1. Citizenship by Descent

If you’re lucky, you may be eligible for a second passport right now – without even knowing it!

Certain countries offer ancestral citizenship to those who can prove family ties to the country.

This means you may be able to hit the dual citizenship jackpot.

Some people can even claim multiple second citizenships using the ancestral method.

My team and I have personally helped people get citizenships by way of decent in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Lithuania, Poland, Mexico and Vietnam.

We could help you next, particularly if you have heritage in Israel, Ireland, Brazil, Austria, Italy, Hungary or Spain!

2. Citizenship by Marriage

If you’re married or you’re planning to tie the knot, then you’re in luck. A citizenship by marriage is almost a guarantee.

We’re not saying you should marry for citizenship, but if you are already in the process of saying “I do”, why not consider citizenship too?

Countries like France and the United States will fast-track the naturalization timeline for spouses to obtain citizenship.

And then there are places, such as Cape Verde, where you can get married and immediately become a citizen.

3. Citizenship by Investment

Also called ‘economic citizenship,’ this is usually the fastest and easiest way to get a second passport.

The process is straightforward: a country will confer citizenship upon you in exchange for an investment in the country or a purchase of real estate.

It will usually take about six months to get this done. So, don’t buy into one of the stories by the scam artists who promise to get you your passport in 60 days – it simply isn’t possible.

There normally isn’t a residency requirement. In fact, sometimes you don’t even need to visit!

Several countries offer economic citizenship programs ‘off the rack,’ with several others offering more tailored solutions.

In general, the prices for economic citizenship programs go up over time, with an occasional new player offering a lower price.

A common question we get asked here at Nomad Capitalist is: ‘Are economic citizenship programs worth it?’

They can be, especially if you need fast citizenship.

However, there are far cheaper ways to get your second citizenship if you’re willing to be patient or have a little luck on your side.

Here’s where you can get a citizenship by way of investing:

Malta Vanuatu Montenegro Cyprus Moldova Jordan Turkey Kitts and Nevis Dominica Antigua and Barbuda Grenada Austria



4. ‘Fast-track naturalization’

This is a bit of a curve-ball because there are no hard-cut rules to granting fast-track citizenship. Often referred to as citizenship by exception, the decision to grant fast-track citizenship is often at the discretion of the head of state, be it a president or a sultan.

A good example of fast-track naturalization is the Middle East. The countries there often want to recruit promising athletes from Africa to compete for them.

So, they’ll hand them a passport and grant them Qatari citizenship, for instance, and off they go to the Olympic games.

It has also happened in Asia where they have naturalized people who are extremely skilled in arts.

And a final opportunity presents itself to those who are willing to make a substantial investment (that will most likely be returned, often with a profit) in a country.

Beware: this isn’t equal to paying a guy in a trench coat to ‘out you in the system’ and spew out a passport.

We mean following a legal and constitutional process in which you can be granted citizenship based on special circumstances that are set out by the government.

5. Citizenship by Naturalization

This is where you spend time on the ground, build up legal residence time in another country, and eventually apply for citizenship as the ‘payoff’.

The same way you’ve seen immigrants attending ceremonies to become naturalized as American/British/Canadian/etc. citizens, you can become a naturalized citizen of another country.

If you’re willing to be patient, that is.

It’s a process that can take as little as two years or as many as 30. This will depend on the country where you’re seeking your second passport.

Some of these countries, like Canada, have strict requirements for physical presence in the country. For others, you may only need to set foot in the country once or twice a year.

Fun fact: Tina Turner had to live in Switzerland for at least twelve years before being eligible for citizenship there.

And, sometimes, there are cultural, language and historical knowledge exams too, not to mention that some countries will require you to relinquish any other citizenship(s) that you might have.