Second passport for Americans: every route in 2026

One of the most accessible descent routes: ethnic Armenians qualify with no generational limit and without needing to prove an unbroken chain of legal citizenship — proof of Armenian origin (church records, family documents) suffices. Armenia allows dual citizenship. No residence requirement. A basic knowledge of the Constitution/language may be checked. Processing ~3–6 months.

A January 2020 reform removed all generational limits — any direct-line Croatian ancestor who emigrated can anchor a claim. Applicants must show Croatian origin and demonstrate a basic attachment to Croatian culture/identity (a light knowledge check, not a formal exam for origin cases). No residence requirement. Croatia (EU) allows dual citizenship for origin-based applicants.

Constitutional right of restoration for descendants of Nazi-persecution victims — no generational limit, no time limit, no language/residence requirement, and dual citizenship allowed. §15 StAG (added 2021) widened it to cover those who lost/couldn't acquire citizenship through flight, duress, or marriage. Also a separate ordinary §4 descent route for children of German citizens. Processing ~1.5–3 years.

Available through parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, but hinges on proving an unbroken municipal-registration and civil-record chain back to the Greek ancestor — the documentation is the hard part. No residence or language requirement for the descent route. Greece allows dual citizenship. Processing ~1–2+ years for straightforward cases.

'Egyszerűsített honosítás' — no residence requirement and no generational cap, but you must (a) document a Hungarian-citizen ancestor and (b) pass a basic Hungarian-language interview at the consulate. The language requirement is the real gate for many diaspora applicants. Hungary permits dual citizenship. Processing ~6–18 months.

If a grandparent was born in Ireland you can register on the Foreign Births Register and become an Irish (and EU) citizen. Beyond grandparent, each generation must register BEFORE the next is born to keep the chain alive. No language, residency, or investment requirement. Processing ~9–12+ months. Ireland allows dual citizenship.

One Jewish grandparent is enough, and the spouse of an eligible person also qualifies. Citizenship is essentially automatic on arrival as an 'oleh' — immigration and citizenship happen in a single step. Requires documentary proof of Jewish ancestry (birth/marriage/community records). A 2025–2026 law adds temporary tax benefits for new/returning immigrants. Excludes those who actively practise another religion.

MAJOR RESTRICTION 2025: Law 74/2025 (the 'Tajani decree', upheld by the Constitutional Court March 2026) ended unlimited descent. Automatic recognition is now limited to those with an Italian parent OR a grandparent born in Italy — the classic great-grandparent claim is largely closed. Cases filed by 27 March 2025 keep the old unlimited rules. 'Pre-1948' cases (female-line before 1948) still need a court petition.

Restoration (not a fresh grant) for descendants of pre-1940 Lithuanian citizens — no language requirement and dual citizenship IS allowed for this restoration route (unlike Lithuanian naturalisation, where dual citizenship is generally barred). The ancestor must have departed before the 15 June 1940 occupation date. Govt fee ~€50; processing ~6–12 months.

Anyone born abroad to at least one Mexican-by-birth parent is a Mexican national by birth — no Spanish test, residency, or investment. Key limit: it passes only ONE generation at a time, so grandchildren must have the parent register their own Mexican nationality first. Registration at a consulate is usually free (~2–6 weeks). Mexico allows dual nationality.

Legally a 'confirmation' that you are already a Polish (EU) citizen — no generational limit if the documentary chain holds. Key pitfall: the ancestor must not have LOST Polish citizenship (e.g. by naturalising abroad or foreign military service before 1951). Ancestors who emigrated before 1920 (pre-independence) are much harder. No language or residence requirement. ~1+ year.

Parent-line descent is automatic. Grandparent/great-grandparent line requires proving genuine ties to the Portuguese community PLUS A2-level Portuguese language and a clean criminal record. The 2024/2026 nationality reforms lowered the disqualifying criminal-sentence threshold to 3 years but did NOT add a residence requirement to the descent route. No residence needed.

Not a zero-residence descent route: citizens of Ibero-American nations can naturalise after just 2 years of legal residence in Spain (vs the standard 10). Requires actually residing in Spain for those 2 years plus basic Spanish-language and civics (DELE A2 + CCSE) exams. Spain permits dual citizenship with these countries. Included as the practical heritage route after the Sephardic law closed.

Two paths. Direct descent works only if the ancestor held Czechoslovak/Slovak citizenship (post-1918). Otherwise the 'Slovak Living Abroad' certificate recognises Slovak origin and, combined with ~3 years of Slovak residence, leads to citizenship — so it is NOT instant citizenship for most diaspora. Pre-1918 emigrants generally need the certificate route.

Relaunched 2024 as a climate-funding CBI. Single-applicant donation from ~$105K (a temporary 'Iruwa' discount to ~$90K ran to mid-2026). Citizenship in ~3–4 months, no residence needed. New program with a smaller (~119 destinations) visa-free footprint and evolving international acceptance — verify current travel access before relying on it.

Fastest CBI — citizenship in as little as 1–2 months for a ~$130K donation. Caveat: the EU suspended visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders (from late 2024/2025) over due-diligence concerns, sharply reducing the passport's travel value. Still no residence requirement. Weigh the reduced visa-free utility.

Cheapest Caribbean CBI: $200K donation to the Economic Diversification Fund, or $200K in approved real estate (3–5 yr hold). Citizenship in ~4–9 months, no residence requirement. Meets the harmonised $200K regional floor. Known for lower fees; enhanced due diligence (mandatory interview) since 2024.

