- 1). Qualify for citizenship, either by birthright or naturalization. Most--not all--countries hold that if you are born to at least one of their citizens outside of the country, then you are rightfully a citizen by birth. In some countries, you can even claim birthright from several generations back (such as a great-grandparent). Naturalization occurs after a designated period of legal residency in a country. Most countries set the time period at five years of residency. The United States, and many other countries, allow spouses of citizens to naturalize after only three years of residency. However, every single country sets its own policies. Verify the the qualifications for the specific country of interest through their state department.
- 2). Verify the rights of dual citizenship. While the United States allows its citizens to hold a dual citizenship with any nation for which they qualify, there are some nations that prohibit dual citizenship. Some countries require the denouncement of all previous allegiances before granting citizenship. It is possible that in order to gain citizenship of a certain country, you would have to give up your U.S. citizenship. Know the citizenship policies thoroughly before applying for a second citizenship. It is impossible to lose U.S. citizenship, except through verbal denouncement in front of a U.S. foreign consul. You can never accidentally lose your U.S. citizenship.
- 3). Apply for citizenship. Most countries require a formal application form and supporting documents, such as birth certificates, visas, passports, marriage certificates, passport photos, and any other form of identification that applies to the specific country. Again, application requirements vary by country.
- 4). Sit through an interview and/or exam. The majority of countries require an interview before they will grant citizenship. It is common to take an exam on both the national language of the country and civics. Countries primarily require exams only for naturalized citizens and not birthright citizens. Some countries do not require exams at all.
- 5). Take the oath of citizenship. All countries have some form of oath or flag swearing as the formal citizenship ceremony. Usually a certificate of citizenship is presented at such a ceremony.
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