11 Best Countries for Citizenship through Residency

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A Second Passport
Kathleen Peddicord Contributor
Retirement
I’ve covered living and investing overseas for more than 30 years.
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Most countries make it possible to acquire citizenship through residency.

After you’ve been a full-time resident of the country for a specific number
of years, you can become eligible to apply for citizenship and a passport.
The specific requirements vary depending on the type of residency permit

you have and how long you’ve held it, but most countries require you to be
a permanent resident for at least three to five years before you’re eligible
to apply for citizenship, meaning that time in the country while you hold a
temporary residency visa doesn’t typically count toward the years of
residency required before you can be naturalized.
That’s the first requirement to consider as you shop for second

citizenship-through-residency options—how much time will you have to
invest before receiving your second passport?
The second is the level of commitment you’ll be required to make to the

country prior to and once you’ve become a citizen. Most countries want to
see some connection to the place before they’ll accept your application for
citizenship, but, depending on the jurisdiction, this requirement could be
met simply by opening a local bank account, for example.
1 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
Finally, check for specific requirements of citizenship, such as being fluent

in the local language or military service.
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Here are 11 countries where citizenship through residency is relatively
quick and painless to acquire and whose passports are worth holding.
Argentina
Residency time required: 2 years (from temporary visa)
Tests administered: Yes—language
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Military service: Yes
Visa-free travel options: 170 countries
Commitment level: Low
Much information online contends that you must have at least five years
of residency (two as a temporary resident, three as permanent) before
being eligible for naturalization; however, that information is outdated.
Today you can apply for citizenship after having lived in Argentina
continuously for just two years, even if on a temporary residency visa.
That’s one of the least onerous residency requirements in the world.
The naturalization proceedings are straightforward. You will be required

to appear before a judge and asked to give a reading in Spanish to show
2 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
language proficiency. If you can speak some Spanish, are in good health,
can prove sufficient financial resources
To get or from
the latest employment,
Forbes and do not have a
select “Sign
criminal record, your application up”
likely and
will bethen “Allow”
granted. Unlike in many
other countries, you won’t be required to take an exam
Dismiss Signon
Up Argentinian law
or history.
One perk of an Argentinian passport is that it gives you the right to

residency and employment in every MERCOSUR country, including (in
addition to Argentina) Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
A downside to Argentinian citizenship is that it means the possibility of

mandatory military service if the number of volunteers ever falls short of
the requirement for recruits.
Belize
Residency time required: 5 years
Tests administered: No
Military service: No
Put five years of permanent residency under your belt (for a total of six
years counting the year it takes to become a permanent resident), and you
can apply to become a citizen of Belize.
Belize has no standing army, so no fear of conscription.
A Belize passport, which allows visa-free travel to only 101 countries, is

not as useful a travel document as those of other countries on this list. On
3 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
the other hand, it does mean the right to live and work in any CARICOM
country (Antigua and Barbuda,
To get the
the Bahamas,
latest fromBarbados,
Forbes Belize, Dominica,
select “Sign
Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, up” and then
Montserrat, “Allow”
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Dismiss andUpTrinidad and
Sign
Tobago).
Chile
Residency time required: 5 years (from temporary visa)
After five years of continuous residency in Chile, you’re eligible for

citizenship. The clock starts upon receipt of your first temporary visa,
rather than receipt of your permanent residency visa. The application and
approval process takes approximately two years.
You’ll be required to sit for an interview in Spanish, but no formal test is

required. As in Argentina, Chileans between 17 and 24 can be conscripted
if volunteers don’t fulfill the required quota.
Also like an Argentine passport, one from Chile also gives you the right to
residency and employment in any MERCOSUR country.
Colombia
Residency time required: 5 years (could be as few as 1)
Tests administered: Yes—history, geography, language
4 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm

Commitment level: Low Dismiss Sign Up
After five continuous years of holding permanent resident status in

