Dual Citizenship, where and how? (calculator, living in, dangerous)

[TheCaliforniaBear]

I am an American. I would LOVE to gain dual citizenship in another country. Any country, even a developing country or a dangerous one. I just want to have other options, be able to live and work in other places without visa hassles, and perhaps own property in a foreign country

I have been living in Asia for a couple years and in the countries i've been to, visa requirements are strict and naturalization into these countries is not easy. Dealing with the visa process every year is also a very tedious process. So i'm looking for a better way.

I know this is a broad questtion and I plan on doing a lot of research on this myself. I am just hoping to get a pointer in the right direction. Then after I rearch it further i'll share my findings.

Thanks a lot.

[moving123456]

Canada and Australia have some of the shortest length of legal residency requirements to gain citizenship at 3 years each. Both have a points system to qualify for residency, I believe the immigration sites for both countries have a point calculator to see if you qualify. The New Zealand system might also be similar to Australia, but I have not looked into it.

Most of Europe ranges from 5-10 years of legal residency before becoming eligible Citizenship.

Some countries offer citizenship for a big payment and/or investment if you have a lot of money to spare.

[Chava61]

One can immigrate to Israel & gain Israeli citizenship if one is Jewish or has at least one Jewish grandparent. (In this case, the person gets Israeli citizenship 3 months after arriving in the country.)

[yankinscotland]

In the UK you are eligible for citizenship after 3 years if you're here through marriage. It's 5 years if you're here on work permit.

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by Chava61

One can immigrate to Israel & gain Israeli citizenship if one is Jewish or has at least one Jewish grandparent. (In this case, the person gets Israeli citizenship 3 months after arriving in the country.)

I don't have any Jewish family. Maybe I can lie and say I do?

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by yankinscotland

In the UK you are eligible for citizenship after 3 years if you're here through marriage. It's 5 years if you're here on work permit.

Thanks for the tip on that.

I am very much so against marrying my way into a country though. I could do that here in Asia, but I don't want to lock that ball and chain around my ankle just yet.

I have heard that some very poor, wartorn countries will very easily let some people gain citizenship. Is this true? I do not really want to live in a rich western country anyway.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by TheCaliforniaBear

I don't have any Jewish family. Maybe I can lie and say I do?

Seriously?

[yankinscotland]

Originally Posted by TheCaliforniaBear

Thanks for the tip on that.

I am very much so against marrying my way into a country though. I could do that here in Asia, but I don't want to lock that ball and chain around my ankle just yet.

I have heard that some very poor, wartorn countries will very easily let some people gain citizenship. Is this true? I do not really want to live in a rich western country anyway.

You're not assuming that anyone who is in a country through marriage is in a fake marriage in order to live in the country

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by TheCaliforniaBear

I don't have any Jewish family. Maybe I can lie and say I do?

That probably won't work as they may ask you to prove that you are Jewish or the Jewishness of one of your grandparents with religious documents.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by TheCaliforniaBear

I don't have any Jewish family. Maybe I can lie and say I do?

I'm not sure you have a very realistic grasp on what it takes to become a citizen of another country. You seem to be interested in automatically obtaining a citizenship without spending years living and working there under a visa. As far as I'm aware, without a family or ancestral tie to a country, you pretty much have NO chance of that. I've read that in some countries, if you join their army, you can gain citizenship within a year but I'm pretty sure that's not the path you're looking for - and also pretty sure it would threaten your US citizenship.

Apparently Argentina only requires you are a resident for 2 years before you can apply for citizenship. That is the least amount of time I've been able to find.