Path to
a passport.
How long until permanent residency — and citizenship — in 50 countries, whether they allow a second passport, and if there's a language test. Sorted by the fastest route to citizenship. Standard residence route; estimates for guidance, not legal advice.
Country To residency To citizenship Dual Language test
ArgentinaCitizenship after just 2 yrs of any legal residence, direct via court—no PR needed first; no formal language test. To residency3 yrs To citizenship2 yrs DualDual allowed Language testNo
SingaporePR and citizenship both discretionary (ICA); PR has no fixed residence threshold, min 2 yrs PR before citizenship; must renounce prior nationality. To residency2 yrs To citizenship2 yrs DualNo dual Language testNo
Armenia3 yrs residence; Constitution exam in Armenian doubles as language test. Ethnic Armenians exempt from residence/language. To residency3 yrs To citizenship3 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Canada1095 days (3 of last 5 yrs) physical presence as PR; skilled migrants often get PR directly via Express Entry. Test/language ages 18-54. To residency1 yr To citizenship3 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Australia4 yrs lawful residence incl. 12 mo as PR; skilled independent (189) grants PR directly, employer temp→PR ~2 yrs. To residency2 yrs To citizenship4 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Brazil4-yr naturalization reducible to 1 yr with Brazilian spouse/child. Celpe-Bras Portuguese test (Portuguese nationals exempt). To residency2 yrs To citizenship4 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Chile5 yrs residence (clock from first temp permit); Residencia Definitiva ~2 yrs. Basic Spanish and civics are assessed informally at interview — no formal exam. To residency2 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testNo
Colombia5yr domicile for citizenship; R (resident) visa after 5yr on M-visa; 1yr for LatAm/Caribbean, 2yr Spaniards/spouses. Spanish+civics exam. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
EcuadorTemporary residence ~21 months, then 3 yrs of permanent residency before naturalising (~5 yrs total); only 2 yrs if married to an Ecuadorian. Spanish test. To residency2 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
FranceCarte de résident after 5yr; naturalisation 5yr (2yr if 2yr French higher-ed); French B1 (rising to B2) + civics test. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
GermanyJune 2024 reform cut naturalisation from 8 to 5 yrs; dual now allowed. (The 3-yr fast-track for high achievers was repealed in Oct 2025.) B1 German + citizenship test. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
IndonesiaKITAP after ~3 yrs KITAS; naturalisation is discretionary (presidential), requires Bahasa proficiency and renouncing prior citizenship. To residency3 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
Ireland5 yrs reckonable residence within last 9, incl. 1 continuous yr before applying; no language or civics test. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testNo
JapanNaturalisation only 5 yrs (faster than PR's 10); no formal test but basic Japanese assessed at interview; must renounce other citizenship. To residency10 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualNo dual Language testNo
MaltaAggregate 4 of 6 yrs + 12 continuous months (=5); highly discretionary. Maltese or English suffices. CBI (by investment) closed 2025. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Mexico5 yrs residence (temp or perm); only 2 yrs for Latin American/Iberian nationals or via Mexican spouse/child. Spanish + history/culture exam. To residency4 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
NetherlandsRenunciation of prior nationality is the rule but many exemptions apply; needs A2 + KNM civic-integration exam. To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
New ZealandNeeds 1,350 days present over 5 yrs; English is assessed at interview, no formal standardized test. To residency2 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testNo
PanamaSpanish + civics/history exam; constitutional renunciation oath required but loosely enforced (reciprocal exceptions). To residency2 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
PeruRaised from 2 to 5 yrs by 2025 Law 32421 (4 yrs for spouses of Peruvians; 2 yrs only for cases of exceptional merit). Spanish + civics test. To residency3 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
South KoreaGeneral naturalisation needs 5 yrs residence + KIIP/naturalisation test; naturalised adults must renounce origin (dual only for select talent/seniors). To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
Taiwan5 yrs (183+ days/yr) for APRC and for naturalisation; must renounce original nationality within 1 yr (waived only for high-level professional talent). To residency5 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
ThailandPR after 3 consecutive yrs (annual quota ~100/nationality); citizenship needs ~5 yrs PR, 50/100 points, Thai language and singing the national/royal anthems. To residency3 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Turkey5 yrs continuous residence to naturalise (discretionary); long-term residence permit after 8 yrs. Property CBI ($400k) bypasses residence. To residency8 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
United StatesGreen card is sponsorship-based (employment/family), not a fixed residence period; then 5 yrs as LPR to naturalise (English + civics test). To residency— To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Uruguay5 yrs for single applicant, 3 yrs with family ties; permanent residency obtainable on arrival w/ income. No formal exam; original nationality kept. To residency0 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualDual allowed Language testNo
