O. R. SalahudeenThinking of settling down in one of those countries you used to dream about, and you’re finding it difficult on how to live and work in that country legally, relax and let me tell you about 15 countries that grant citizenship by marriage, you have the freedom of choosing one of them by simply being in a genuine love relationship with one of their citizen. By doing so you’ve killed two birds with one stone. The choice is definitely yours.
Although it’s not encouraged and acceptable to go for a marriage of convenience but having a second passport or being a citizen of a country that allows dual citizenship is the smartest way of travelling the world for those that love the adventure especially business travellers.
15 COUNTRIES THAT GRANT CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE
1. THE NETHERLANDS
This beautiful Central European country popularly called Holland that is a dream to live and work forever allows citizenship by marriage.
It is a well-known fact that if you’re residing anywhere in the Netherlands you may not want to leave, due to friendly and civilized people you encountered in your daily interactions.
If you’re living and working in The Netherlands qualifications in obtaining the country’s citizenship normally take a period of 5 years minimum. However, the rules are relaxed if you married a Netherlands citizen.
If you live with your lover for a continuous period of 3 years you’re automatically qualified to apply for citizenship. If you married a Netherlands citizen it doesn’t matter if you live or stay outside the country, as long as you stay together with your spouse during the period you’re qualified to apply.
2. GERMANY
Arguably, the most sought after country for relocation by young people focusing on Europe. Everyone wants to get there and stay but the immigration system is somehow very strict. The best way for a person yet to marry or divorces is to pay a visit to Germany and search for a lovely German person, make a proposal and you’re on your way to become a German citizen due to the facts that German law permit citizenship by marriage.
Part of the hurdle you have to scale after marriage is to be serious in learning German which is an important requirement for citizenship, and reside legally in Germany with your wife for a period of 3 years, then placed in your application for citizenship.
There is a system in place for you to enrol for German for free, to cap it all, you will be receiving monetary allowance while learning the language.
3. COLOMBIA
A country located in northwestern South America. Statistically, Colombia is the 28th most populous country in the world. In Latin America after Brazil, Colombia is the best place lovers can achieve their dream because Colombia allows citizenship by marriage with a friendly processing system.
Achieving citizenship by living and working or the investment option may take a period of 5 to 10 years to process, however, if you married a Colombian you can achieve the citizenship in just 2 years of marriage and staying in Colombia.
The icy on the cake is that you’re free to travel to many countries of the world visa-free. After many years of civil conflict, Colombia is now peaceful and a place for lovers.
4. BELIZE
Belize is an English-speaking country situated in North Central America on the Caribbean coast. A small country that pegged her currency to the United States dollars, is a place where people searching for love want to go due to the facts that Belize allows citizenship by marriage with a powerful passport that enables the holder visa-free entry to many attractive countries.
Under normal circumstances, a foreigner must live in Belize for at least 5 years to apply for permanent resident and acquire citizenship. However, if you’re lucky to be married to a Belize citizen you’re free to apply for citizenship after staying for a year because your marriage to a Belize citizen is automatic to give you residency status.
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5. UKRAINE
A former Soviet Socialist Republic territory, Ukraine is a large country located in Eastern Europe, is a country that recognised citizenship by marriage. If you are able to marry a Ukrainian and you’re being staying together for more than 2 years you are free to apply for citizenship.
Citizenship by marriage in Ukraine is so popular that it’s possible to search for semi-legal entities specialized in matchmaking and connecting guys with potential partners provided you can pay for the service.
The only disadvantage in the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship is that she doesn’t allow dual citizenship. On the other hand, as a Ukrainian passport holder, you have the freedom of travelling to many countries visa-free.
6. BRAZIL
The largest country in South America and the fifth-largest nation in the world offers you the fast way to citizenship as a foreigner if you are legally married to a Brazilian citizen. Unlike many other countries in which you spent years in the qualification processes, in Brazil if you’re married to a Brazilian you could be granted citizenship within one year of your love relationship.
This is far better and faster than the investment and permanent resident options which enables the foreigner to apply after 4 years of uninterrupted residency, having a spouse qualifies you citizenship one year of continuous staying in Brazil.
7. MEXICO
A country located in North America, neighbouring United States, Guatemala and Belize, is a place where having a Mexican citizen as the spouse is a huge advantage.
Foremost, you’re qualified to apply for citizenship after two years of staying with your wife or husband in Mexico.
Secondly, you’re qualified for Mexican Passport which enables you visa-free entry into more than 134 countries. What are you waiting for?
