case by case).
- Ecuador: 3–5 years, dual citizenship allowed.
- Canada 🇨🇦: 1095 days (about 5 years), dual citizenship allowed.
- Brazil: 4 years, dual citizenship allowed.
- Ireland, Chile: 5 years, dual citizenship allowed.
- Barbados: 4–5 years or CBI, dual citizenship allowed.
Some countries, like Israel, have special rules. For example, people with Jewish heritage can get citizenship almost right away under the Law of Return.
Meeting Residency Requirements and Staying Compliant
Once you choose your country, you must meet the residency rules. This means:
- Keep your visa or residency permit valid at all times.
- Follow local laws. If you get in trouble with the law, you might not be allowed to apply.
- Keep proof of where you live and work, like rental contracts or job letters.
Recent changes include:
- Canada 🇨🇦 now lets some tech workers count remote work toward their residency time.
- Australia has made it easier for skilled workers to count their time living there.
Application Preparation – What’s New?
Getting your paperwork ready is a key step. Most countries ask for:
- Proof you have lived there (like utility bills or rental agreements)
- Background checks from every country you’ve lived in
- Language test certificates if needed
- Results from any culture or civics tests
- Completed application forms and payment of fees
A big change in 2025 is that most countries now let you apply online. You can upload your documents, track your application, and get updates through secure websites.
Submission and Processing Times
After you send in your application, you’ll need to wait for it to be processed. How long this takes depends on the country and the path you choose.
Naturalization routes: If you’re applying after living in the country, you might wait several months to a year. Some European countries have made this faster because businesses want to attract more skilled workers.
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs: These are the fastest ways to get citizenship. Here are some examples from July 2025:
- Vanuatu: 2–4 months, $130,000 donation, but no longer gives visa-free travel to the European Union 🇪🇺.
- Dominica: About 4 months, $200,000 donation or real estate, family can be included.
- Grenada: 3–6 months, $235,000+ donation, can lead to a US E-2 visa after living there.
- St Kitts & Nevis: 120–180 days, $250,000+ contribution, real estate option costs more.
- St Lucia: 90–180 days, $240,000+ donation, real estate option at $300,000.
All Caribbean CBI programs now require at least $200,000 investment after a 2024 update. Malta’s direct CBI program is closed, and Portugal’s Golden Visa now leads to citizenship only after five years.
Approval and Oath Ceremony
If your application is approved, you’ll usually need to:
- Attend an oath ceremony (if required)
- Get your citizenship certificate
- Apply for your new passport, which usually takes a few weeks
In many Caribbean countries, your spouse and children can be included in your application or get citizenship more easily after you are approved.
Dual Citizenship Rules in Practice
Most countries that offer easy citizenship paths allow dual citizenship. This includes all Caribbean CBI countries, most of South America, Australia, Canada 🇨🇦, Ireland, Belgium, Albania, and Barbados. However, some countries, like China, do not allow dual citizenship at all.
If you are from the United States 🇺🇸, United Kingdom, or Canada 🇨🇦, you can have more than one citizenship, but you may still need to file taxes in your home country. Always check the rules in both your home and new country before applying.
Special Focus: State-of-the-Art CBI Programs
Vanuatu is the fastest, with processing in as little as two months, but its passport lost visa-free access to the European Union 🇪🇺 in December 2024.
Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia have all raised their investment minimums and now have stricter checks. Grenada is special because it can lead to a US E-2 visa, but you must live there for three years first.
Bulgaria no longer offers a fast-track bond route. Now, you must invest at least €512,000 in funds, live there for five years, and pass a language test unless you are exempt. Spouses can apply after three years.
Portugal’s Golden Visa now requires a five-year investment in funds, with a new €155,000 route for some investors.
After Approval – Rights and Responsibilities
Once you become a citizen, you get new rights and duties:
- You can vote and may have to do civic duties
- Keep your passport up to date
- Watch out for tax rules if you have more than one citizenship
- Some countries want you to tell them if you get another citizenship
Children can often be included in your application or get citizenship later. Losing your new citizenship is rare unless you break the law or remove your investment too soon.
Recent Trends Shaping Global Migration Policy
Digital transformation: Most countries now use online systems for everything from applying to doing interviews.
Skilled worker fast tracks: Countries like Australia and Canada 🇨🇦 have special paths for people with skills in science, technology, and business.
Compliance enforcement: Countries are checking applications more carefully to stop fraud. Anonymous “golden passports” are disappearing, except in a few small Pacific countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I include my family? Almost always yes, but check the rules for age and who counts as a dependent.
- Could I lose my new passport? Only if you break the law or remove your investment too soon.
- Can I move again later? Dual citizenship gives you more freedom, but always check the rules in your next country.
- Is it safe to use agents? Only use government-approved agents. Unlicensed brokers can get you in trouble.
Where to Get Official Help
Always start with official government immigration websites for the latest forms and rules. For example, you can find Canada’s official citizenship information at Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship website. For complex cases, use licensed experts who know the current rules.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, staying up to date with changing rules, digital systems, and investment amounts will help you move forward with confidence on your path to citizenship, whether you choose naturalization, Citizenship by Investment, or dual citizenship.
(Updated July 28th, 2025)
### Learn Today
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) → A program allowing citizenship through a financial investment in the host country’s economy.
Dual citizenship → The legal status of being a citizen of two countries simultaneously with certain rights and obligations.
Naturalization → The legal process through which a non-citizen gains citizenship by fulfilling residency and other requirements.
Residency requirement → The mandated period a person must live in a country before applying for citizenship.
Oath ceremony → An official event where new citizens pledge allegiance and receive their citizenship certificate.
### This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025, obtaining citizenship has become faster with technology and updated rules. Many countries offer easier paths through residency or investment, plus dual citizenship options and online applications. Understanding each step helps applicants navigate complex rules and enjoy new freedoms, security, and family benefits on their journey to citizenship.
— By VisaVerge.com
