Naturalization

File:Naturalization Residence Requirements by Country (Years of Residence).svg

Residence requirements in years for naturalization by country:

  2 years

  2.5 years

  3 years

  4 years

  5 years

  7 years

  8 years

  9 years

  10 years

  12 years

  14 years

  15 years

  20 years

  25 years

  30 years

  35 years

  No naturalization allowed

  Not stated by law or varies

  No data

File:Dual Citizenship.svg

  Multiple nationality allowed without restriction

  Multiple nationality restricted to specific cases

File:Jus soli world.svg

Countries by birthright citizenship:

  Unconditional birthright citizenship for persons born in the country

  Birthright citizenship with restrictions

  Birthright citizenship abolished

  No birthright citizenship

Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the United Nations excludes citizenship that is automatically acquired (e.g. at birth) or is acquired by declaration. Naturalization usually involves an application or a motion and approval by legal authorities. The rules of naturalization vary from country to country but typically include a promise to obey and uphold that country's laws and taking and subscribing to an oath of allegiance, and may specify other requirements such as a minimum legal residency and adequate knowledge of the national dominant language or culture. To counter multiple citizenship, some countries require that applicants for naturalization renounce any other citizenship that they currently hold, but whether this renunciation actually causes loss of original citizenship, as seen by the host country and by the original country, will depend on the laws of the countries involved. Naturalization is politicized due to the reshaping of the electorate of the country.

History

The massive increase in population flux due to globalization and the sharp increase in the numbers of refugees following World War I created many stateless persons, people who were not citizens of any state. In some rare cases, laws for mass naturalization were passed. As naturalization laws had been designed to cater for the relatively few people who had voluntarily moved from one country to another (expatriates), many western democracies were not ready to naturalize large numbers of people. This included the massive influx of stateless people which followed massive denationalizations and the expulsion of ethnic minorities from newly created nation states in the first part of the 20th century.

Since World War II, the increase in international migrations created a new category of migrants, most of them economic migrants. For economic, political, humanitarian and pragmatic reasons, many states passed laws allowing a person to acquire their citizenship after birth, such as by marriage to a national – jus matrimonii – or by having ancestors who are nationals of that country, in order to reduce the scope of this category. However, in some countries this system still maintains a large part of the immigrant population in an illegal status, albeit with some massive regularizations. Examples include Spain under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's government, and Italy under Silvio Berlusconi's government. Some countries allow naturalization due to military service.

Countries without a path to naturalization

Myanmar and Uruguay are currently the only countries in the world that deny immigrants any path to naturalization. Uruguayan legal citizenship has special characteristics. A person who acquires it retains their nationality of origin, which is determined by Uruguayan law to be that of their country of birth and is therefore immutable. Legal citizens acquire political rights but do not acquire Uruguayan nationality as natural citizens do. According to Uruguayan law, those born in Uruguay or whose parents or grandparents are Uruguayan natural citizens are considered to be Uruguayan nationals.

As a result of Uruguay's unusual distinction between citizenship and nationality (it is the only country in the world that recognizes the right to citizenship without being a national), legal citizens have encountered problems with their Uruguayan passports at airports around the world since 2015. This is due to recommendations in the seventh edition of Doc. 9303 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which requires that travel documents issued by participating states include the "Nationality" field. The lack of a naturalization path means that the Nationality field in legal citizens' passports indicates their country of birth, which Uruguay assumes to be their nationality of origin. Many countries do not accept passports issued by a country that declares the holder to be a national of another country. As a consequence, it has severely curtailed legal citizens' exercise of the right to free movement, as their travel abroad is often difficult or downright impossible.

Mass naturalizations

A few rare mass naturalization processes have been implemented by nation states. In 1891, Brazil granted naturalization to all aliens living in the country. In accordance with the 1923 population exchange agreement between Greece and Turkey following the Armistice of Mudanya and end of World War in Anatolia, Greece rapidly naturalized all Greek, Roman or Orthodox Christian people fled from Turkey after the defeat of Greek Army in Turkey. Reciprocally, the Republic of Turkey naturalized all Turk or Muslim refugees and deportees (Bosniaks, Pomaks, Macedons, Muslim Greeks) from Balkans (after Balkan Wars), Greece and other former regions of Ottoman Empire during redemption period. Another massive naturalization process was in favor of Armenian people coming from Anatolia, who went to Syria, Lebanon or other territorries of former Ottoman Empire. In 1980s and 1990s Turks and Muslims living in Bulgaria were forced to leave Bulgaria in a massive campaign. Republic of Turkey accepted almost all refugees and deportees from Bulgaria and naturalized them. A significant refugee from that era was the athlete Naim Süleymanoğlu.

Canada instituted a mass naturalization by Act of Parliament with the enactment of the Canadian Citizenship Act 1946.

After annexation of the territories east of the Curzon line by the Soviet Union in 1945, Soviets naturalized en masse all the inhabitants of those territories—including ethnic Poles, as well as its other citizens who had been deported into the Soviet Union, mainly to Kazakhstan. Later onTemplate:When, Germany granted to the ethnic German population in Russia and Kazakhstan full citizenship rights. Poland has a limited repatriation program in place.

In the late 1970s, President Ferdinand Marcos facilitated the mass naturalization of ethnic Chinese in the Philippines.

The most recent massive naturalization case resulted from the Argentine economic crisis in the beginning of the 21st century. Existing or slightly updated right of return laws in Spain and Italy allowed many of their diasporic descendants to obtain—in many cases to regain—naturalization in virtue of jus sanguinis, as in the Greek case. Hence, many Argentines acquired European nationality.

Since the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution grants citizenship only to those "born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof", and the original United States Constitution only grants Congress the power of naturalization, it could be argued that all acts of Congress that expand the right of citizenship are cases of mass naturalization. This includes the acts that extended U.S. citizenship to citizens of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 which made all Native Americans citizens (most of them were previously excluded under the "jurisdiction" clause of the 14th Amendment).

