A Roundup of Naturalization Rules & Timelines in the Americas

Sovereign Confidential

Black paper

A key concept for any a robust Plan B is to avoid putting all your eggs in one geographical basket.

And when it comes to diversification, a second passport is your ultimate solution.

There are several distinct ways to obtain a second passport, including participating in the Citizenship by Investment program or qualifying through your European ancestry.

However, naturalization is the most accessible option for everyone (who is willing to spend a few years overseas).

But which country should you choose? How many years will you need to spend living there? And will you need to renounce your original citizenship to be able to naturalize?

To help you answer these questions, we have produced this Black Paper listing all of the naturalization rules and timelines for the Americas.

We are starting with this region intentionally; it is a great place in which to obtain a second passport.

For starters, most countries there boast passports of a very good quality (as travel documents). 

And importantly, since both North and South America are predominantly populated by immigrants and their descendants, many countries still have very favorable immigration laws that started to take shape hundreds of years ago.

You can become eligible for naturalization after living in some of the countries featured in this Black Paper for as little as two years – it doesn't get any faster than this.

The Americas are also incredibly diverse. You will have multiple distinct cultures and geographies to choose from. 

Canada’s Vancouver has very little in common with Mexico City, for example. And Lima, Peru, could not be more different from Buenos Aires, Argentina (apart from both being home to distinct, world-renowned types of cuisine).

Finally, most countries featured in this report also operate on the so-called jus soli principle, granting any child born within a territory automatic citizenship there – which is perhaps the best birthday gift any newborn could receive.

Also, keep in mind that in many cases, you — the parent of a newborn citizen — get preferential treatment during your own naturalization process, too.

Still, it’s critical to weigh the pros and cons of each place you consider. As this Black Paper shows, the devil is in the details. There are many caveats you need to be aware of.

This Black Paper, and the upcoming report on naturalization rules in Europe, will help you make an informed choice. 

And as always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you are interested in any particular country – we have relationships with immigration service providers in most of the countries featured in this report.

A key concept for any a robust Plan B is to avoid putting all your eggs in one geographical basket. And when it comes to diversification, a second passport is your ultimate solution. There are several distinct ways to obtain a second passport, including participating in the Citizenship by Investment program or qualifying through your…

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