15 Easiest Countries to Get Permanent Residency in the World

If you’re looking to escape this current administration, look no further than our list of the 15 easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world.

At this point, if you’re an American and you don’t think we’re all on an impeding train wreck, you might want to rethink your logic and morals. First, it seemed like every week, this current administration (and President) were doing something negative to make headlines, and now it just seems like it’s occurring on a daily basis. Many of us (sane people) wonder when it will all stop, or just how much crazier can it all get.

If you’re looking to jump ship before shit really hits the fan, you might benefit from doing some research on the easiest country to get work visa or some easy immigration countries. If your so fed up that you never want to come back, you might want to look into the various countries offering permanent residence. Knowing which country gives citizenship easily is good to know in general. You can also take a peak at our lists of the Easiest and fastest Immigration Countries in the World or the Easiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2018.

It seems America is unraveling in a lot of other areas as well. With the recent “Me Too” movement, being a female is not easy, even though it never was. Though this is the consensus for much of how the world treats women, here’s a list of the Best Countries to Raise a Daughter. However, for today’s list we’ll focus on countries where the timeline is generally short for gaining permanent citizenship. You won’t find the easiest country to get permanent residency in Europe because, as compared to other countries in the world, gaining citizenship in Europe takes quite a lot of time. However, some European countries have found their way on this list. Soon, though, we’ll have an article discussing that and the the easiest way to get permanent residence in Europe.

Countries have different regulations governing the applications for naturalization, and permanent residency is only granted for an acceptable period by the state’s law. Anyone that succeeds in this process gets the access to benefit fully as a citizen. However, naturalization is determined by language capability, tests, marriage and much more. This article reports on different periods of residency needed for gaining citizenship in countries around the world. We have listed these states from the hardest to the most accessible state for a person to gain permanent residency in the world. We came up with this ranking after intensive research that is mostly based on government websites and citizenship acts. Our main sources were Flag Theory, Find Law and Investopedia.

15. The United Arab Emirates

30 years

A foreigner may be allowed to apply for citizenship in UAE by attaining the following: Lived in the UAE for 30 years or 7 years legally. The person ought to be an Arab citizen of Qatar, Oman, and Bahraini origin. No residence limit exists for individuals who provide essential services to the country. Other requirements include legal earning for a living, sound reputation, no record of crime and good command of the Arabic language. Naturalized citizens are eligible to stand for elections. Arab citizens of Qatar, Omani, and Bahraini origins may qualify to hold for elections after seven years.

14. Qatar

25 years

Qatar grants citizenship to those who have been accommodated in Qatar for 25 consecutive years. The applicant should not have settled outside the country for more than two successive months during any one of those 25 years. The foreigner should also have a sufficient income generating activity, bear a good reputation, and have a fair command of Arabic language with no record of crime.

13. Kuwait

20 years

Kuwait ranks 13th on our list of easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world. The citizenship may be granted by the Minister of Interior affairs, and the applicant must fulfill the requirements below: has acceptable ways of earning a living, be free from any past crimes. The person is expected to have lived in Kuwait legally for 20 years or 15 years if an Arab citizen. The applicant must be familiar with the Arabic Language and be a Muslim by birth or Islamic convert five years before the declaration of naturalization. Citizenship rights may be denied if the alien intends to leave Islam before adoption.

12. Nigeria

15 Years

Similar to other countries, Nigeria, the number 12 on our list of easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world, grants citizenship to people who fulfill specific requirements. The main method for aliens to obtain Nigerian citizenship is through naturalization. This method demands the following from the applicant: the person should be above 17 years and have settled in Nigeria for no less than 15 years. Other requirements include; good character, ability to speak Nigerian language, familiarity with Nigerian customs, plans to settle in the country, financial stability and renunciation of previous citizenship.

11. India

12 years

A foreigner can become Indian citizen if he or she has been residing in India for 12 years of the previous fourteen years. Alternatively, the applicant is expected to have spent the 12 months preceding the naturalization process in India with no interruption.

Up next we have top ten easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world.

10. Tanzania

11 years

Citizenship is acquired in Tanzania after ten years of settlement. This should be added to a period of one year just before one starts the application. The overall period of an applicant’s settlement in the country must sum up to at least seven years.

9. Austria

10 years

One can possibly make an application as an Austrian permanent resident after a successive ten years of accommodation in Austria. Other requirements include; familiarity to the German language and ability to renounce the citizenship of another foreign country (under the rules governing the applicant’s motherland) unless this is inappropriate. This condition can be abandoned in particular cases. Naturalization for Austrian citizenship based on ten years of successive residence is voluntary.

8. Denmark

9 years

One is required to undergo a thorough application process to attain Danish citizenship by naturalization. To fulfill the conditions, the applicant must have resided for some years in Denmark with a permit for permanent residency. Without the license, you are required to do an application for such at the Immigration Service Department of Denmark. Usually, the foreigner must have settled in Denmark for a continuous period of nine years to make a citizenship application. In case you are a refugee in Denmark, you are expected to have resided in Denmark for eight years successively.

7. Germany

8 years

As we continue through our list of the easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world, we get to Germany. German permanent residency can only be sought for after some years. To become a citizen of Germany, you must have resided in Germany for eight years, be financially stable, and familiar to the Germany language.

6. Kenya

7 years

Kenyan citizenship is granted to foreigners who have settled in Kenya for seven consecutive years. The person should have also resided in Kenya over the course of one year just before the application date. Applicants are required to live in Kenya after attaining citizenship, make contributions to the national development, and to have a good command of Kiswahili or any other local dialect.

5. Portugal

6 years

Anyone 18 years or older may be naturalized to Portuguese citizenship after legally residing for six years in Portugal. You must be knowledgeable of the Portuguese language and have active connections to the national community. When a parent attains citizenship, children below 18 years may be granted Portuguese citizenship by declaration.

4. Afghanistan

5 years

People who stay in Afghanistan for five years continuously shall be considered as Afghan citizens. This is only granted if they have attained adulthood, have applied for citizenship, and have not participated in any significant misdemeanor or crime.

And now, let’s see the top three easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world.

3. Brazil

4 years

For one to apply for Brazilian citizenship, certain conditions have to be fulfilled. First, the person must have the local capacity by the Brazilian regulations and be registered as a permanent Brazilian alien. The applicant should be a Brazilian resident continuously for four or more years just before the application, have the ability to write and read the Portuguese language, have a social and intellectual evaluation, be financially stable, and have proper conduct with no conviction of an internal or external felony.

2. Canada

3 years

Several conditions are demanded to become a Canadian citizen. To begin with, you must make an application to immigrate to Canada and get permanent resident status. In case you become a landed immigrant and are granted a permanent resident card, you are entitled to live in Canada for three years out of a total of four years preceding the citizenship application.

1. Argentina

2 years

As with all the other countries on our list of easiest countries to get permanent residency in the world, Argentinean permanent residency can only be acquired after some years. To become an Argentinean citizen, you ought to reside for two or more years in Argentina without interruption. Your presence is expected in Argentina during the application process, as well as a minimum of six months each year. Holders attaining this right get a bonus visa-free access to 150 countries.