In the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, mass naturalization also occurred during the administration of United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and Sabah People's United Front (BERJAYA's) Muslim-dominated political parties to increase the Muslim population in the territory by naturalising immigrants and refugees from the mainly-Muslim dominated areas of Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago of the Philippines and Sulawesi of Indonesia.

Illegal naturalization

Naturalization can be declared illegal.

In occupied territories

The mass naturalization of native people in occupied territories is illegal under the laws of war (Hague and Geneva Conventions). However, there have been many instances of such illegal mass naturalizations in the 20th century.

Summary by country

The following list is a brief summary of the duration of legal residence before a national of a foreign state, without any cultural, historical, or marriage ties or connections to the state in question, can request citizenship under that state's naturalization laws.

Country	Residence requirement	Residence requirement notes	Other notes	Multiple citizenship	Main article	Ref
Template:Country data Afghanistan	5 years			No	Afghan nationality law
Template:Country data Albania	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Albanian nationality law
Template:Country data Algeria	7 years			Yes	Algerian nationality law
Template:Country data Andorra	20 years	Continuous permanent residence. Reduced to 10 years if all mandatory education completed in Andorra.		No	Andorran nationality law
Template:Country data Angola	10 years	Continuous residence.		Partial	Angolan nationality law
Template:Country data Antigua and Barbuda	7 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen.		Yes	Antiguan and Barbudan nationality law
Template:Country data Argentina	2 years	Continuous residence. Must not exit from the country, and the applicant also must have minimal founds. Naturalization by investment allowed.	Other options, such as "Nationality per option" available	Yes	Argentine nationality law
Template:Country data Armenia	3 years			Yes	Armenian nationality law
Template:Country data Australia	4 years	Lawful residence for 4 years including 12 months as permanent resident.		Yes	Australian nationality law
Template:Country data Austria	10 years	Reduced to 6 years for people born in Austria, EU/EEA citizens, or those deemed "exceptionally integrated". Multiple nationalities allowed only by birth or with special permission. 10 years for refugees		Partial	Austrian nationality law
Template:Country data Azerbaijan	5 years			No	Azerbaijani nationality law
Template:Country data Bahamas	10 years			No	Bahamian nationality law
Template:Country data Bahrain	10 years			No	Bahraini nationality law
Template:Country data Bangladesh	5 years			Partial	Bangladeshi nationality law
Template:Country data Barbados	5 years			Yes	Barbadian nationality law
Template:Country data Belarus	7 years			Yes	Belarusian nationality law
Template:Country data Belgium	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Belgian nationality law
Template:Country data Belize	5 years			Yes	Belizean nationality law
Template:Country data Benin	10 years			Yes	Beninese nationality law
Template:Country data Bhutan	20 years	Reduced to 15 years for those with citizen parent.		No	Bhutanese nationality law
Template:Country data Bolivia	3 years	Uninterrupted residence.		Yes	Bolivian nationality law
Template:Country data Bosnia and Herzegovina	8 years	Continuous residence.		Partial	Bosnian nationality law
Template:Country data Botswana	10 years			No	Botswanan nationality law
Template:Country data Brazil	4 years	Uninterrupted permanent residence. Reduced to 1 year of residence for individuals with a Brazilian spouse or child, as well as for citizens of Portuguese language countries.		Yes	Brazilian nationality law
Template:Flagicon British Overseas Territories	5 years			Yes	British Overseas Territories citizenship
Template:Country data Brunei	10 years			No	Bruneian nationality law
Template:Country data Bulgaria	5 years	Reduced to 3 years if born in Bulgaria, married to a citizen, or settled in the country before age 18.	EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and spouses of Bulgarians can keep existing citizenship.	Partial	Bulgarian nationality law
Template:Country data Burkina Faso	10 years			Yes	Burkinabé nationality law
Template:Country data Burundi	10 years	Reduced to 5 years if married to a citizen.		Yes	Burundian nationality law
Template:Country data Cambodia	7 years			Yes	Cambodian nationality law
Template:Country data Cameroon	5 years			No	Cameroonian nationality law
Template:Country data Canada	3 years	Three years' permanent residence required. Physical presence required for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years prior to application, with any time spent as a temporary resident counted as half, up to a maximum of 365 days.		Yes	Canadian nationality law
Template:Country data Cape Verde	5 years			Yes	Cape Verdean nationality law
Template:Country data Central African Republic	35 years		Must have agriculture/property investments and have received a national honour.	No	Nationality law of the Central African Republic
Template:Country data Chad	15 years			No	Chadian nationality law
Template:Country data Chile	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Chilean nationality law
Template:Country data China	N/A	Permanent residence required. No specific residency period specified in law in mainland China. 7 years minimum residence required in Hong Kong and Macau.	Must have parent or relative from China.	No	Chinese nationality law
Template:Country data Colombia	7 years	Requires 5 years of permanent residence, which is usually acquired after having a migrant visa for 2-5 years, depending on the type of visa.	Permanent residence required time is reduced to 2 years for those with Colombian children, married with a Colombian, or with Spanish citizenship	Yes	Colombian nationality law
Template:Country data Comoros	10 years			Yes	Comorian nationality law
Template:Country data Congo	10 years			Yes	Republic of the Congo nationality law
Template:Country data Costa Rica	7 years			Yes	Costa Rican nationality law
Template:Country data Croatia	8 years	Continuous residence.		Partial	Croatian nationality law
Template:Country data Cuba	5 years			Partial	Cuban nationality law
Template:Country data Cyprus	7 years	Reduced time period via citizenship by investment programme.		Yes	Cypriot nationality law
Template:Country data Czechia	5 years	As permanent resident. Reduced to 3 years for EU citizens.		Yes	Czech nationality law
Template:Country data Democratic Republic of the Congo	5 years			No	Democratic Republic of the Congo nationality law
Template:Country data Denmark	8 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Danish nationality law
Template:Country data Djibouti	10 years			Yes	Djiboutian nationality law
Template:Country data Dominica	7 years			Yes	Dominican nationality law
Template:Country data Dominican Republic	2 years			Yes	Dominican Republic nationality law
Template:Country data East Timor	10 years			Partial	East Timorese nationality law
Template:Country data Ecuador	5 years	Temporary residence for 2 years followed by permanent residence for 3 years. Reduced for those with Ecuadorian family members. Absences must be less than 90 days per year.		Yes	Ecuadorian nationality law
Template:Country data Egypt	10 years			Yes	Egyptian nationality law
Template:Country data El Salvador	5 years			Yes	Salvadoran nationality law
Template:Country data Equatorial Guinea	10 years			No	Nationality law of Equatorial Guinea
Template:Country data Eritrea	20 years			Partial	Eritrean nationality law
Template:Country data Estonia	8 years	Temporary residence for 3 years, followed by permanent residence for 5 years.	Multiple citizenship tolerated for birthright citizens but not naturalised citizens.	Partial	Estonian nationality law
Template:Country data Eswatini	5 years			No	Emaswati nationality law
Template:Country data Ethiopia	4 years			No	Ethiopian nationality law
Template:Country data Fiji	5 years	Lawful residence for 5 years out of the previous 10 years.		Yes	Fijian nationality law
Template:Country data Finland	8 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 5 years in some cases (required language skills, spouse of a Finnish citizen, stateless), or 2 years as a citizen of another Nordic country.		Yes	Finnish nationality law
Template:Country data France	5 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 2 years for applicants with a master's degree in France. Reduced to 0 year for applicants with French as their mother tongue who can justify a minimum of 5 years of schooling in French in a country where one of its official languages is French.		Yes	French nationality law
Template:Country data Gabon	10 years			No	Gabonese nationality law
Template:Country data Gambia	10 years		Dual citizenship allowed if married to a citizen.	Yes	Gambian nationality law
Template:Country data Georgia	10 years	Consecutive lawful residence.		No	Georgian nationality law
Template:Country data Germany	5 years	Continuous residence, with a settlement permit. Reduced to 3 years with integration course. Reduced to 3 years in the case of special integration measures (B2 level German language knowledge and in some cities 1 year of eligible volunteering).		Yes	German nationality law
Template:Country data Ghana	5 years			Yes	Ghanaian nationality law
Template:Country data Greece	7 years			Yes	Greek nationality law
Template:Country data Grenada	7 years			Yes	Grenadian nationality law
Template:Country data Guatemala	10 years			Partial	Guatemalan nationality law
Template:Country data Guinea	5 years			Yes	Guinean nationality law
Template:Country data Guinea-Bissau	5 years			Yes	Nationality law of Guinea-Bissau
Template:Country data Guyana	7 years			Yes	Guyanese nationality law
Template:Country data Haiti	5 years			Yes	Haitian nationality law
Template:Country data Honduras	3 years			Partial	Honduran nationality law
Template:Country data Hungary	8 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Hungarian nationality law
Template:Country data Iceland	7 years			Yes	Icelandic nationality law
Template:Country data India	12 years	Continuous residence during 12 months immediately before the application. Resident for 11 out of the 14 years before the 12-month period.		No	Indian nationality law
Template:Country data Indonesia	5 years			No	Indonesian nationality law
Template:Country data Iran	5 years	Legal residence.		Partial	Iranian nationality law
Template:Country data Iraq	10 years			Yes	Iraqi nationality law
Template:Country data Ireland	5 years	"Reckonable" residence for 5 of the preceding 9 years. Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen. Continuous residence for 12 months prior to application.		Yes	Irish nationality law
Template:Country data Israel	3 years	Resident for 3 years in the previous 5 years. Must have permanent residence right. Jews may obtain citizenship upon arrival by the Law of Return.		Partial	Israeli citizenship law
Template:Country data Italy	10 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 2 years if married to a citizen, 3 years with citizen grandparent, 4 years for EU nationals, or 5 years for refugees or stateless people.		Yes	Italian nationality law
Template:Country data Ivory Coast	5 years			Partial	Ivorian nationality law
Template:Country data Jamaica	5 years			Yes	Jamaican nationality law
Template:Country data Japan	5 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen.		No	Japanese nationality law
Template:Country data Jordan	15 years			Partial	Jordanian nationality law
Template:Country data Kazakhstan	5 years			No	Kazakhstani nationality law
Template:Country data Kenya	7 years			Yes	Kenyan nationality law
Template:Country data Kiribati	7 years			Partial	I-Kiribati nationality law	<r
Template:Country data Kuwait	15 years	Applicable to foreign women marrying Kuwaiti citizen, but not foreign men.		No	Kuwaiti nationality law
Template:Country data Kyrgyzstan	5 years	Continuous residence.		Partial	Kyrgyz nationality law
Template:Country data Laos	10 years	10 years of Permanent residency		No	Lao nationality law
Template:Country data Latvia	10 years			Partial	Latvian nationality law
Template:Country data Lebanon	5 years			Yes	Lebanese nationality law
