Ten Countries Where Americans Can Obtain Citizenship Fastest—From Caribbean Golden Passports to European Ancestry Claims

American demand for second passports and permanent residency abroad has surged. According to residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley and Partners, US applications for golden visas—residence-by-investment programs that grant citizenship—doubled in 2025 and remain elevated. Arton Capital reported that American citizenship applications processed by the firm ballooned by roughly 2,400% over the past decade.

Three primary pathways exist for acquiring citizenship: ancestry-based claims, citizenship-by-investment golden passport programs, and residency-by-investment routes that eventually lead to citizenship eligibility. The easiest countries tend to cluster in Europe and the Caribbean, where most golden passport schemes concentrate.

São Tomé and Príncipe

This West African island nation operates the world's fastest citizenship-by-investment program, with approval averaging two months. The process is entirely remote with no residency or language requirements. The minimum contribution starts at $95,000, comprising a $90,000 donation to the National Transformation Fund and a $5,000 submission fee. Family packages for two to four members cost $95,000, with each additional dependent requiring an extra $5,000. Applicants must be at least 18, maintain clean criminal records, prove valid income sources, and currently cannot hold three or more citizenships.

Canada

Canadian Parliament passed Bill C-3 in December 2025, amending the Citizenship Act to eliminate the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. Americans can now claim citizenship through parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents if they can prove an unbroken chain of descent from Canada. The legislation also enables children of naturalized Canadian parents to obtain dual citizenship.

Türkiye

Turkish citizenship-by-investment offers multiple routes. Applicants may acquire $400,000 in real estate, invest $500,000 into a Turkish bank account, government bonds, real estate investment fund, or venture capital fund, or commit $500,000 to a private pension system for a minimum three-year holding period. A job creation route also exists: demonstrating that at least 50 jobs were created in the country, as verified by the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services. Spouses and dependents under 18 (or adult dependents with disabilities) may be included in applications.

Italy

Italian citizenship by ancestry applies to anyone born to an Italian parent, including Americans with Italian grandparents even if their parents were born in the US. Those without Italian heritage can pursue the investment visa, which requires between €250,000 and €2 million (approximately $274,000 to $2.2 million) depending on investment type. Investment visa holders become eligible for citizenship after 10 years of residency.

Ireland

Irish citizenship by descent extends to those with a parent who held Irish citizenship at their birth or a grandparent born on the island of Ireland. The application process through Foreign Birth Registration can require documentation spanning three generations across multiple jurisdictions, typically taking nine months to process. Once granted, Irish citizenship provides unrestricted residency, work, and travel rights throughout Ireland and EU member states.

Greece

Greece operates one of Europe's most affordable residency-by-investment programs. A minimum €250,000 (approximately $285,000) investment in designated real estate secures a permanent residency visa renewable every five years. Properties in high-demand areas—Athens, Santorini, and islands with populations exceeding 3,100—require €800,000 (approximately $915,000) minimum investment. Permanent residents become eligible for citizenship after seven years. Spouses, children, and parents may be included on applications.

The shift toward second citizenship reflects diverse motivations: remote workers seeking favorable tax structures, retirees identifying lower-cost-of-living destinations, and affluent individuals pursuing international diversification. While the US government maintains no official data on dual citizenship holders among Americans, private advisory reports document sustained growth in applications across all major pathways.