YOUR FREEDOM / ACROSS BORDERS
5 BEST
PASSPORTS.
A second passport.
More places to call home.
Five citizenships worth working towards if you want the freedom to build a life somewhere else. Ranked by the rights they unlock, the route in and the commitment involved.
Explore the shortlistTHE PASSPORT LEADERBOARD
Open a passport to see why it ranks, how to qualify and what could change your decision.
01
IrelandBest overall · EU + UK access5 years’ residenceCURRENT RULES · CHANGES PROPOSED
Our first choice for the combination of EU freedom of movement and the right to live and work in the UK.
WHY IT IS #1
Irish citizenship opens a broad range of places to build a life. It brings EU movement rights and, through the Common Travel Area, residence and work rights in the UK. Ireland also allows dual citizenship.
The route requires a genuine Irish home. It ranks ahead of Germany because of the additional UK rights and the absence of a general language-test requirement in Ireland’s published naturalisation criteria.
HOW YOU GET THERE
- Secure a qualifying right to live in Ireland. For many non-EEA applicants this means a suitable work, family or other residence permission. Student Stamp 2 time does not count. British citizens already have CTA residence rights.
- Build five years of reckonable residence in the previous nine, including the final continuous year. Absence limits apply.
- Meet character and other requirements, apply for naturalisation and complete the citizenship process. You must intend to continue living in Ireland.
- ORDINARY ADULT FEES
- €1,125 €175 application + €950 certificate
- DUAL CITIZENSHIP
- Allowed by Ireland Check your existing nationality
- CHECK YOUR FAMILY TREE
- Irish-born grandparent? A separate descent route may apply
The trade-off: this is a commitment to life in Ireland, not five years on paper followed by a pre-planned exit. If you later live abroad after naturalisation, check the annual declaration of intention to retain citizenship. EU residence elsewhere also has conditions; a passport does not remove registration or support requirements.
Changes proposed: Ireland’s September 2026 proposals would increase ordinary qualifying residence to eight years and introduce language, civics and financial requirements. These are proposals, rather than the current rules, at our research date. Check their progress before planning around five years.
02
GermanyA strong route to an EU future5 years’ residenceLAWFUL & HABITUAL
A strong European choice if you can establish a life in Germany and commit to learning the language.
WHY IT IS #2
German citizenship gives EU movement rights and Germany now permits multiple nationality. Its standard five-year naturalisation period makes it a compelling option for someone who qualifies for residence and wants a long-term European base.
It sits below Ireland in this general shortlist because it does not add Ireland’s special UK rights, and requires B1 German. If Germany is where your work, language skills or family ties fit best, it could be your first choice.
HOW YOU GET THERE
- Obtain an appropriate residence route, such as skilled employment or qualifying self-employment. A business route requires a credible financed plan and economic benefit; simply owning a company is insufficient.
- Complete five years of lawful habitual residence. At application you need permanent residence rights or an eligible residence permit; a student permit alone is insufficient.
- Meet B1 German, citizenship knowledge, identity, character and financial-support requirements, with statutory exceptions where applicable.
- ADULT APPLICATION FEE
- €255 Tests and documents extra
- LANGUAGE
- B1 German Plus citizenship knowledge
- DUAL CITIZENSHIP
- Allowed by Germany Check your existing nationality
The trade-off: you must qualify for residence, support yourself and integrate. The former three-year exceptional-integration shortcut was abolished in October 2025. Five years is a threshold to apply, with processing still to follow.
03
AustraliaBest for Australia + New Zealand4 years’ residenceFINAL YEAR AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT
Two substantial places to build a life, with a shorter ordinary residence requirement than New Zealand’s.
WHY IT IS #3
Australian citizenship secures your Australian home and opens a practical New Zealand option. Australian citizens who meet entry and character requirements can obtain a New Zealand resident visa on arrival, allowing them to live, work and study there indefinitely.
That additional relocation option puts it ahead of Canada in our general ranking. Australia allows dual citizenship, subject to the rules of your other country.
HOW YOU GET THERE
- Qualify for a visa and ultimately permanent residence. Skilled, employer-sponsored and family routes have their own conditions; wealth alone is not enough.