Template:Country data Lesotho	5 years			No	Basotho nationality law
Template:Country data Liberia	2 years		Must be Black African or Black African descent	Yes	Liberian nationality law
Template:Country data Libya	10 years			Partial	Libyan nationality law
Template:Country data Liechtenstein	10 years	Years of residence under the age 20 count double.		No	Liechtenstein nationality law
Template:Country data Lithuania	10 years	Continuous residence as a permanent resident. Reduced to 7 years if married to a citizen.		No	Lithuanian nationality law
Template:Country data Luxembourg	5 years	Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen. Continuous residence for 12 months prior to application.		Yes	Luxembourgish nationality law
Template:Country data Madagascar	5 years			No	Malagasy nationality law
Template:Country data Malawi	7 years	Reduced to 5 years if of African race or with Commonwealth or Malawian ties.		Yes	Malawian nationality law
Template:Country data Malaysia	12 years			No	Malaysian nationality law
Template:Country data Maldives	12 years	Continuous residence. Must be Muslim.		Yes	Maldivian nationality law
Template:Country data Mali	5 years			Yes	Malian nationality law
Template:Country data Malta	5 years	Reduced requirement via citizenship by investment programme.		Yes	Maltese nationality law
Template:Country data Marshall Islands	7 years			No	Marshallese nationality law
Template:Country data Mauritania	5 years			No	Mauritanian nationality law
Template:Country data Mauritius	5 years			Partial	Mauritian nationality law
Template:Country data Mexico	5 years	Reduced to two years for spouses of Mexican citizens. Mexican citizens by naturalization are generally not allowed to have multiple citizenship.		Partial	Mexican nationality law
Template:Country data Micronesia	5 years		Must be the child or spouse of a citizen of Micronesia.	No	Micronesian nationality law
Template:Country data Moldova	10 years	Reduced to 8 years for stateless persons or refugees.		Yes	Moldovan nationality law
Template:Country data Monaco	10 years	Continuous residence.		No	Monégasque nationality law
Template:Country data Mongolia	5 years			No	Mongolian nationality law
Template:Country data Montenegro	10 years			Partial	Montenegrin nationality law
Template:Country data Morocco	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Moroccan nationality law
Template:Country data Mozambique	5 years			Yes	Mozambican nationality law
Template:Country data Myanmar	5 years			No	Myanmar nationality law	Template:Better source needed
Template:Country data Namibia	5 years			Partial	Namibian nationality law
Template:Country data Nauru	7 years		Must be the child, spouse or descendant of a Nauruan national.	Yes	Nauruan nationality law
Template:Country data Nepal	15 years			No	Nepali nationality law
Template:Country data Netherlands	5 years	Continuous residence for 5 years, or continuous residence for 2 years with 10 years total residence, with a "non-temporary" residence permit required for naturalization. Reduced to three years for the spouse or partner of a Dutch citizen.	Multiple citizenship allowed in limited cases, generally with special permission required.	Partial	Dutch nationality law	Template:Efn
Template:Country data New Zealand	5 years	Permanent residency required, normally after two years' residence with a temporary visa. Australian citizens/ Permanent Residents are eligible for immediate permanent residence under the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement. Must be present for 1,350 days during the five years and 240 days in each of the five years.		Yes	New Zealand nationality law
Template:Country data Nicaragua	4 years			Partial	Nicaraguan nationality law
Template:Country data Niger	10 years			Yes	Nigerien nationality law
Template:Country data Nigeria	15 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Nigerian nationality law
Template:Country data North Korea	N/A			No	North Korean nationality law
Template:Country data North Macedonia	8 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Nationality law of North Macedonia
Template:Country data Norway	8 years	Resident in Norway for 8 years out of the previous 11 years. Absences of up to 2 months per year allowed.		Yes	Norwegian nationality law
Template:Country data Oman	20 years			No	Omani nationality law
Template:Country data Pakistan	5 years			Partial	Pakistani nationality law
Template:Country data Palau	5 years			Yes	Palauan nationality law
Template:Country data Panama	5 years	Continuous residence.		No	Panamanian nationality law
Template:Country data Papua New Guinea	8 years			Partial	Nationality law of Papua New Guinea
Template:Country data Paraguay	3 years			Partial	Paraguayan nationality law
Template:Country data Peru	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Peruvian nationality law
Template:Country data Philippines	10 years	Continuous residence. The residency requirement is reduced to five years if an applicant is employed by the Government of the Philippines, has made significant economic or scientific contributions to the state, married to a Filipina woman, has taught in a Philippine school for at least two years, or was born in the country.		Partial	Philippine nationality law
Template:Country data Poland	10 years	Resident for 10 years or permanent resident for 3 years. Permanent residence requirement reduced to one year in some cases.		Yes	Polish nationality law
Template:Country data Portugal	5 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to three years for spouses of Portuguese citizens.		Yes	Portuguese nationality law
Template:Country data Qatar	25 years			No	Qatari nationality law
Template:Country data Romania	8 years			Yes	Romanian nationality law
Template:Country data Russia	5 years	Continuous residence. Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen or 1 year for valued specialists and refugees.		Yes	Russian nationality law
Template:Country data Rwanda	10 years			Yes	Rwandan nationality law
Template:Country data Samoa	5 years			Yes	Samoan nationality law
Template:Country data San Marino	20 years	Reduced to 10 years if married to a citizen.		No	San Marino nationality law
Template:Country data São Tomé and Príncipe	5 years			No	São Toméan nationality law
