The 10 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship For Americans

Skip to main contentFrom the Caribbean to West Africa, the easiest countries to get citizenship offer clear paths to second passports, either by investment or ancestry.GettyAmerican travelers looking for a permanent home away from home may be surprised to learn that some of the world's most beloved destinations are also the easiest countries to get citizenship.While the US government has no official data on the number of Americans who hold dual citizenship or are actively applying for second citizenships, recent reports from private advisory firms have highlighted the rising trend of Americans seeking residency and second passports abroad. “Affluent Americans seek international diversification in unprecedented numbers,” reads a new report from residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley and Partners. According to the report, the number of US applications for golden visas or golden passports (residence-by-investment programs) doubled in 2025 and remain elevated this year. In another report from Arton Capital, the number of American applications the firm processes ballooned by roughly 2,400% over the past decade.If you find yourself pursuing a second passport or permanent residence abroad, there are several paths forward. One option is to obtain citizenship by ancestry in a country where your parent or grandparent was born. Alternatively, the aforementioned “golden passport” provides citizenship in exchange for a significant donation or investment in the country.The easiest countries to get citizenship are by and large located in Europe and the Caribbean where the lion's share of golden passport schemes are offered. Elsewhere, new legislation such as Canada's Bill C-3 passed in December 2025 have opened up new possibilities of second citizenship by ending the first-generation limit to claiming citizenship by descent.The reasons for seeking citizenship abroad are sundry, ranging from travelers eager to take advantage of remote work policies to retirees seeking more affordable locales to enjoy their next chapter of life. Whatever your own reasons may be for seeking dual citizenship, here's 10 countries with comparatively streamlined processes for obtaining a second passport or permanent residency status.GettySão Tomé and PríncipeThe tropical West African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe lays claim to the world's fastest citizenship-by-investment program, averaging a two-month approval process. Additionally, the application is entirely remote, with no residency or language requirements. On the whole, the program is also one of the most affordable of its kind. There is a minimum contribution of $95,000 to start, composed of a $90,000 donation to the country's National Transformation fund and a $5,000 submission fee. For a family of two to four members, the donation fee increases to $95,000, and each subsequent dependent beyond that requires an additional $5,000. The $5,000 submission fee applies for each individual profile. Other requirements include being at least 18 years of age and in good health, having a clean criminal record and passing due diligence checks, and proving a valid source of income. Applicants holding three or more citizenships will also be rendered ineligible.GettyCanadaO Canada, from Celine Dion to Cirque du Soleil, the Great White North has no shortage of iconic cultural exports, and thanks to new citizenship legislation more Americans can get in on the action. In December 2025, the Canadian Parliament added Bill C-3 to its Citizenship Act, amending how citizenship by heritage applies to children born abroad. The bill eliminated the country's first-generation limit to citizenship by descent, meaning citizenship can now flow from parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents with a proven chain of descent from Canada. The bill has also made it possible for children of naturalized Canadian parents to obtain dual citizenship.GettyTürkiyeFor a meld of Eastern and Western cultures you won't find anywhere else, timeless Türkiye is hard to beat, and interested travelers have a few ways of pursuing second citizenship-by-investment here. Applicants may either acquire $400,000 worth of real estate, invest $500,000 into a Turkish bank account, government bonds, a real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund share, or commit that amount to a private pension system for a minimum holding period of three years. Alternatively, applicants may also demonstrate that they have created jobs for at least 50 people in the country, as attested by the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services. Applications may also include spouses, dependents under the age of 18, and of age dependents living with disabilities.Suttipong Sutiratanachai/GettyItalyAs one of the most popular destinations in the world for American travelers, Italy is an appealing option for a second passport. If you’re interested in living in the land of “la dolce vita,” you have a few options for citizenship. Anyone born to an Italian mother or father can obtain Italian citizenship by submitting the right documents. Americans with Italian grandparents can also apply for citizenship, even if their parents were born in the US. If you don’t have close Italian heritage, you can aim for the country’s investment visa, which is valid for up to five years. But you’ll need to shell out anywhere from 250,000 euros to 2 million euros (about $274,000 to $2.2 million) to start the process, depending on the type of investment. After 10 years, residents on the investment visa can apply for citizenship.Atlantide Phototravel/GettyIrelandIf you have a parent who was an Irish citizen when you were born or a grandparent who was born on the island of Ireland, you are eligible for Irish citizenship by descent, and you can apply for an Irish passport. In order to get your passport, you must apply for citizenship through the country’s Foreign Birth Registration. According to the official website, this “can be a complex process that may require you to submit official documentation relating to three generations which may have been issued by several jurisdictions.” It can take nine months to process an application, but the effort is well worth it. Once you receive your passport, you’ll be able to live, work, and travel freely in Ireland as well as any EU member country.Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/GettyGreeceOne of the most affordable residency-by-investment programs in Europe can be found in Greece, making it one of the easiest countries to get citizenship right now. In exchange for a minimum investment of 250,000 euros (about $285,000) in certain types of real estate, Greece offers a permanent residency visa that can be renewed every five years. However, the minimum investment balloons to 800,000 euros (about $915,000) if you’re looking for property in the most popular areas of Greece—including places like Athens, Santorini, or any island with a population of 3,100 people or more. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after seven years. Applicants can include their spouse, children, and parents on their visa, but in order to be considered, investors must have a clean criminal record and must also submit a valid passport, proof of investment, health insurance, and other supporting documents.Giacomo Augugliaro/GettyPortugalAnother affordable option that offers residents visa-free access to the EU is Portugal. For a minimum investment of 250,000 euros (about $285,000), applicants can receive at least five years of residency in Portugal. That amount must go toward an “artistic production or in the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage,” according to Henley and Partners. There are also options to contribute funds to national research projects or to incorporate a business headquartered in Portugal—but those investments come with steeper price tags of 500,000 euros (about $570,000). Either way, applicants must reside in Portugal for an average of just seven days per year, and they can include their immediate family on their visa, too. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after five years.Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/GettyAntigua and BarbudaInterested in obtaining citizenship among the sun-soaked sand and turquoise waters of the Caribbean? Look no further than Antigua and Barbuda, which offers citizenship in exchange for a minimum donation of $230,000 to its National Development Fund. There are also options to make a $260,000 contribution to West Indies University, or to make a real estate investment of at least $300,000 to an approved real estate project. The program allows for applicants to add a wide scope of family members, too, including their spouse, dependent children under age 31 (as well as their spouse and children), parents, grandparents, and unmarried siblings. After a background check and interviews for anyone over the age of 16, your family will be granted their passports.GettySt. Kitts and NevisThe Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the most famous citizenship by investment programs in the world. Launched in 1984, the process is known for being relatively simple and offering applicants numerous benefits, including full citizenship for life for themselves and their family members, as well as citizenship by descent for future generations. The minimum investment is $250,000 to an approved public benefit project. There’s also an option to make a real estate acquisition of at least $325,000 for a condo or $600,000 for a single-family private dwelling. After filling out an application, investors and their dependents over 16 years old must complete an interview and a background check. Once complete, you’ll have unlimited access to the two tropical islands, known for their picturesque beaches and lush green mountains.GettyMaltaWith its version of a so-called golden visa, Malta allows eligible real estate investors to reside on the Mediterranean island nation indefinitely. The scheme is formally called the Malta Permanent Residence Program, and it is open to investors who both rent or purchase real estate. Renters must invest at least 350,000 euros (about $400,000) if they purchase a property or at least 12,000 euros (about $13,700) per year on a rental property. (Investments are slightly cheaper for properties in the South Malta-Gozo area.) You must also budget for a few other payments, too. According to Henley and Partners, a firm that specializes in residence and citizenship by investment programs, applicants must make a contribution to the Maltese economy that amounts to 28,000 euros (about $32,000) for those purchasing property or 58,000 euros (about $66,000) for renters. There’s also a nonrefundable administration fee (40,000 euros, or about $46,000), and a 2,000 euros (about $2,300) donation to a local philanthropy. Permanent Maltese residents can apply for citizenship after five years.This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.Jessica Puckett is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who covers transportation and travel news for Condé Nast Traveler. She has previously covered travel news at The Points Guy and domestic and foreign affairs at ABC News. ... Read More