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The 7 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship, From Europe to the Caribbean
The easiest countries to get citizenship offer clear paths to second
passports, either by investment or ancestry.
By Jessica Puckett
November 5, 2024
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Giacomo Augugliaro/Getty

With election day officially here, anxiety over who will be the next US president is hitting a fever pitch—and searches for “easiest countries
to get citizenship” are surging. In recent months, a wave of
travel-minded Americans have been forming a plan B if the election's
results don’t go the way they’d hoped: According to the American Bar Association, immigration lawyers across the US have reported a jump in
the number of inquiries into obtaining a second passport or residency in another country.

For those looking for a second passport or permanent residence abroad,
there are a couple of options. The first is to obtain a passport by
ancestry in a country where a parent or grandparent was born; the second
is through “golden passport” or visa programs that offer citizenship or residency in exchange for a significant donation or investment. The
easiest countries to get citizenship are located in the Caribbean and
Europe, two of the most popular regions for golden passport schemes.
“Most people are interested in gaining citizenship in European Union countries, which brings flexibility by allowing people to study or take
a job within the 27-nation group without additional visas, attorneys
say,” according to the American Bar Association’s report.

Although election anxiety is likely the driving force behind many of the inquiries, these programs are also popular among travelers taking
advantage of remote work policies or planning for retirement. Whatever
your reason for seeking dual citizenship, here are seven nations with a
fairly straightforward process for obtaining a second passport or
permanent residency status.


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Outdoors
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Italy
As 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 to €2 million (about $274,000 to $2.2 million USD) to start the process,
depending on the type of investment. After 10 years, residents on the investment visa can apply for citizenship.

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Ireland
If 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.

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Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty
Greece
One 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
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 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.

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Giacomo Augugliaro/Getty
Portugal
Another affordable option that offers residents visa-free access to the
EU is Portugal. For a minimum investment of €250,000, 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. 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.

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Antigua and Barbuda
Interested 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.

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St. Kitts and Nevis
The 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.

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Malta
With 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 if they purchase a property or at least €12,000 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 for those purchasing property or €58,000 for renters. There’s also a nonrefundable administration fee (€40,000),
and a €2,000 donation to a local philanthropy. Permanent Maltese
residents can apply for citizenship after five years.


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.
Senior Editor, Transportation and Travel News
Topics
Passports

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