- Usually live in Australia on a valid visa for four years immediately before applying, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Total absences must normally be no more than 12 months, including no more than 90 days in the final year.
- Meet character and other requirements. Most applicants aged 18–59 take a test covering basic English and citizenship knowledge. You must intend to live in Australia or maintain a lasting connection.
- GENERAL ADULT APPLICATION
- AUD595 Includes the citizenship test
- ADDITIONAL HOME OPTION
- New Zealand Entry and character conditions apply
- DUAL CITIZENSHIP
- Allowed by Australia Check your existing nationality
The trade-off: immigration eligibility is the main hurdle. For example, the points-tested Skilled Independent route normally requires an invitation before age 45. The old Business Innovation visa closed to new applications in 2024; the National Innovation visa is selective and invitation-only.
04
CanadaBest for a North American home1,095 qualifying daysWITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS
A comparatively short citizenship presence threshold, once you have overcome the permanent-residence hurdle.
WHY IT IS #4
Canada offers citizenship with protected rights to live and seek work across the country. Its ordinary presence requirement is attractive for someone ready to make Canada their home, and dual citizenship is permitted.
It ranks below Australia here because it adds fewer automatic relocation options abroad. A Canadian passport does not give a general right to live or work in the United States. Conditional US work categories are separate applications.
HOW YOU GET THERE
- Obtain and hold permanent-resident status. Express Entry is one skilled-worker route; entering its pool does not guarantee an invitation.
- Accumulate 1,095 qualifying days in the preceding five years, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Earlier eligible temporary-resident or protected-person days count at half rate, up to 365 days of credit.
- Meet tax-filing obligations for at least three years within those five years, if required. Applicants aged 18–54 normally need English or French at CLB/NCLC 4 and a citizenship test. Character checks and the oath also apply.
- ORDINARY ADULT FEES
- CAD653 Processing + right of citizenship
- FIRST REQUIREMENT
- Permanent residence A separate immigration process
- DUAL CITIZENSHIP
- Allowed by Canada Check your existing nationality
The trade-off: 1,095 days is not a promise of citizenship three years after deciding to move. Residence eligibility, time before obtaining permanent status and processing all matter. Canada’s federal Start-Up Visa programme is currently paused for new applications.
05
GrenadaOur investment-route pickUS$235,000 + feesMINIMUM NTF CONTRIBUTION
A different route to a second citizenship for someone with substantial capital and a genuine interest in a Caribbean base.
WHY IT IS #5
Grenada has a published citizenship-by-investment route and permits dual citizenship. It offers a route to citizenship without first completing the multi-year naturalisation periods shown above, subject to the programme’s current conditions.
Among the established Eastern Caribbean investment programmes, Grenada is our pick for its conditional US E-2 option, particularly if your existing nationality does not already qualify. It ranks fifth because of the capital commitment and narrower relocation rights. Short-stay travel access is not permission to settle abroad.
HOW YOU GET THERE
- Check your nationality and residence eligibility, then use an authorised agent. Programme exclusions and source-of-funds checks apply.
- The National Transformation Fund route starts at a non-refundable US$235,000 contribution, with additional government, due-diligence, interview and agent fees. This is not an all-in price.
- Complete background checks, the required interview and approval process. Verify residence, biometric and transitional conditions before committing funds; approval and timing are not guaranteed.
- CONTRIBUTION FLOOR
- US$235,000 Non-refundable; fees extra
- ROUTE
- Citizenship by investment Nationality exclusions apply
- DUAL CITIZENSHIP
- Allowed by Grenada Check your existing nationality
Two important catches: Grenada deferred new regional residence requirements in August 2026; their implementation must be checked before applying. Its US E-2 treaty link is also conditional: applicants relying on citizenship acquired through financial investment who have not previously been granted E status must have completed at least three continuous years of domicile in that treaty country before applying, plus a qualifying US business investment and visa approval. E-2 is not a green card.
Residence figures are ordinary eligibility thresholds, not delivery times. Immigration permission, citizenship processing, ceremonies and the passport application may add time. Government fees shown exclude residence visas, passports, tests, documents, advice and living costs unless stated.
