Zemira

Fastest citizenship: 52 countries compared

How many years pass from moving to getting a passport on the ordinary route — working in your field, without investment or special ancestry. From the fastest countries to the slowest.

  1. 1ArgentinaTemporary residence permit3–5 years
  2. 2ArmeniaArmenian residence permit3–4 years
  3. 3CanadaPermanent residence5–7 years
  4. 4AustraliaSkills in Demand visa → Permanent residence → Permanent residence for over a year5–6 years
  5. 5SingaporeEmployment Pass or S Pass → Permanent resident5–7 years
  6. 6UruguayLiving in Uruguay6–7 years
  7. 7GeorgiaTemporary residence permit6–7 years
  8. 8GermanySkilled worker with a university degree §18b6–7 years
  9. 9IndonesiaKITAS / KITAP residence6–8 years
  10. 10Belgium *Residence → Unlimited right of residence6–7 years
  11. 11Netherlands *Residence permit6–7 years
  12. 12IrelandEmployment permit6–7 years
  13. 13TürkiyeShort-term residence permit6–8 years
  14. 14JapanWork status6–12 years
  15. 15FranceWork permit7–9 years
  16. 16ChileTemporary residence → Definitive residence7–10 years
  17. 17United KingdomSkilled Worker visa → Indefinite leave to remain7–13 years
  18. 18BrazilTemporary residence → Indefinite residence7–9 years
  19. 19United StatesH-1B work visa → Green card8–11 years
  20. 20AlbaniaAlbanian residence permit → Permanent residence8 years
  21. 21AzerbaijanTemporary residence → Permanent residence permit8–9 years
  22. 22New ZealandAccredited Employer Work Visa → Resident visa8–9 years
  23. 23EstoniaTemporary residence → Long-term residence permit9–10 years
  24. 24GreeceGreek residence permit9–12 years
  25. 25CroatiaTemporary residence → Permanent residence9–11 years
  26. 26PolandResidence permit with the right to work → EU long-term resident9–11 years
  27. 27RomaniaResidence in Romania9–12 years
  28. 28SwedenWork permit → Permanent residence10–12 years
  29. 29ColombiaMigrant M visa → Resident R visa11–13 years
  30. 30DenmarkTemporary residence → Permanent residence11–12 years
  31. 31LithuaniaTemporary residence → Right of permanent residence11–12 years
  32. 32CzechiaLong-term residence → Permanent residence11–12 years
  33. 33LatviaTemporary residence → Permanent residence11–12 years
  34. 34AustriaRed-White-Red Card or family permit11–13 years
  35. 35SpainTemporary residence11–13 years
  36. 36SlovakiaTemporary residence → Permanent residence11–13 years
  37. 37BulgariaTemporary residence → Permanent or long-term residence11–13 years
  38. 38ThailandNon-Immigrant B visa with a work permit → Permanent residence11–17 years
  39. 39SwitzerlandB permit through work → C settlement permit11–14 years
  40. 40Hungary *Work residence: EU Blue Card, Hungarian Card, employment → Settlement permit12–13 years
  41. 41PortugalResidence permit13–15 years
  42. 42ItalyWork permit13–15 years
  43. 43Belarus *Temporary residence permit → Permanent residence permit13–14 years
  44. 44South AfricaWork visa → Permanent residence13–16 years
  45. 45Montenegro *Temporary residence → Permanent residence16–18 years

No ordinary route

For a typical applicant these countries have no time-based route to citizenship: special grounds are needed (descent, points, high income, investment) or naturalisation is practically unavailable. Details on each country page.

China, Israel *, Kazakhstan *, Malaysia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

How we calculated

The «typical applicant» is a skilled professional with a university degree and a job in their field, from a country with no special arrangements, ready to learn the language and, where required, give up their previous citizenship; no investment, high-earner programmes or descent. The time runs from moving to receiving the passport, including processing. Yours may be shorter (marriage, descent, studying in the country) or longer — the questionnaire works it out for your situation.

* — some points for this country are unconfirmed (status «being checked»); details on its page.

Work it out for your situation