Study Finds Portugal is One of the Easiest Countries to Obtain Citizenship

A recent study conducted by the Canadian immigration agency CanadaCIS has revealed the top ten countries where it is easiest and most difficult to obtain nationality. According to the analysis, Sweden tops the list as the easiest country for non-EU residents to gain citizenship, with an acceptance rate of 9.3%. In addition, Sweden has the highest acceptance rates for both men and women.

Following Sweden, the list of countries that grant citizenship the easiest includes the Netherlands, Portugal, and Iceland, where the acquisition rates exceed one in 25, or four percent. Portugal ranks fourth among 32 European countries for the ease of acquiring citizenship, with a rate of 6.6%, making it one of the easiest countries to obtain nationality.

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However, not everyone agrees with these findings. Commenter Ann D from the USA shared her personal experience, expressing skepticism about Portugal being the easiest country to obtain citizenship. She highlighted her challenges in obtaining citizenship despite being married to a Portuguese and having visited various SEF offices in the country.

On the other hand, the study found that Estonia is the most difficult country to obtain citizenship, with an average percentage of residents obtaining nationality at only 0.6%. This is followed by Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, where less than one percent of third-country residents are granted citizenship.

Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovakia follow as the fifth, sixth, and seventh countries, respectively, where obtaining citizenship is the hardest. Slovenia and Germany are next, with a citizenship acquisition rate of less than two percent.

At the bottom of the list is Denmark, which is the most difficult country to obtain citizenship, with an acquisition rate of just two percent.

These findings provide valuable insights for individuals considering the acquisition of citizenship in these countries, highlighting both the easiest and most difficult paths to citizenship in Europe. Overall, the study sheds light on the varying levels of accessibility to citizenship across different European countries.