Template:Country data Saudi Arabia	10 years			No	Saudi Arabian nationality law
Template:Country data Senegal	5 years			Yes	Senegalese nationality law
Template:Country data Serbia	3 years	Continuous residence.		Partial	Serbian nationality law
Template:Country data Seychelles	10 years		Dual citizenship only for native born citizens who obtain another citizenship for work or through marriage.	Partial	Seychellois nationality law
Template:Country data Sierra Leone	5 years			Yes	Sierra Leonean nationality law
Template:Country data Singapore	2.5 years	Foreigners can register for citizenship after two years of permanent residence.	A minimum of 6 months legal residence is required to be eligible for permanent residence, resulting in the citizenship pathway/eligibility of 2.5 years.	No	Singaporean nationality law
Template:Country data Slovakia	8 years			Partial	Slovak nationality law
Template:Country data Slovenia	10 years	Total residence of 10 years. Continuous residence for 5 years prior to application. Reduced to 3 years for spouses of citizens.		Partial	Slovenian nationality law
Template:Country data Solomon Islands	7 years			Yes	Solomon Islands nationality law
Template:Country data Somalia	7 years			Partial	Somalian nationality law
Template:Country data South Africa	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	South African nationality law
Template:Country data South Korea	5 years	Reduced to 3 years if married to a citizen.	Males are required to do military service.	Partial	South Korean nationality law
Template:Country data South Sudan	10 years			Yes	South Sudanese nationality law
Template:Country data Spain	10 years	Reduced to 2 years for natural-born nationals of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and the Philippines.		Partial	Spanish nationality law
Template:Country data Sri Lanka	5 years			Partial	Sri Lankan nationality law
Template:Country data St. Kitts and Nevis	14 years			Yes	Kittitian and Nevisian nationality law
Template:Country data St. Lucia	7 years			Partial	Saint Lucian nationality law
Template:Country data St. Vincent and the Grenadines	7 years			Yes	Vincentian nationality law
Template:Country data Sudan	10 years			Yes	Sudanese nationality law
Template:Country data Suriname	5 years			No	Surinamese nationality law
Template:Country data Sweden	5 years	Continuous residence		Yes	Swedish nationality law
Template:Country data Switzerland	10 years	Must hold C permit (settled foreign national). Years of residence between age of 8 and 18 count double, with a minimum of 6 years residence.		Yes	Swiss nationality law
Template:Country data Syria	5 years			Yes	Syrian nationality law
Template:Country data Taiwan	5 years			Partial	Nationality law of the Republic of China
Template:Country data Tajikistan	5 years			Partial	Tajik nationality law
Template:Country data Tanzania	5 years			No	Tanzanian nationality law
Template:Country data Thailand	5 years	Continuous residence. Residence requirement waived for spouses and children of citizens.		Partial	Thai nationality law
Template:Country data Togo	5 years			Yes	Togolese nationality law
Template:Country data Tonga	5 years			Yes	Tongan nationality law
Template:Country data Trinidad and Tobago	7 years			Yes	Trinidadian and Tobagonian nationality law
Template:Country data Tunisia	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Tunisian nationality law
Template:Country data Turkey	5 years	Continuous residence.		Yes	Turkish nationality law
Template:Country data Turkmenistan	7 years			No	Turkmen nationality law
Template:Country data Tuvalu	7 years			Yes	Tuvaluan nationality law
Template:Country data Uganda	20 years		Dual nationality permitted. Three or more nationalities not permitted.	Partial	Ugandan nationality law
Template:Country data Ukraine	5 years			Yes	Ukrainian nationality law
Template:Country data United Arab Emirates	30 years	Reduced to 7 years for citizens of Arab descent. Reduced to 3 years for citizens of Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.	Multiple nationality allowed only in limited, exceptional cases since 2021.	Partial	Emirati nationality law
Template:Country data United Kingdom	5 years	Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for 12 months before applying. Residency requirement for ILR is generally 5 years.		Yes	British nationality law
Template:Country data United States	5 years	Continuous lawful permanent residence for 5 years. Reduced to 3 years for spouses of US citizens. Physical presence for at least 30 of the 60 months preceding the application. Cannot be absent for more than 6 months at a time.		Yes	United States nationality law
Template:Country data Uruguay	5 years (Legal Citizenship, not nationality)	Reduced to 3 years if residing with spouse or children (Legal Citizenship, not nationality).	Uruguay distinguishes between citizenship and nationality and does not offer a naturalization path for immigrants. Uruguayan nationals are persons who were born in Uruguay or are children or grandchildren of Uruguayan natural citizens. Legal citizenship has special characteristics, the persons who acquire it keep their nationality of origin. Legal citizens acquire political rights but do not acquire nationality as natural citizens do. This peculiar distinction between citizenship and nationality has caused problems with legal citizens' passports at airports around the world and restricted their freedom of movement.Template:Current event inline	Yes	Uruguayan nationality law
Template:Country data Uzbekistan	5 years			No	Uzbek nationality law
Template:Country data Vanuatu	10 years			Yes	Nationality law of Vanuatu
Template:Country data Vatican City	N/A			Yes	Vatican City citizenship
Template:Country data Venezuela	10 years	Reduced to 5 years for natural-born citizens of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Latin American or Caribbean countries.		Yes	Venezuelan nationality law
Template:Country data Vietnam	5 years		The state only recognizes Vietnamese citizens with one nationality, unless otherwise provided.	Partial	Vietnamese nationality law
Template:Country data Yemen	5 years			No	Yemeni nationality law
Template:Country data Zambia	5 years			Yes	Zambian nationality law
Template:Country data Zimbabwe	5 years			Yes	Zimbabwean nationality law

