Naturalisation is the slow road to a second passport – and the most robust one. Nobody questions a citizenship you earned by living somewhere. It also costs a fraction of a citizenship by investment programme. The price is time, a language test and a residence permit that actually counts.
This guide compares how long it takes, country by country, as of September 2026. If your ancestors already did the waiting for you, start with citizenship by descent. For the bigger picture, see second passports.
The comparison table (as of September 2026)#
General route for an adult without family ties to the country. Spouse and special routes are often shorter.
| Country | Years of legal residence | Language / test | Dual citizenship for new citizens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2, continuous (no departures) | – | Generally not required to renounce |
| Dominican Republic | 2 (6 months with a business or real estate) | Spanish, civics | Check |
| Paraguay | 3 after permanent residence | – | Check with a local lawyer |
| Canada | 1,095 days in the last 5 years | CLB 4 English/French and knowledge test (ages 18–54) | Yes |
| Uruguay | 3 (family) / 5 (single) | – | Yes (legal citizenship, not nationality) |
| Australia | 4, incl. 12 months as permanent resident | Citizenship test | Yes |
| Brazil | 4 (1 for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries) | Portuguese (Celpe-Bras) | Yes |
| Germany | 5 | B1 German, naturalisation test | Yes, since 27 June 2024 |
| Ireland | 5 years reckonable residence in the last 9 | None | Yes |
| France | 5 (2 with a French master’s-level degree) | B2 French and civics exam since 1 Jan 2026 | Yes |
| Netherlands | 5 | Civic integration A2 | Renunciation required in principle |
| Belgium | 5 (with integration and work criteria) | A2 | Yes |
| New Zealand | 1,350 days in 5 years, 240+ each year | English | Yes |
| UK | 5 to settlement, then 12 months with ILR | B1 English, Life in the UK test | Yes |
| Mexico | 5 (2 for Latin American and Iberian nationals) | Spanish, history | Formal renunciation required |
| Portugal | 7 (CPLP and EU nationals) / 10 (others) | Portuguese language and culture test | Yes |
| Sweden | 8 since 6 June 2026 | Civics test rolling out, language later | Yes |
| Spain | 10 (2 for Ibero-American nationals, Andorra, Philippines, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea) | A2 Spanish + CCSE civics | Only for the 2-year countries; others renounce |
| Italy | 10 (4 for EU nationals) | B1 Italian | Yes |
| Switzerland | 10, incl. 3 of the last 5, C permit | B1 spoken / A2 written | Yes |
| Austria | Generally 10 (6 in special cases) | German, citizenship test | Generally no |
| Malta | 4 of the last 6 years + 12 months continuous, discretionary | English/Maltese | Yes |
| UAE | No ordinary route – nomination only | – | – |
The details that matter#
Germany: 5 years, dual citizenship allowed#
The Nationality Act reform of 27 June 2024 cut the standard period from 8 to 5 years and dropped the requirement to give up your old passport. It also introduced a 3-year fast track for exceptionally well-integrated applicants – which lasted barely a year. The Bundestag voted to abolish it on 8 October 2025, and the change took effect on 30 October 2025 without a transitional rule. Five years it is, with B1 German, the naturalisation test and the ability to support yourself.
Argentina: 2 years – if you don’t leave#
Argentina has long been famous for 2-year naturalisation. Decree 366/2025 (29 May 2025) redefined “continuous residence”: leaving the country during the two years resets the clock. The procedure moved from the federal courts to the migration directorate (DNM), which has handled it since October 2025. The decree also created a citizenship-by-investment route regulated by Decree 524/2025. Parts of the decree are being challenged in court – check the current state before you plan around it.
Portugal: from 5 to 7 or 10 years#
Portugal used to be a 5-year country. Organic Law 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, raised the requirement to 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries and EU citizens, and 10 years for everyone else. Applicants must also prove knowledge of Portuguese language, culture, history and national symbols. Applications already pending on 18 May 2026 stay under the old law. That makes the Portugal golden visa and D7 far less attractive as a “passport in five years” plan.
Canada: counted in days#
Canada uses a days count: 1,095 days physically present in the five years before you apply, at least 730 of them as a permanent resident. Applicants aged 18 to 54 need CLB 4 English or French and must pass the knowledge test. Getting permanent residence is the hard part.