THE REASONING BEHIND THE RANKING
THE BEST PASSPORT
HAS TO FIT YOUR LIFE.
Your starting point matters. These five are an editorial shortlist for a genuine second citizenship, with different routes and different commitments.
How we ranked the five
We prioritised lasting rights to live and work, then the route to obtaining citizenship, permission to hold another nationality, and the time, language and financial commitment involved. The order is Exit Plan’s judgment, not an official index or a numerical score.
Ireland and Germany lead for EU options. Ireland adds UK rights. Australia adds a conditional New Zealand residence route. Canada has an attractive presence threshold for eligible permanent residents. Grenada provides an investment alternative, with a very different budget and narrower residence benefits.
There is no assumed home nationality, ancestry, spouse, existing visa or unlimited budget. We compare ordinary adult routes, with selective exceptions highlighted. We do not rank by tourist visa-free totals, taxes, property prices or a claim that one country suits every family.
Your nationality or ancestry could change the order
Start with citizenship you may already hold or qualify for by descent. For example, an Irish-born grandparent may open a Foreign Births Registration route. Documentary evidence and the precise family chain matter. Irish descent rules ↗
Spain may move much higher for some readers. Its ordinary ten-year residence period falls to two years for qualifying nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and for people of Sephardic origin. Other requirements still apply. Spain’s residence exceptions ↗
All five shortlisted countries permit dual citizenship in the routes discussed, but your existing country may not. Check nationality loss, any renunciation requirements, military or civic obligations, and restrictions linked to nationality, sanctions or residence. A route available to one person may be closed to another.
Why Portugal, France and New Zealand did not make the five
Portugal: old five-year citizenship headlines are out of date for new ordinary applications. The enacted May 2026 reform generally requires ten years’ legal residence, or seven for EU and Portuguese-language-country nationals. Transitional rules protect certain already-pending applications. It may still suit your life, but the longer standard route lowers it in this shortlist. 2026 nationality law ↗ · Current government guidance ↗
France: a strong EU alternative, generally after five years. In 2026 the ordinary route requires B2 French and a civic examination, alongside other conditions. If you speak French and can establish residence, it could rank above Germany for you. Naturalisation ↗ · Language requirement ↗ · Civic examination ↗
New Zealand: a close alternative to Australia. Its ordinary citizenship route requires five years as a resident, with at least 1,350 days in total and 240 in each year. Australia has a shorter ordinary residence threshold and gives its citizens a conditional New Zealand residence option. If New Zealand residence is easier for you to obtain, that may reverse our order. New Zealand presence rules ↗
Residence rights, travel access and tax are different
A visitor entry waiver normally permits a short stay for specified purposes. It does not give a general right to work or settle. Citizenship secures rights in your new home country; rights elsewhere depend on treaties and local conditions.
EU citizens can live and work in other EU countries under free-movement rules. Longer stays can involve registration; people who are not working may need sufficient resources and health insurance. EU residence conditions ↗
A second passport does not by itself end your tax obligations. Check tax residence, continuing home-country rules and the treatment of your business before moving. For example, the UK applies residence tests to foreign income. UK tax-residence example ↗
These are routes to plan towards. You usually need permission to relocate before citizenship, so a passport application is rarely the first step in an urgent move.
Research, fees and the limits of this guide
Official immigration, government and legislative sources were checked on 17 October 2026. Links sit inside each country’s explanation so you can read the rules behind the recommendation. Fees stay in their original currencies to avoid an undated exchange-rate comparison.
Citizenship fees and Grenada’s investment contribution are different kinds of cost. Neither captures the total cost of moving. Family applications, professional advice, documents, travel, tests, housing and the cost of maintaining residence require a separate budget.
Immigration laws, programme availability, fees and diplomatic arrangements can change. This page is a dated research guide, not an automatic eligibility check or a promise of approval. Confirm the current route and your individual circumstances with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser before acting. It does not update automatically.
Your starting point
Nationality, ancestry, family, work and budget.
Your route to move
Secure the right residence or investment route.
Your new citizenship
Meet the conditions and complete the process.
Your second passport
Get the travel document after citizenship is granted.