Colombia, you’re eligible to apply for citizenship. If you’re a citizen of
another Latin American or Caribbean country, the residency requirement
period is reduced to one year. For Spanish citizens and applicants with a
Colombian spouse or child, it’s two years.
To become naturalized, you will need to pass a test on Colombian history,

geography, and the country’s constitution, as well as a Spanish language
test. If you’re over 65 years of age or hold a degree from a Colombian
university those requirements are waived.
Colombia has a mandatory conscription. All men are expected to comply

at age 18. It’s something to consider for your potential heirs.
Only 127 countries allow a Colombian in visa free, but Colombia is a

member of MERCOSUR, meaning residency and employment rights in all
other member nations.
Dominican Republic
Tests administered: Yes—history and culture
5 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
The Dominican Republic requires only three years of residency for

naturalization, and the government does not
To get the latest stipulate
from Forbes an official time-in-
select “Sign
country requirement for residency, up” and
making thethen “Allow”hurdle low.
residency
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The naturalization process requires you to show a tie to the country, but
this requirement can be met by opening a bank account or owning
property. The final step in the naturalization process is an interview,
during which you’ll be asked in Spanish to demonstrate basic knowledge
of the country and its history.
The country’s constitution allows for conscription of men aged 18 to 54

should more manpower be needed.
Only 65 countries allow Dominicans to visit visa-free, and the Dominican

Republic is not part of any regional affiliation, making a DR passport the
least useful passport on this list. However, obtaining it also requires the
lowest level of commitment.
Ireland
Number of countries for visa-free travel: 186
Irish citizenship can be obtained after five years of legal residency during
the previous nine years leading up to the time of application. The
application process is painless and requires neither an interview nor a
test. An Irish passport is one of the most widely accepted and respected in
the world, and Ireland does not require military service of its citizens. All
6 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
things considered, Ireland qualifies as offering the world’s best

citizenship-through-residency
To getopportunity.
the latest from Forbes
The downside is that it’s no longer easy to qualify for legal residency in
Dismiss Sign Up
Ireland. You must now show 50,000 euros of passive income per year,
double that if you’re married.
Mexico
Residency time required: 5 years (from temporary)
Tests administered: Yes—history, language
Mexico offers a clear path to citizenship after five years of residency, and
the clock starts when you receive your temporary resident visa.
If you are married to a Mexican citizen or have a child in Mexico, the

required residency is only two years. Likewise, citizens of other Latin
American countries or the Iberian Peninsula are also eligible for expedited
naturalization, with a two-year residency requirement.
As part of the naturalization process, you must take an exam on Mexican

history and prove that you can speak Spanish. The Mexican government
offers a study guide to help you pass the test. Military service is
compulsory, but a “civilian option” offers non-combat service alternatives
like street patrolling.
Panama
7 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
Military service: No select “Sign up” and then “Allow”
Visa-free travel options: 141 Dismiss Sign Up
Commitment level: Medium
The clock in Panama starts after obtaining permanent residency status.

Only two residency categories offer permanent residency from the first
approval—the pensionado and Friendly Nations programs. The
pensionado residency option is available to anyone over the age of 18 who
has a government pension. The Friendly Nations program is an executive
order put in place by a president from three administrations ago, meaning
it could be eliminated by the current or a future president. For now, it’s
still valid and one of the world’s easiest residencies to obtain. The key is
being from one of the 50 countries on the list of “friendly nations.” The
United States and Canada are on the list.
You’ll have to show a connection to Panama to qualify for citizenship,

including providing letters from Panamanian friends. Having a bank
account and owning property in the country will help your application, as
well.
All naturalization applications must be signed off on by the president of

Panama, adding a layer of uncertainty to the timing. Some presidents have
historically been more interested in signing naturalization approvals than
others.
Panama has no military, so no possibility of conscription.
Paraguay
8 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
Tests administered: Yes—Language

Military service: Yes select “Sign up” and then “Allow”
Visa-free travel options: 142 countries Dismiss Sign Up
Commitment level: High
After just three years of residency in Paraguay, you can apply for
citizenship. This gives you the right to reside in Paraguay indefinitely and
to work and provides a passport that allows for visa-free or visa-on-arrival
travel privileges throughout most of Europe, making it an appealing travel
document.
The minimum physical presence requirement before you can apply for
citizenship is 183 days a year; you must spend half the year in the country.
You have to take a test in Spanish to be approved, but you don’t have to be
completely fluent to pass.
You also have to prove your assimilation into local society. You’ll need to
show that you have made a legitimate effort to establish a life in Paraguay.
Buying property in Paraguay helps, as does having friends, speaking
Spanish, and spending time in the country on a regular basis.
While you are eligible to apply for naturalization after 3 years of legal
residency, the approval process can take from 12 to 24 months, depending
on the volume of applicants in the queue and the mood of the Supreme
Court, which must review and approve all applications.
To maintain your citizenship, you cannot live outside the country for more
than three years after having obtained it. Like Mexico, Paraguay has a
civilian military option that allows you to opt out of combat service.
Paraguay is a member of MERCOSUR, meaning its passport gives you the