Laws by country

Australia

The Australian Citizenship Act 1973 ended the preferential treatment for British subjects from 1 December 1973. People who became permanent residents from 1 July 2007 must have been lawfully resident in Australia for four years before applying for citizenship by conferral. Those who were present in Australia as permanent residents before 1 July 2007 remain subject to the previous residence requirement (in force since 1984, e.g. resident for two years).

People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China gives citizenship to people with one or two parents with Chinese nationality who have not taken residence in other countries. The country also gives citizenship to people born on its territory to stateless people who have settled there. Furthermore, individuals may apply for nationality if they have a near relative with Chinese nationality, if they have settled in China, or if they present another legitimate reason. In practice, few people gain Chinese citizenship; as of 2010, China had only 1,448 naturalised Chinese in total.

The naturalization process starts with a written application. Applicants must submit three copies, written with a ball-point or fountain pen, to national authorities, and to provincial authorities in the Ministry of Public Security and the Public Security Bureau. Applicants must also submit original copies of a foreign passport, a residence permit, a permanent residence permit, and four two-and-a-half inch long pictures. According to the conditions outlined in the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, authorities may also require "any other material that the authority believes are related to the nationality application".

France

People who fulfil all of the following criteria can obtain French citizenship through naturalisation:

• At least 5 years' residence, although reduced to the following minimum periods in certain situations:
  • 2 years:
    • Successfully completed 2 years of studies with a view to obtaining a degree or diploma at a French higher educational institution;
    • Made an exceptional contribution to France's standing and influence in the arts, science, sport, culture, academia, entrepreneurship, etc.
  • No minimum residence period:
    • Performed military service with the French Army;
    • Served voluntarily in wartime in the French Army or an allied army;
    • Rendered exceptional service to France (requires personal ministerial approval);
    • Attained the official status of a refugee in France;
    • Citizen of a member state of the and have French as their native language or have completed at least 5 years of schooling in a French-speaking educational establishment.
• Integration into French society, including adhering to the values and principles of the Republic, and having a sufficient knowledge of French history, culture and society;
• Sufficient spoken command of the French language;
• No serious criminal convictions, defined as follows:
  • Never been sentenced to more than 6 months' imprisonment (not including suspended sentences) for any crime (unless the applicant has been legally deemed rehabilitated or the sentence has been wiped from their criminal record);
  • Never been convicted of any crime that counters France's fundamental interests (unless the applicant has been legally deemed rehabilitated or the sentence has been wiped from their criminal record);
  • Never been convicted of any act of terrorism (unless the applicant has been legally deemed rehabilitated or the sentence has been wiped from their criminal record).

The fee for naturalisation is €55, except in French Guiana, where it is €27.50.

Germany

People who fulfil all of the following criteria can obtain German citizenship through naturalisation:

• At least 5 years' residence in Germany with a valid residence permit. This minimum period is reduced as follows:
  • 3 years for people who have successfully completed the Integrationskurs or for spouses and registered same-sex partners of a German citizen (must have been married or in the registered partnership for at least 2 years at the time of application).
• Declaring allegiance to the German Constitution;
• Sufficient command of the German language;
• No serious criminal convictions.

The dependent minor children of an applicant for naturalisation may also themselves become naturalised German citizens.

The fee for standard naturalisation is €255, while it is €51 per dependent minor child naturalised along with their parent. The fee may be waived in cases of extreme hardship or public interest.

Prior to 27 June 2024, people naturalising as German citizens were generally required give up their previous nationality, with exceptions made for EU and Swiss citizens (provided that the law of their country of origin did not prohibit the acquisition of another citizenship) and citizens of countries where renouncing one's citizenship was too difficult or humiliating (e.g. Afghanistan), prohibitively expensive (e.g. the United States) or legally impossible (e.g. Argentina). The Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law that came into force in 2024 made multiple citizenship possible.

Grenada

The Grenadian Government grants citizenship of Grenada for the following reasons:

• By Birth
  • Any person born in Grenada after 1974 or later acquires Grenadian citizenship at birth. The exception is for children born to diplomat parents.
• By Descent
  • Children born outside Grenada to a Grenadian-born parent.
• By Registration
  • Children (over 18) born outside of Grenada to a Grenadian parent.
  • Children (under 18) born outside of Grenada to a Grenadian parent.
  • A person who was born outside of Grenada who is a Grandchild of a Grenadian citizen by birth.
  • A person who is/or has been married to a citizen of Grenada.
  • Citizens of Caribbean Countries may apply for citizenship by registration provided that person has been living in Grenada for 4 years and 2 years as a Permanent Resident (within the four-year period) immediately preceding the date of application.
  • Commonwealth & Irish citizens may apply for citizenship by registration provided that the person has been living in Grenada for 7 years and 2 years as a Permanent Resident (within the seven-year period) immediately preceding the date of application.
• By Naturalisation
• An Alien or a British Protected Person may apply for citizenship by naturalisation provided that the person has been living in Grenada for 7 years and 2 years as a Permanent Resident (within the seven-year period) immediately preceding the date of application..

India

The Indian citizenship and nationality law and the Constitution of India provides single citizenship for the entire country. The provisions relating to citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution are contained in Articles 5 to 11 in Part II of the Constitution of India. Relevant Indian legislation is the Citizenship Act 1955, which has been amended by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1992, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003, and Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance 2005. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003 received the assent of the President of India on 7 January 2004 and came into force on 3 December 2004. The Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance 2005 was promulgated by the President of India and came into force on 28 June 2005.

Following these reforms, Indian nationality law largely follows the jus sanguinis (citizenship by right of blood) as opposed to the jus soli (citizenship by right of birth within the territory).

In 2019, a Citizenship Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament of India. This Act aims at fast tracking citizenship for illegal immigrants and refugees fleeing religious persecution for people of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian faiths who have entered India on or before 31 December 2014 from the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Italy

The Italian Government grants Italian citizenship for the following reasons.

• Automatically
  • Jus sanguinis: for birth;
  • If an Italian citizen recognizes, at a time after birth, a minor child;
  • For adoption;
  • To obtain or re-obtain from a parent.
• Following declaration
  • By descent;
  • Jus soli: by birth or descent in Italy;
• By marriage or naturalization
  • By marriage: the foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen may acquire Italian citizenship after two years of legal residence in Italy or, if residing abroad, after three years from the date of marriage;
  • By naturalization: the foreigner can apply for Italian citizenship after ten years of legal residence in Italy, reduced to five years for those who have been recognized as stateless or refugee and four years for citizens of countries of the European Community.
• Sufficient command of the Italian language.

Indonesia

Indonesian nationality is regulated by Law No. 12/2006 (UU No. 12 Tahun 2006). The Indonesian nationality law is based on jus sanguinis and jus soli. The Indonesian nationality law does not recognize dual citizenship except for people under the age of 18 (limited double citizenship principle). After reaching 18 years of age individuals are forced to choose one citizenship (single citizenship principle).

A foreign citizen can apply to become an Indonesian citizen with the following requirements:

• Age 18 or older, or married
• Resided in Indonesia for a minimum of 5 consecutive years or 10 non-consecutive years
• Physically and mentally healthy
• Ability to speak Indonesian and acknowledge Pancasila and Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945
• Never convicted of a crime for which the punishment is imprisonment for one year or more
• If having Indonesian citizenship will not give the person dual citizenship
• Employed or have fixed income
• Pay citizenship fee

Any application for citizenship is granted by the President of Indonesia.

