What is the hardest citizenship to have?

Asked by: Ms. Monique Treutel MD  |  Last update: June 18, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (70 votes)

Qatar, Vatican City, and Liechtenstein are consistently ranked among the hardest citizenships to obtain globally, often requiring decades of residency, religious conversion, or local, popular votes. These countries often have strict rules, such as 25–30 year residency requirements, the need to renounce prior citizenship, or high-level, subjective cultural integration, such as in Japan or Switzerland.

Which is the toughest citizenship to get?

Top 10 hardest countries to get citizenship and why it's nearly impossible

  • 4/11. Liechtenstein. ...
  • 5/11. Bhutan. ...
  • 6/11. Saudi Arabia. ...
  • 7/11. Kuwait. ...
  • 8/11. Switzerland. ...
  • 9/11. China. ...
  • 10/11. North Korea. ...
  • 11/11. Japan. While the residency requirement of Japan is five consecutive years, the procedure for its approval is quite challenging.

What is a golden passport?

A “golden passport” is a form of citizenship by investment, allowing individuals to acquire citizenship or residency in a country by making a significant financial contribution. This usually involves investing in real estate, government bonds, or making a donation to a national development fund.

What is the strongest citizenship?

Singapore's passport tops the 2026 Henley Passport Index for the third consecutive year, granting visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea share second place at 188. No other region produces citizenships this dominant. But Singapore's value as a citizenship extends well beyond border control.

Where are Americans fleeing to?

Americans are increasingly relocating abroad. From Portugal to Japan, these countries are emerging as some of the fastest-growing destinations for U.S. expatriates and remote workers.

The Toughest Countries to Get Citizenship (Documented)

25 related questions found

What nationality is Ice deporting the most?

Of these, ****** were Mexican nationals, making them the largest group of deportees. Apart from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras were the most common nationalities among deported migrants in the U.S. in 2025.

Where do 80% of Americans live?

According to population data, 80% of Americans are crammed into the eastern half of the country, leaving that massive orange zone out West with only 20% of the population.

Which passport is stronger than the USA?

According to 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retains the top spot as the world's most powerful passport, giving visa-free access to 195 out of the 227 destinations worldwide to its holders. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are second in the ranking, while the third spot is taken by Sweden.

Does the U.S. allow 3 citizenships?

Yes, triple citizenship is legal in many countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil, and numerous Caribbean nations. These countries permit citizens to acquire additional nationalities without requiring the loss of an existing one.

What citizenship has the most benefits?

All this makes Iceland the best citizenship in the world with its inclusivity, safety and respect of human rights. Ireland ranked in 2nd place due to the countries high passport mobility score meaning that citizens can visit 170 countries either without a visa or by gaining a visa on arrival.

What is a Trump Gold visa card?

The Trump Gold Card is an immigrant investor program offered by the United States that grants investors automatic eligibility for non-immigrant or EB-1 or EB-2 immigrant visas, as well as a pathway for US lawful permanent resident status.

What's the rarest passport?

The Order of Malta began as a hospital order caring for the sick and elderly. Today, they even have a seat at the United Nations. Only 500 people in the world carry this passport. And it all started in Malta.

Which island is selling citizenship for $105000?

Nauru, a tiny Pacific country, is selling citizenship for $105,000 to save itself from rising seas | CNN.

Is US citizenship getting harder?

The citizenship test that USCIS has used since 2008 requires applicants to answer six questions correctly out of 10. The new test will require 12 correct answers out of 20. The list of possible questions the agent chooses from will grow from 100 to 128, and many will be more difficult.

What is the weakest citizenship?

Global Ranking of the Weakest Passports 2026

  • Afghanistan 🇦🇫 - Access to just 28 countries without a visa.
  • Syria 🇸🇾 - Slightly better off with 29 visa-free destinations.
  • Iraq 🇮🇶 - Offering access to 31 countries.
  • Pakistan 🇵🇰 - Providing visa-free entry to 34 nations.
  • Yemen 🇾🇪 - A passport allowing travel to 35 countries.

What country is most accepting of Americans?

Countries with the Most Favorable Attitudes towards Americans

  1. Poland. As of 2023, about 93% of respondents gave the United States a favorable response. ...
  2. Israel. Israel's favorability of the United States is at 87%. ...
  3. South Korea. South Korea has a favorability rating of 79%. ...
  4. Nigeria. ...
  5. Japan. ...
  6. Kenya. ...
  7. India. ...
  8. Brazil.

How many citizenships does Elon Musk have?

Born in 1971, Musk holds citizenship from three countries—South African by birth, Canadian through his mother, and American through naturalization in 2002—after approximately ten years of maintaining legal status through student and work visas.

Does citizenship expire?

Once you get U.S. citizenship, you typically retain it for life. However, there are certain rare situations in which a citizen may lose their citizenship. Denaturalization involves involuntarily having your citizenship taken away. Renunciation involves voluntarily giving up your citizenship.

Has any US president had dual citizenship?

Every president to date was either a citizen at the adoption of the Constitution in 1789 or born in the United States; of the former group, all except one had two parents with citizenship in what would become the U.S. (Andrew Jackson).

What does a black U.S. passport mean?

The primary types are Regular (blue), Official (maroon), Diplomatic (black), Service (gray), and Emergency (purple), each type of passport may also has its own sub-types.

Which is the No. 1 world passport?

Singapore retained its place as the world's most powerful passport, granting its holders visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227. It is followed closely by Japan, the UAE and South Korea in second place, each granting its citizens visa-free entry to 190 destinations.

Which citizenship is better, Canada or the USA?

Quick Answer. Canada is better for immigrants seeking permanent residency, family security, free healthcare, and easier immigration pathways. The USA is better for high earners, investors, and professionals seeking world-class career opportunities and business growth.

What is the #1 overpopulated state?

The U.S. state with the largest population is California, which has some 39,000,000 residents. Second is Texas, with more than 30,000,000. Several states have less than 1,000,000 people, and Wyoming holds the title of the least-populated state, with fewer than 600,000.

Where does 90% of the world live?

Ninety percent of Earth's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere.