What countries do not allow you to become a citizen?
Asked by: Camylle Treutel MD | Last update: February 18, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (47 votes)
While most countries offer pathways to citizenship for foreigners through naturalization, Myanmar and Uruguay have been noted as exceptions, largely denying paths to citizenship for immigrants, with Myanmar being particularly restrictive, focusing on lineage from official ethnic groups. Other nations like Japan, China, and Singapore have strict policies, often prohibiting dual nationality, though they do allow for naturalization, while Kuwait rarely grants it.
What countries do not offer citizenship?
Myanmar and Uruguay are currently the only countries in the world that deny immigrants any path to naturalization.
What countries don't allow American citizens?
Americans cannot travel to certain countries due to active conflict, extreme crime, terrorism, or severe political instability, with the U.S. Department of State issuing Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisories for nations like Afghanistan, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Iran, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ukraine, while specific travel bans also exist for nationals from some nations like North Korea (no U.S. passports allowed) and other countries under varying restrictions.
What's the hardest country to become a citizen in?
The hardest countries to get citizenship usually involve extremely strict, long residency rules, cultural/language tests, and rare approvals, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, and North Korea often cited due to their restrictive policies (e.g., 25+ years, Arabic/Islam requirements, near-impossible naturalization), while Japan, Switzerland, Bhutan, and Liechtenstein present challenges through extensive integration, multi-level approvals, or referendums. Vatican City is unique, requiring clergy roles.
What country has the most strict immigration laws?
There's no single "strictest," but countries like North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, and Switzerland consistently rank high due to near-impossibility of citizenship, strict lineage/cultural assimilation, or extremely restrictive quotas and long residency requirements. These nations prioritize homogeneity, security, or cultural preservation, making immigration challenging through limited paths, extensive vetting (like local votes in Switzerland or language tests in Japan/Austria), or near-zero naturalization rates, as seen in Qatar.
5 Countries That Let You get a Residency Without a Background Check
Do any countries not allow citizens to leave?
Yes, some countries, notably North Korea, effectively prohibit most citizens from leaving, while others like China, Iran, and Eritrea impose severe restrictions or exit bans on dissidents, political opponents, and certain demographics (like young men in Iran for military service), making emigration extremely difficult or impossible without state permission, often enforced through permits, surveillance, or politically motivated bans.
Which country has the highest number of illegal immigrants in the US?
Mexicans represented a majority of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. through 2016; their share in 2023 was by far the smallest share on record. After Mexico, the countries with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in the U.S. in 2023 were: Guatemala (850,000) El Salvador (850,000)
What's the easiest country to gain citizenship?
Countries With the Easiest Citizenship By Naturalization
- Portugal.
- Luxembourg.
- Lithuania.
- Latvia.
- Israel.
- Greece.
- Germany.
- Armenia.
Does Japan provide citizenship?
According to Article 4 of the Japanese Nationality Act, any foreign national may acquire Japanese nationality after approval from the Minister of Justice. Applicants must demonstrate long-term residence, stable finances, and good conduct before applying.
Can a foreigner get Saudi citizenship?
Granting Citizenship to Foreigners
The applicant must be of good conduct and behavior and has never been convicted of a criminal offense or imprisonment for a moral offense for a period exceeding six months. The applicant must be familiar with the Arabic language.
What countries are on the no go list?
Countries on a "Do Not Travel" list generally have severe risks like terrorism, crime, kidnapping, or unrest, with the U.S. State Department issuing Level 4 advisories for places like Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Yemen, Haiti, Russia, and Ukraine, while some countries face specific U.S. entry bans. Key nations often cited with high warnings or restrictions include Burma (Myanmar), Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, Belarus, and the Central African Republic, with lists changing frequently, so checking official sources like travel.state.gov/destination is crucial.
What countries don't like American citizens?
Additionally, anti-Americanism has been present in several Western countries, including Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, although to a lesser extent than in countries like Pakistan or Russia.
What countries are in the red zone?
⚡️🇺🇸 The U.S. is closing its borders and introducing new entry rules. The administration has listed 43 countries facing new travel restrictions under a three-tier system: 🔴 Red Zone – Complete entry ban for Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and seven more countries.
What country can Americans move to easily?
These countries tend to be the easiest for Americans to adjust to, thanks to language, cultural familiarity, and strong infrastructure.
- Canada. Canada remains one of the most popular destinations for Americans. ...
- Ireland. ...
- Australia & New Zealand. ...
- Portugal. ...
- Spain. ...
- Germany. ...
- United Kingdom. ...
- Mexico.
Will I lose my social security if I renounce my US citizenship?
Renouncing your US citizenship does not automatically disqualify you from receiving Social Security benefits, but it can complicate the process.
Are babies born in France automatically citizens?
All persons born within the country to at least one French national or foreign parent who themself was born in France automatically receive French nationality at birth. All persons born abroad to at least one French parent are automatically French from birth.
What happens if a U.S. citizen has a baby in Japan?
A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth. One of the parents must have resided in the U.S. prior to the child's birth, but no specific period of time for such residence is required.
Did Naomi Osaka give up her U.S. citizenship?
Japan's Nationality Act requires citizens with dual citizenship to select one country by their 22nd birthday. Osaka met this deadline when she renounced her U.S. citizenship in October 2019.
What is the difference between citizenship and naturalization?
Citizenship is the status of being a member of a country, while naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen if you weren't born a citizen, typically for lawful permanent residents (green card holders). A naturalized citizen has the same rights and responsibilities as a birthright citizen (except potentially the ability to be President) and is a full citizen, but the "naturalized" label denotes how they obtained their status, not a lesser form of it.
Which country pays us to live there?
Yes, several countries and regions offer financial incentives, grants, or low-cost housing to attract new residents, often targeting depopulated rural areas or skilled workers, with examples in Italy, Spain, Japan, Chile, Switzerland, and Ireland, though these usually come with conditions like commitments to stay long-term, renovate property, or start a business. Programs range from direct cash for moving to tax breaks and subsidized housing to stimulate local economies.
What's the hardest citizenship to get?
The hardest countries for citizenship often include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and North Korea, due to extremely strict residency rules, cultural assimilation demands, political restrictions, lineage laws, or near-impossible naturalization processes, with Vatican City being uniquely difficult as citizenship is tied to specific roles, not residency. Key factors making citizenship hard are long required residency (decades in Qatar/Liechtenstein), complex local approvals (Switzerland), language/cultural tests (Japan), or outright bans on naturalization (North Korea).
In which country can I buy a house and get citizenship?
Yes, several countries offer citizenship or a pathway to it through real estate investment, with popular options in the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada), Europe (Malta, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey), and other regions (Vanuatu, Egypt, Jordan), though some pathways lead to residency first, requiring further steps for citizenship. These programs, often called "Citizenship by Investment" (CBI) or "Golden Visas," attract foreign capital by offering passports or residency in exchange for property purchases, business investments, or donations.
Which nationality is the most in the USA?
In the 2020 census, self-identified English Americans made up 46.6 million of the US population, followed by German Americans at 45 million, as reported in the 2020 census. This makes English and German the largest and second-largest self-reported ancestry groups in the United States.
What country is taking Americans?
Countries Who Welcome American Immigrants
- Australia. ...
- Canada. ...
- Ecuador. ...
- Germany. ...
- Mexico. ...
- Montenegro. ...
- Panama.