Israel

Israel's Declaration of Independence was made on 14 May 1948, the day before the British Mandate was due to expire as a result of the United Nations Partition Plan. The Israeli parliament created two laws regarding immigration, citizenship and naturalization: the Law of Return and the Israeli citizenship law. The Law of Return, enacted on July 15, 1950, gives Jews living anywhere in the world the right to immigrate to Israel. This right to immigrate did not and still does not grant citizenship. In fact, for four years after Israel gained independence, there were no Israeli citizens.

On July 14, 1952, the Israeli parliament enacted the Israeli Nationality Law. The Nationality Law naturalized all citizens of Mandated Palestine, the inhabitants of Israel on July 15, 1952, and those who had legally resided in Israel between May 14, 1948, and July 14, 1952. The law further clarified that naturalization was available to immigrants who had arrived before Israel's creation, immigrants who arrived after statehood was granted, and those who did not come to Israel as immigrants but have since expressed desire to settle in Israel, with restriction. Naturalization applicants must also meet the following requirements: be over 18 years of age, have resided in Israel for three out of the five preceding years, have settled or intend to settle permanently in Israel, have some knowledge of Hebrew, and have renounced prior nationality or demonstrated ability to renounce nationality after becoming a citizen of Israel.

Because of Israel's relatively new and culturally mixed identity, Israel does not grant citizenship to people born on Israeli soil. Instead, the government chose to enact a jus sanguinis system, with the naturalization restrictions listed above. There is currently no legislation on second-generation immigrants (those born in Israel to immigrant parents). Furthermore, foreign spouses can apply for citizenship through the Minister of the Interior, but have a variety of restrictions and are not guaranteed citizenship.

Luxembourg

People who fulfill all of the following criteria can obtain Luxembourg citizenship through naturalisation:

• At least 18 years old.
• At least five total years of legal residence in Luxembourg, including an uninterrupted period of one year immediately before applying for citizenship.
• Passing a Luxembourgish language exam.
• Taking a course on "Living together in the Grand Duchy" (Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché du Luxembourg) or passing the associated examination.
• Not having been handed an immediate custodial sentence of 12 months or more or a suspended custodial sentence of 24 months or more, in any country, unless the sentence was definitively served more than fifteen (15) years prior to the application for naturalization.

Malaysia

Naturalisation in Malaysia is guided by the 1964 Malaysian Constitution. According to the law, those who want to be the country citizen should live in the country for a period of 10–12 years. The would-be-citizens are required to speak the Malay language as well submitting the identity cards of two Malaysians who recommend the applicant for citizenship. As the Government of Malaysia does not recognise dual citizenship, those who seek naturalisation are needed to reside permanently in the country and renouncing their former country citizenship.

The requirements are as follows:

• The applicant shall appear before the Registrar of Citizenship when submitting the application.
• The applicant must be aged 21 years and above on the date of the application.
• The applicant has resided in the federation for a period of not less than 10 years in a period of 12 years, including the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application.
• The applicant intends to reside permanently in the federation.
• The applicant is of good character.
• The applicant has adequate knowledge of the Malay language.
• The applicant must be sponsored by two referees who are citizens aged 21 years and above and who are not relatives, not hired people, and not advocates or solicitors to the applicant.
• Form C must be completed and submitted together with copies of the necessary documents.

The Article 16 of 1957 Malaysian Constitution also stated a similar condition previously.

Philippines

Commonwealth Act No. 473, the Revised Naturalization Law, approved June 17, 1939, provided that people having certain specified qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization. Republic Act No. 9139, approved June 8, 2001, provided that aliens under the age of 18 who were born in the Philippines, who have resided in the Philippines since birth, and who possess other specified qualifications may be granted Philippines citizenship by administrative proceeding subject to certain requirements.

Russia

Naturalization in Russia is guided by articles 13 and 14 of the federal law "About Citizenship of Russian Federation" passed on May 31, 2002. Citizenship of Russia can be obtained in general or simplified order. To become a citizen in general order, one must be 18 years of age or older, continuously live in Russia as a permanent resident for at least five years (this term is limited to one year for valued specialists, political asylum seekers and refugees), have legal means of existence, promise to obey the laws and Constitution of Russia and be fluent in the Russian language.

There is also a possibility to naturalize in a simplified order, in which certain requirements will be waived. Eligible for that are people, at least one parent of whom is a Russian citizen living on Russian territory; people, who lived on the territories of the former Soviet republics but never obtained citizenships of those nations after they gained independence; people, who were born on the territory of RSFSR and formerly held Soviet citizenship; people married to Russian citizens for at least 3 years; people, who served in Russian Armed Forces under contract for at least 3 years; parents of mentally incapacitated children over 18 who are Russian citizens; participants of the State Program for Assisting Compatriots Residing Abroad; and some other categories.

Spain

People who fulfill all of the following criteria can obtain Spanish citizenship through naturalisation

• At least 10 years' residence in Spain. This period is reduced to 5 years for people who have obtained refugee status; 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or persons of Sephardic origin; 1 year for spouses, widows, widowers, people born in Spain or by a Spanish mother or father.
• Sufficient command of the Spanish language and culture;
• Declaring allegiance to the Spanish Constitution;
• No serious criminal convictions.

People who naturalise as Spanish citizens must usually give up their previous nationality, as Spanish law takes a restrictive approach to multiple citizenship.

South Africa

Chapter 2 of the South African Citizenship Act, enacted on October 6, 1995, defines who is considered a naturalized citizen at the time of the act and also outlines the naturalization process for future immigrants.

