Question 1

How long does it take to get Netherlands citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Netherlands naturalization takes 2–21 months on average (about 8.2 months typical). 5 years legal residence of residence is required before applying. The process has 5 steps: Municipality appointment, IND review & approval, Royal Decree (Koninklijk Besluit), Gemeente invitation, Ceremony & passport.

Question 2

How long does it take to get Germany citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Germany naturalization takes 3–30 months on average (about 7.5 months typical). 5 years (reduced from 8 in June 2024; 3-year fast-track rescinded Oct 2025) of residence is required before applying. The process has 4 steps: Application submission, Document review, Background check, Decision & certificate.

Question 3

How long does it take to get France citizenship?

Accepted Answer

France naturalization takes 8–36 months on average (about 16 months typical). 5 years continuous residence of residence is required before applying. The process has 4 steps: Dossier submission at prefecture, Prefecture review, Ministry decision, Decree publication.

Question 4

How long does it take to get Spain citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Spain naturalization takes 8–42 months on average (about 21 months typical). 10 years (2 years for Latin Americans, 1 year for spouses) of residence is required before applying. The process has 3 steps: Application at Civil Registry, Ministry of Justice review, Oath & registration.

Question 5

How long does it take to get Portugal citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Portugal naturalization takes 6–24 months on average (about 12 months typical). 5 years legal residence of residence is required before applying. The process has 4 steps: Application at IRN/Civil Registry, SEF/AIMA background check, Central Registry decision, Certificate issuance.

Question 6

How long does it take to get Ireland citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Ireland naturalization takes 13–36 months on average (about 21 months typical). 5 years (4 reckonable + 1 year continuous) of residence is required before applying. The process has 3 steps: Application submission, Department of Justice review, Citizenship ceremony.

Question 7

How long does it take to get Austria citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Austria naturalization takes 8–36 months on average (about 17 months typical). 10 years (6 years with integration agreement) of residence is required before applying. The process has 4 steps: Application at MA 35 / BH, Document verification, Provincial government decision, Oath & certificate.

Question 8

How long does it take to get Sweden citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Sweden naturalization takes 7–51 months on average (about 19.5 months typical). 8 years from June 2026 (was 5 years). Language + civics tests required. of residence is required before applying. The process has 3 steps: Online application, Migrationsverket review, Decision & certificate.

Country	Residence Req.	Steps	Min	Avg	Max	Speed	Actions
United Kingdom	5 years for ILR (proposed increase to 10 years under 2025 white paper 'earned settlement' system)	3	4 mo	6.5 mo	16 mo	Fast	Full page
Germany	5 years (reduced from 8 in June 2024; 3-year fast-track rescinded Oct 2025)	4	3 mo	7.5 mo	30 mo	Fast	Full page
New Zealand	5 years as permanent resident	3	4 mo	7.5 mo	17 mo	Fast	Full page
Netherlands320+ cases	5 years legal residence	5	2 mo	8.2 mo	21 mo	Fast	Full page
Finland	6 years continuous (increased from 4 in Jan 2026). A2 Finnish/Swedish + 2yr work history required.	3	5 mo	9.5 mo	21 mo	Fast	Full page
Latvia	5 years permanent residence (10 years total legal residence)	4	6 mo	11 mo	22 mo	Moderate	Full page
Australia	4 years (1 year as permanent resident)	4	5 mo	11.5 mo	28 mo	Moderate	Full page
Portugal	5 years legal residence	4	6 mo	12 mo	24 mo	Moderate	Full page
United States	5 years as permanent resident (3 if married to US citizen)	4	5 mo	12 mo	29 mo	Moderate	Full page
Canada	3 years (1095 days) as PR in last 5 years	4	7 mo	14.5 mo	29 mo	Moderate	Full page
Denmark	9 years (reduced to 6 for refugees, 8 for Nordic citizens)	3	8 mo	15 mo	30 mo	Moderate	Full page
France	5 years continuous residence	4	8 mo	16 mo	36 mo	Moderate	Full page
Austria	10 years (6 years with integration agreement)	4	8 mo	17 mo	36 mo	Moderate	Full page
United Arab Emirates	30 years (investors/special talent: 7-20 years)	3	10 mo	19 mo	36 mo	Slow	Full page
Sweden	8 years from June 2026 (was 5 years). Language + civics tests required.	3	7 mo	19.5 mo	51 mo	Slow	Full page
Spain	10 years (2 years for Latin Americans, 1 year for spouses)	3	8 mo	21 mo	42 mo	Slow	Full page
Ireland	5 years (4 reckonable + 1 year continuous)	3	13 mo	21 mo	36 mo	Slow	Full page
Switzerland	10 years (with C permit for at least 5 years)	4	11 mo	21 mo	48 mo	Slow	Full page
Saudi Arabia	10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years)	3	16 mo	25 mo	48 mo	Slow	Full page
Qatar	25 years continuous (children of Qatari mothers: 10 years)	3	16 mo	31 mo	60 mo	Slow	Full page

