Expert Advice

A study by the Canadian immigration agency CanadaCIS has identified Portugal as one of the ten easiest countries in the world to obtain citizenship. Key Findings: – Sweden tops the list as the easiest country for non-EU residents to gain citizenship, with an acceptance rate of 9.3%. Women have a slightly higher acceptance rate at 10.02%, compared to 8.66% for men. – The Netherlands, Portugal, and Iceland** follow, making up the second to fifth positions. In these countries, more than 4% of applicants are granted citizenship. Portugal’s Position: – Portugal ranks fourth among 32 European countries for ease of acquiring citizenship, with a success rate of 6.6% for non-EU residents. Public Opinion: – Despite the study’s findings, some individuals, like Ann D from the USA, disagree. Ann shared her experience with The Portugal News, stating that despite being married to a Portuguese citizen for 16 years and having Portuguese-American children, she has struggled to obtain residency, let alone citizenship, despite multiple attempts. Most Difficult Countries: – Estonia is identified as the most challenging country for acquiring nationality, with an acceptance rate of just 0.6%. Men have a lower success rate of 0.58%, while women are slightly higher at 0.69%. – Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania** also have low acceptance rates, all under 1%. – Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Germany** follow, each granting citizenship to less than 2% of applicants. – Denmark is highlighted as the toughest country for citizenship acquisition, with a mere 2% acceptance rate. These findings provide valuable insights into the varying ease of gaining citizenship across different European countries.