Any person who immediately prior to the commencement of the act had been a South African citizen via naturalization, had been deemed to be a South African citizen by registration, or had been a citizen via naturalization of any of the former states now composing South Africa is now considered to be a naturalized citizen of South Africa.

Those wishing to apply for naturalization in the future must apply to the Minister of Home Affairs and must meet a slew of requirements. First, naturalization applicants must be over the age of 18 and must have been a permanent resident of South Africa for five years prior to application (prior to 2010, the permanent residence requirement was one year prior to application and for four out of the eight years prior to application). Applicants must also demonstrate good character and knowledge of the basic responsibilities and privileges of a South African citizen. The ability to communicate in one of the official languages of South Africa is also required. Applicants must show the intention to reside in South Africa after naturalization, and they are required to make a declaration of allegiance. The Constitution of South Africa states that national legislation must provide for the acquisition, loss and restoration of citizenship.Template:Primary source inline

Being a naturalized South African citizen is a privilege, not a right. Even after meeting all the requirements and going through the naturalization process, the minister holds the right to deny citizenship. Foreign spouses of South African citizens can apply for naturalization after two years of marriage, but is subject to potential denial of the minister. The minister can also grant citizenship to minors, if their parent applies for them.

The minister also holds the power to revoke naturalization at any time for specific reasons listed in the Act. Reasons for revoking the naturalization certificate include marrying someone who is a citizen of another country and holding citizenship in another country, or applying for citizenship of another country without prior authorization for retention of citizenship. If a permanent resident is denied naturalization, he or she must wait at least one year before reapplying.

United Kingdom

There has always been a distinction in the law of England and Wales between the subjects of the monarch and aliens: the monarch's subjects owed the monarch allegiance, and included those born in his or her dominions (natural-born subjects) and those who later gave him or her their allegiance (naturalised subjects). Today, the requirements for naturalisation as a citizen of the United Kingdom depend on whether or not one is the spouse or civil partner of a citizen. An applicant who is a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen must:

• hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK (or an equivalent such as Right of Abode or Irish citizenship)
• have lived legally in the UK for three years
• been outside of the UK no more than 90 days during the one-year period prior to filing the application.
• show sufficient knowledge of life in the UK, either by passing the Life in the United Kingdom test or by attending combined English language and citizenship classes. Proof of this must be supplied with one's application for naturalisation. Those aged 65 or over may be able to claim exemption.
• meet specified English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language competence standards.

For those not married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the requirements are:

• Five years legal residence in the UK
• Indefinite leave to remain or "equivalent" for this purpose (see above) must have been held for 12 months
• the applicant must intend to continue to live in the UK or work overseas for the UK government or a British corporation or association
• the same "good character" standards apply as for those married to British citizens
• the same language and knowledge of life in the UK standards apply as for those married to British citizens.

United States

File:US Navy 090528-N-3207B-034 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen recite the pledge of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at the USS Midway Museum.jpg

United States service members are sworn in as citizens of the United States aboard the USS Midway in 2009

Persons who are not US citizens may receive citizenship through the process of naturalization, following the Congressional requirements in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Naturalized citizens have the same rights as those who acquired citizenship at birth.

The INA states the following:

No person, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, shall be naturalized unless such applicant, (1) immediately preceding the date of filing his application for naturalization has resided continuously, after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, within the United States for at least five years and during the five years immediately preceding the date of filing his application has been physically present therein for periods totaling at least half of that time, and who has resided within the State or within the district of the Service in the United States in which the applicant filed the application for at least three months, (2) has resided continuously within the United States from the date of the application up to the time of admission to citizenship, and (3) during all the periods referred to in this subsection has been and still is a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.

File:Usnaturalization.jpg

A man taking the required citizenship oath of allegiance in front of US government officials in New York City (1910).

File:Naturalization ceremony at Kennedy Space Center.jpg

New citizens at a naturalization ceremony at Kennedy Space Center in Florida (2010).

The Naturalization Act of 1795 set the initial rules on naturalization: "free, White persons" who had been resident for five years or more. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization after only one year of residence in the United States. An 1894 law extended the same privilege to honorably discharged five-year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps. Laws enacted in 1919, 1926, 1940, and 1952 continued preferential treatment provisions for veterans.

Following the Spanish–American War in 1898, Philippine citizens were classified as US nationals, and the 1917 Jones–Shafroth Act granted US citizenship to natives of Puerto Rico. But the 1934 Tydings–McDuffie Act reclassified Filipinos as aliens, and set a quota of 50 immigrants per year, and otherwise applying the Immigration Act of 1924 to them.

The Magnuson Act repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act. During the 1940s, 100 annual immigrants from British India and the Philippines were allowed. The War Brides Act of 1945 permitted soldiers to bring back their foreign wives and established precedent in naturalization through marriage. The Immigration Act of 1965 finally allowed people from all nations to be given equal access to immigration and naturalization.

Illegal immigration became a major issue in the United States at the end of the 20th century. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, while tightening border controls, also provided the opportunity of naturalization for illegal aliens who had been in the country for at least four years. Today, lawful permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply for US citizenship after five years, unless they continue to be married to a US citizen, in which case they can apply after only three years of permanent residency.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 streamlined the naturalization process for children adopted internationally. A child under age 18 who is adopted by at least one US citizen parent, and is in the custody of the citizen parent(s), is now automatically naturalized once admitted to the United States as an immigrant or when legally adopted in the United States, depending on the visa under which the child was admitted to the United States. The Act also provides that the non-citizen minor child of a newly naturalized US citizen, whether by birth or adoption, also automatically receives US citizenship.

See also

• Bancroft Treaties
• Citizenship
• Denaturalization
• Integration of immigrants
• Permanent residency
• History of citizenship
• European Convention on Nationality
• Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

External links

• PoliticosLatinos.com Videos of 2008 US Presidential Election Candidates' Positions regarding Immigration
• Naturalization First Appeared in the Constitution
• EUDO CITIZENSHIP Observatory Template:Webarchive