Vietnam5 yrs residence + Vietnamese proficiency; dual nationality only in special cases with Presidential approval. Naturalisation rare/discretionary. To residency3 yrs To citizenship5 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
AlbaniaStd route 7 yrs continuous lawful residence (Law 113/2020); PR permit after 5 yrs. Basic Albanian language/culture required. To residency5 yrs To citizenship7 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Costa RicaPR after 3yr temp residence; 5yr for Central Americans, Ibero-Americans, Spaniards; Spanish + basic civics exam. To residency3 yrs To citizenship7 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
CyprusHighly-skilled fast track: 4yr with Greek B1 or 5yr with A2; standard route 7yr (2500 days), some categories 8yr. To residency5 yrs To citizenship7 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
GreeceMandatory written exam (Greek language + history/geography/culture/politics); 7 yrs legal residence for naturalisation. To residency5 yrs To citizenship7 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Sri LankaNaturalisation needs ~5 yrs residence within a 7-yr window plus final 12 months; no standard residence-based PR; dual allowed only with government approval. To residency— To citizenship7 yrs DualRestricted Language testNo
CroatiaStandard Art.8 naturalisation requires release from prior citizenship; Croatian language+culture test (waived over 60). To residency5 yrs To citizenship8 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Estonia8yr residence incl. last 5 permanent; renunciation of prior citizenship required; Estonian B1 + constitution exam. To residency5 yrs To citizenship8 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
PolandRecognition route = 3 yrs holding a PR permit (PR itself after 5 yrs); B1 Polish. President-grant route has no fixed term. To residency5 yrs To citizenship8 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Romania8 yrs from arrival (PR after 5); B1 Romanian plus culture/constitution/anthem. Reduced to 5 yrs if married to a citizen. To residency5 yrs To citizenship8 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
Austria10 yrs (5 on settlement permit), 6 yrs with strong integration. Dual generally barred—must renounce. B1 German + civics. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
Bulgaria~10 yrs total: 5 yrs to permanent/long-term residence, then 5 yrs holding it. Non-EU must renounce; EU/EEA/Swiss keep dual. Bulgarian language exam (~B1). To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Czechia~10yr total legal residence incl. 5yr as permanent resident; Czech B1 + civics test. Dual allowed since 2014. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
GeorgiaPR after 10yr on a temp permit (~6yr only via property investment); ordinary naturalisation 10yr; dual only by state-interest exception; Georgian language/history/law exam. To residency10 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Italy10 yrs for non-EU (4 for EU nationals, 3 by descent); B1 Italian required. PR = EU long-term permit at 5 yrs. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
MalaysiaArt.19: 10 of last 12 yrs; extremely rare/discretionary. Adequate Malay has long been required (not new). MM2H/PVIP time does NOT count. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
PhilippinesNaturalising foreigner must renounce prior nationality; PR is category-based, not by accrued years; needs English/Spanish + a Philippine language. To residency— To citizenship10 yrs DualNo dual Language testYes
Portugal2025/26 reform raised general term from 5 to 10 yrs (7 yrs for CPLP/Portuguese-speaking); A2 Portuguese + civics. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
South AfricaNaturalise after 5 yrs as PR (PR itself usually ~5 yrs), so ~10 yrs total; must apply to retain SA citizenship or renounce origin unless home country allows dual. To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Spain10 yrs, but only 2 yrs for Latin Americans/Filipinos/Sephardim who also keep dual; others must renounce; DELE A2 + CCSE required (Spanish-speakers exempt language). To residency5 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualRestricted Language testYes
Switzerland10 yrs residence + C settlement permit; years lived aged 8-18 count double; cantonal/communal language (approx B1 oral/A2 written) and integration tests apply. To residency10 yrs To citizenship10 yrs DualDual allowed Language testYes
QatarNaturalisation (25 yrs) is discretionary and effectively closed; 2018 PR law grants residency after 20 yrs (10 if Qatar-born). Arabic required. To residency20 yrs To citizenship— DualNo dual Language testYes
Saudi ArabiaLaw allows naturalisation after 10 yrs + Arabic, but for ordinary migrants approvals are near-impossible; Premium Residency is paid, not a PR-by-residence route. To residency— To citizenship— DualNo dual Language testYes
United Arab EmiratesNo PR (Golden Visa is 10-yr renewable). No residence route to citizenship for ordinary migrants; only by Cabinet nomination (investors/talent). To residency— To citizenship— DualRestricted Language testNo
Standard naturalisation-by-residence route (not marriage, descent or investment, which are often faster). Rules change — confirm with the country's official immigration authority. Notably: Germany cut its term to 5 years in 2024; Portugal raised its to 10 years in 2025/26; the Gulf states have no ordinary residence route to a passport.
How to read this
To residency is the years of continuous legal residence to reach permanent-residency status; to citizenship is the total years to naturalise by residence. Dual shows whether you can keep your current passport — "restricted" means it's allowed only in some cases or with exceptions. Language test flags a required language and/or civics exam. Figures are the standard route for an ordinary skilled migrant and change often — always confirm with the official authority before you plan around them.