Country	Residence Req.	Steps	Min	Avg	Max	Speed	Actions
United Kingdom	5 years for ILR (proposed increase to 10 years under 2025 white paper 'earned settlement' system)	3	4 mo	6.5 mo	16 mo	Fast	Full page
Germany	5 years (reduced from 8 in June 2024; 3-year fast-track rescinded Oct 2025)	4	3 mo	7.5 mo	30 mo	Fast	Full page
New Zealand	5 years as permanent resident	3	4 mo	7.5 mo	17 mo	Fast	Full page
Netherlands320+ cases	5 years legal residence	5	2 mo	8.2 mo	21 mo	Fast	Full page
Finland	6 years continuous (increased from 4 in Jan 2026). A2 Finnish/Swedish + 2yr work history required.	3	5 mo	9.5 mo	21 mo	Fast	Full page
Latvia	5 years permanent residence (10 years total legal residence)	4	6 mo	11 mo	22 mo	Moderate	Full page
Australia	4 years (1 year as permanent resident)	4	5 mo	11.5 mo	28 mo	Moderate	Full page
Portugal	5 years legal residence	4	6 mo	12 mo	24 mo	Moderate	Full page
United States	5 years as permanent resident (3 if married to US citizen)	4	5 mo	12 mo	29 mo	Moderate	Full page
Canada	3 years (1095 days) as PR in last 5 years	4	7 mo	14.5 mo	29 mo	Moderate	Full page
Denmark	9 years (reduced to 6 for refugees, 8 for Nordic citizens)	3	8 mo	15 mo	30 mo	Moderate	Full page
France	5 years continuous residence	4	8 mo	16 mo	36 mo	Moderate	Full page
Austria	10 years (6 years with integration agreement)	4	8 mo	17 mo	36 mo	Moderate	Full page
United Arab Emirates	30 years (investors/special talent: 7-20 years)	3	10 mo	19 mo	36 mo	Slow	Full page
Sweden	8 years from June 2026 (was 5 years). Language + civics tests required.	3	7 mo	19.5 mo	51 mo	Slow	Full page
Spain	10 years (2 years for Latin Americans, 1 year for spouses)	3	8 mo	21 mo	42 mo	Slow	Full page
Ireland	5 years (4 reckonable + 1 year continuous)	3	13 mo	21 mo	36 mo	Slow	Full page
Switzerland	10 years (with C permit for at least 5 years)	4	11 mo	21 mo	48 mo	Slow	Full page
Saudi Arabia	10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years)	3	16 mo	25 mo	48 mo	Slow	Full page
Qatar	25 years continuous (children of Qatari mothers: 10 years)	3	16 mo	31 mo	60 mo	Slow	Full page

Naturalization Pipeline Tracker

Average Processing Time

Processing Time Range

All 20 Countries

Select a country to see the deep dive

Naturalization Pipeline Tracker

Average Processing Time

Processing Time Range

All 20 Countries

Select a country to see the deep dive