$230K to the National Development Fund (best value for a family of up to 4 — same price covers the family), or $300K real estate, or a $260K University of the West Indies fund option for families of 6+. Requires a 5-day physical visit within the first 5 years. Citizenship in ~4–6 months.

$235K donation to the National Transformation Fund, or $270K approved real estate (5-yr hold). Uniquely, Grenada citizens can apply for the US E-2 treaty-investor visa, making it popular for US-bound entrepreneurs. Also visa-free to China. No residence requirement; ~4–6 month processing.

$240K to the National Economic Fund, or $300K real estate, or government bonds. Newest of the five Caribbean CBIs (2015). Complies with the $200K harmonised floor. No residence requirement; ~4–6 month processing. Visa-free to Schengen and the UK.

Oldest CBI (since 1984). $250K donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution fund, or real estate from $325K (condo/shares, 7-yr hold) / $600K (home). Citizenship in ~4–6 months, no residence or visit required. Part of the 2024 Caribbean pricing accord setting a $200K regional floor. Strong visa-free travel (incl. Schengen).

$250K non-refundable contribution to the state treasury is the fastest route; alternatives are $300K property, $350K business investment, or a $500K bank deposit. Citizenship in ~6–9 months. Grants US E-2 visa eligibility. Modest visa-free travel (~50 destinations) — chosen mainly for E-2 access and a low donation, not passport strength.

$400K in real estate (held 3 years) grants full Turkish citizenship in ~6–12 months — no residency, language test, or minimum stay. Alternatives: $500K bank deposit, fixed capital, or government bonds (also 3-year hold). Lowest-priced tier-1 CBI passport. Turkey allows dual citizenship. Grants a US E-2 treaty-investor visa eligibility.

A US-citizens-only self-employment route under the 1956 treaty: register a Dutch business and keep about €4,500 in its account, and you skip the points test other nationalities face. Family can join and work; five continuous years lead to permanent residency (Dutch citizenship also needs an A2 exam and, for now, renouncing your US passport).

For founders building a real business in France: at least €30,000 of project financing (not necessarily liquid cash), a Master's degree or five years' experience, and personal resources at about the annual minimum wage. The multi-year 'Talent' card runs up to four years, family gets immediate work rights, and a 10-year card is possible after three years.

For nationals of ~50 'friendly' countries. $200K in titled real estate (registered value, mortgage allowed) or a $200K 3-year bank fixed deposit. Since 2021 it is no longer instant PR — you get 2 years provisional residence first, then permanent. Naturalisation possible after ~5 years. Territorial tax system.

Grants immediate permanent residence (no prior provisional stage) for a larger investment: $300K in real estate (rising toward $500K over time), $500K in the Panama stock exchange, or $750K bank deposit. Open to any nationality. Funds must come from abroad. Naturalisation possible after ~5 years.

The direct-investment route: at least €300,000 into the fixed assets of a French company, with a commitment to create or keep jobs. The multi-year 'Talent' card runs up to four years with family included, a 10-year resident card follows after three years, and naturalisation after about five.

$150K in real estate, a registered business, shares, or moveable assets. 2-year temporary residence, renewable; permanent residence after 3 years, and citizenship possible after ~7 years continuous residence. Requires only ~1 visit per year. Popular for lifestyle/retirement.

Three-tier real-estate system since 2024: €250K (only for commercial-to-residential conversions or restoration of listed buildings), €400K (most of Greece), €800K (Attica/Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini). Short-term/Airbnb rental of the property is banned. No minimum-stay requirement; renewable every 5 years.

$375K into an approved real-estate scheme (IRS, RES, PDS, Smart City, etc.) grants residence tied to holding the property. Residence permit is renewable/long-term and leads to permanent residence; naturalisation is possible after ~7 years but discretionary. Low-tax jurisdiction (15% flat).

Relaunched 2024. €250K into units of an approved real-estate investment fund (regulated by the Hungarian National Bank), or a €1M university donation. The direct-property purchase option was announced then postponed. 10-year residence permit, renewable. Investment must be completed within 93 days of first entry.

€300K (+VAT) in new-build residential property, or commercial/company/fund. Requires €50K+ annual foreign income (more for dependents). Cyprus's former citizenship-by-investment 'golden passport' was scrapped in 2020; this is PR only. Naturalisation needs ~8 years actual residence — the fast-track 5-year passport option is gone. Must visit at least once every 2 years to keep PR.

Four options: €250K into an innovative Italian startup, €500K into an Italian company, €2M in government bonds, or €1M philanthropic donation. Pre-approval granted before you invest; 2-year permit renewable for 3 more years, no minimum-stay requirement. Citizenship by naturalisation takes 10 years of residence.

€250K in real estate (Riga or within 30km), plus a ~5% state fee. Cheaper capital routes exist (€50K into a Latvian company + fee, or ~€280K bank subordinated capital). 5-year residence permit, no physical-presence requirement to maintain. Naturalisation requires ~10 years residence and a Latvian-language test.

Real-estate route ABOLISHED in Oct 2023 — no property, no capital transfer, no real-estate-linked funds. Main route now €500K into a qualifying non-real-estate fund; alternatives include €250K cultural/heritage donation, scientific research, or job creation. 2024 nationality-law reforms raised citizenship residency from 5 to potentially 10 years (bill pending); count from residency-card issuance. Only ~7 days/year presence required.