Ireland: 5 years, no language test#
Five years (1,826 days) of reckonable residence in the last nine, including one continuous year before applying. There’s no language test. The fees are €175 to apply plus €950 for the certificate. An Irish passport is an EU passport.
Sweden: from 5 to 8 years#
Since 6 June 2026 Sweden requires 8 years of residence, a self-sufficiency test and – step by step – civics and language tests. Pending applications are decided under the new rules.
Changes on the horizon#
Not law yet as of September 2026, but worth watching: the UK’s “earned settlement” model (a 10-year baseline to settlement), a Dutch bill to extend naturalisation to 10 years, Peru’s new nationality law (5 instead of 2 years, pending regulation) and Belgium’s tougher language and civics tests.
Traps on the way to naturalisation
Permits that don’t count.
Many nomad visas, student permits or “temporary stay” categories don’t count, or only count half. Check the naturalisation rules, not the visa brochure.
Too many days abroad.
Argentina resets on any departure, Uruguay after six months away, Canada and New Zealand count days. Perpetual travellers rarely naturalise.
Losing your first passport.
Austria, the Netherlands (in principle), Mexico and Spain (for most nationalities) require renunciation. Your home country may also strip citizenship if you naturalise elsewhere – check before you apply.
Rules change mid-way.
Germany, Portugal and Sweden all changed their rules in 2025–26, in some cases without transitional protection. File as soon as you qualify.
“Guaranteed citizenship” agents.
Naturalisation is a government decision. Anyone selling a guaranteed result or a shortcut via “contacts” is selling a problem.
Tax surprises.
Years of residence usually mean years of tax residency – and for US citizenship, lifelong US tax filing.
Where residence and tax meet#
To naturalise, you must live in the country – which almost always makes you tax resident there. That can be fine (Paraguay taxes mainly local income, the UAE has no personal income tax) or expensive (Sweden, Canada, Germany). Plan the tax side before you plan the passport: our tax residency guide explains the rules, the Jurisdiction Finder helps you shortlist countries.
FAQ#
Which country gives citizenship fastest?
Among ordinary routes, Argentina and the Dominican Republic (2 years) and Paraguay (3 years after permanent residence). Argentina requires you not to leave the country during those 2 years.
How long does German naturalisation take in 2026?
Five years of legal residence. The 3-year fast track for exceptional integration was abolished on 30 October 2025. You also need B1 German and must pass the naturalisation test.
Can I keep my passport when I naturalise?
In Germany, Ireland, Canada, France, Italy, Portugal and many others, yes. Austria and the Netherlands generally require renunciation, as do Spain (except for certain countries) and Mexico. Your home country’s rules matter just as much.
Does Portugal still give citizenship after 5 years?
Not for new applications. Since 19 May 2026 it’s 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals and 10 years for others. Applications filed before that date follow the old rule.
Do digital nomad visas count toward citizenship?
Often not, or only partly. It depends on the country’s nationality law. See digital nomad visas and check the naturalisation rules directly.
Is naturalisation cheaper than citizenship by investment?
Much cheaper in fees – usually hundreds to a few thousand euros. The real cost is the years you must live there and the taxes you pay while doing it.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Nationality law changes fast – check the official sources below before you act, or book a strategy session to map passport, residence and tax together.
Sources#
- Germany – Nationality Act (StAG)
- German Bundestag – Abolition of the 3-year naturalisation (October 2025)
- Argentina – Decree 366/2025
- Argentina – Boletín Oficial, Decree 524/2025
- Portugal – Organic Law 1/2026 (Diário da República)
- Canada – Who can apply for citizenship
- Ireland – Immigration Service Delivery, becoming an Irish citizen
- Sweden – Migration Agency, new rules from 6 June 2026
- Netherlands – IND, naturalisation
- UK – Check if you can apply for British citizenship
- Australia – Residence calculator
- New Zealand – Presence requirements
- Mexico – Nationality Law
- Uruguay – Legal citizenship
- Paraguay – Supreme Court, naturalisation certificate
- Dominican Republic – Ordinary naturalisation
- Spain – Ministry of Justice, nationality
- Swiss State Secretariat for Migration – Naturalisation
- Austria – oesterreich.gv.at, citizenship
- UAE – Emirati nationality