right to residency and employment in any MERCOSUR country.
9 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm
Portugal
Residency time required: select
5 years“Sign up” and then “Allow”
Tests administered: Yes—language Dismiss Sign Up
Commitment level: Low to moderate
Anyone with five years of legal residency in the country is entitled to apply
for Portuguese citizenship. You must also prove “sufficient knowledge” of
Portuguese, as well as “effective links to the national community.” Those
with Portuguese grandparents can skip the residency requirement.
Portugal’s Golden Visa program allows you to obtain residency by

investing in real estate. If you buy property for 280,000 to 500,000 euros
(the required amount depends on the age and location of the property),
you can qualify. When you do, you are required to be in the country on
average but one week a year.
The self-sufficiency residency option requires you to be in the country at

least 183 days a year, making you a tax resident. However, Portugal has a
tax program for new residents called NHR (Non-Habitual Resident)
status, providing a 10-year tax holiday on most types of income.
Uruguay
Tests administered: Yes—language
10 of 11 28/07/21, 11:50 pm

Commitment level: Moderate
After making a large investment in the country (amount

Dismiss
unspecified) and
Sign Up
having been a resident for three years, you are eligible to apply for
citizenship in Uruguay. A permanent connection with the country (a
domicile, property, activity, etc.) and no absence for more than six straight
months for the three to five years prior to applying strengthens your
application. If you’re married to a Uruguayan, you can apply after five
years without making any investment.
You’ll be required to pass a Spanish-language proficiency test but don’t

have to worry about military service. Uruguay does not require it. Uruguay
is a member of MERCOSUR, meaning its passport provides access to all
MERCOSUR member countries.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
Kathleen Peddicord
I have covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years,
first as a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group and then as…
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11 Best Places For Residency And A Second Passport https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenpeddicord/2020/06/15/11-best-plac...

We’d like to send you notifications.

11 Best Places For Residency And

Listen to this article now

Most countries make it possible to acquire citizenship through residency.

The specific requirements vary depending on the type of residency permit

That’s the first requirement to consider as you shop for second

The second is the level of commitment you’ll be required to make to the

Finally, check for specific requirements of citizenship, such as being fluent

Residency time required: 2 years (from temporary visa)

Tests administered: Yes—language

MORE FOR YOU

Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy

Five Best Countries For Second Citizenship

Military service: Yes

Visa-free travel options: 170 countries

Commitment level: Low

The naturalization proceedings are straightforward. You will be required

One perk of an Argentinian passport is that it gives you the right to

A downside to Argentinian citizenship is that it means the possibility of

Residency time required: 5 years

Visa-free travel options: 101 countries

Commitment level: Low

Belize has no standing army, so no fear of conscription.

A Belize passport, which allows visa-free travel to only 101 countries, is

Residency time required: 5 years (from temporary visa)

Military service: Yes

Visa-free travel options: 174 countries

Commitment level: Low

After five years of continuous residency in Chile, you’re eligible for

You’ll be required to sit for an interview in Spanish, but no formal test is

Residency time required: 5 years (could be as few as 1)

Tests administered: Yes—history, geography, language

Military service: Yes

Commitment level: Low Dismiss Sign Up

After five continuous years of holding permanent resident status in

To become naturalized, you will need to pass a test on Colombian history,

Colombia has a mandatory conscription. All men are expected to comply

Only 127 countries allow a Colombian in visa free, but Colombia is a

Residency time required: 3 years

Tests administered: Yes—history and culture

Military service: Yes

Visa-free travel options: 65 countries

Commitment level: Low

The Dominican Republic requires only three years of residency for

The country’s constitution allows for conscription of men aged 18 to 54

Only 65 countries allow Dominicans to visit visa-free, and the Dominican

Residency time required: 5 years

Number of countries for visa-free travel: 186

Commitment level: Low

things considered, Ireland qualifies as offering the world’s best

Residency time required: 5 years (from temporary)

Tests administered: Yes—history, language

Military service: Yes

Visa-free travel options: 159 countries

Commitment level: Low

If you are married to a Mexican citizen or have a child in Mexico, the

As part of the naturalization process, you must take an exam on Mexican

Residency time required: 5 years

Visa-free travel options: 141 Dismiss Sign Up

Commitment level: Medium

The clock in Panama starts after obtaining permanent residency status.