8. SPAIN
A country located on the Iberian peninsula, neighbouring Morocco, Gibraltar, Portugal, Andorra and France in southwestern Europe is one of a progressive country that allows a foreigner who fell in love and married Spanish citizen to become a naturalized citizen.
The quickest way to become a Spanish is citizenship by marriage. If you married one of their own, reside and pay your tax for just one year, you’re automatically qualified to apply for citizenship which under normal circumstances can take four years or more to mature. Speaking Spanish is not a prerequisite but love. Nice one.
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9. MALTA
This island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, South of Sicily, Italy and a member of the European Union is another country that allows citizenship by marriage. A few years back precisely around the year 2000, as soon as you engaged or married a Maltese you’re qualified to apply for citizenship, however, due to fraudulent practices by some people and the high demand for Maltese citizenship, currently, if you’re qualified to apply you must wait for at least five years before placing in your application for Maltese citizenship.
The citizenship by marriage could be processed by presenting ( the 2 parties)
1. Marriage certificate
2. Birth certificate
3. Identity card
4. Date and place or registry office where the wedding was performed.
5. Name of the presiding officer.
6. Name of witnesses to the wedding.
10. CAPE VERDE
This island country off the coast of West Africa presents a lover that married her citizen one of the fastest citizenship in the world.
As soon as you married, you are free to apply for citizenship and you are qualified for one of the most powerful passports in the world, you’re free to travel and enter very many countries you’ve been dreaming about for so long without the need to obtain a visa to enter.
The normal application for citizenship commences after 5 years of being a legal resident of Cape Verde, however, if you are able to find someone to marry in this small island country you can apply immediately. Search and find love is all need. How you go about it, the task is yours.
11. PORTUGAL
A South Western European country located on the Atlantic Coast of the Iberian peninsula and a member of the European Union is a country where citizenship by marriage is practised and fast-tracked.
In normal circumstances acquiring Portuguese citizenship take a long time and procedures. A legally resident foreigner need to live in the country for six years, but if you are in love with a Portuguese and you married the person you can commence the citizenship application immediately. What are you waiting for, proceed to Portugal and search for a genuine love you’re on your way to be a member of the European Union.
12. SWITZERLAND
A landlocked and mountainous country situated in South-Central Europe. This advanced society is another country that allows citizenship by marriage.
If you don’t mind the cost of living in Switzerland which is higher than most developed countries, go there and be in love and marry a Swiss citizen you will benefit from a simplified naturalization system.
Processing a Switzerland citizenship through working or residence permit could be very boring and take a longer time, however, citizenship by marriage required a minimum of five years.
You’re qualified if you have been living legally for five years and married a Switzerland citizen for 3 years.
Unlike in some nearby countries where understanding the language is a basic prerequisite, in Switzerland love is all you need to be a Swiss citizen, not the language for a Swiss spouse.
STILL ON, 15 COUNTRIES THAT GRANT CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE
13. FIJI
This large island country situated in the continent of Oceania, precisely in the South Pacific Ocean allows citizenship by marriage.
If you’re in love and married to a Fijian you’re free to apply for citizenship. On condition that you have legally lived in the country for 3 years and you have married for five years.
If you want a second passport that empowers you to travel visa-free and has easy entry into those important countries of the world, go to Fiji Islands and be in love with a Fijian, settle down, in no time you’re on your way to a good life, and free to explore the world visa free entry.
14. GHANA
This country located on the west coast of Africa allows citizenship by marriage. If you’re genuinely in love with a Ghanaian, married the person and living legally in Ghana you can apply for citizenship.
While the normal application for citizenship may be longer to get approval, citizenship by marriage is faster, a spouse of Ghanaian citizen can start the application process after a few years of marriage. The fastest way to be a Ghanaian is to marry a Ghanaian citizen. You better go for it. The icy on the cake is that you have no language difficulty in that most Ghanaian citizens do speak and understand English, even in rural areas.
15. CAMBODIA
A coaster country located in South East Asia allows citizenship by marriage. In normal circumstances acquiring Cambodia citizenship is very complicated and take a long time. However, for someone in love and married a Cambodian citizen the qualification years is drastically reduced.
If you’re living and working in Cambodia legally, you have to wait for at least seven years and pass a language proficiency test before placing in your application for citizenship. But for a loving person, you only need 3 years to qualified for application for citizenship. Lucky you. Cambodia is waiting for you lover guys.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Above are the countries we can tell you now, many other countries such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK, USA, Serbia, Poland, India, etcetera do permit citizenship by marriage on various conditions, their discussions will come in due course. We have them on this follow-up write-up: Countries That Allow Conditional Citizenship By Marriage
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