Getting permanent residency status or Nationalities in a foreign country can seem like a good idea. For a variety of reasons, many people no longer want to live in the country where they were born or whose passport they hold. However, it’s not always easy to do so. Various circumstances can cause difficulty, making citizenship acquisition a complex and time-consuming procedure. However immigration procedures are complex, it’s impossible to definitively rank countries by difficulty of obtaining residency or citizenship. That being said, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Switzerland are among those nations that make it especially difficult for foreigners to become permanent residents or citizens.
These are some of the factors that lead to these countries being among the most difficult to get citizenship :
- Language Proficiency
- Cultural Factors
- Religious Factors
1. Qatar
According to Law No 2 of the 1961 Qatari Nationality residents of Qatar who have been resident in the country since before 1930 and who have maintained regular legal residence in the country until the enforcement date of this Law. The residence of the ascendants shall be complementary to the residence of the descendants. One of the best economy based around natural gas and a small native population, Qatar guards its citizenship with extreme care. However to become a Qatari citizen as a foreigner, one must reside in the country continuously for a staggering 25 years. Proficiency in Arabic, a clean conduct record, and proof of adequate financial resources to sustain oneself are prerequisites. Moreover, Qatar is one of the most challenging citizenship countries because to get Nationality it is necessary to convert to Islam if you are not already a Muslim.
2. Saudi Arabia
According to Saudi Nationality Law a Person is a Saudi if they are born to a Saudi father inside or outside of the Kingdom. The Law was issued on 1954 September 22 during the reign of King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. However The oil-rich state of Saudi Arabia is home to Mecca and Medina, the most important locations in the Islamic world. To get Nationality you must have lived there for at least 10 years before applying. The ability to read, write, and speak fluent Arabic is another Compulsory and tough requirement.
Moreover a person must have a clean criminal record and be “generally considered moral” – whatever that means. The minister of the interior has the final decision over whether to approve a citizenship application. Furthermore, their is a another tough compulsion that Saudi Arabia doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, so you’d have to give up your original passport to acquire a Saudi Citizenship.
3. United Arab Emirates
As we see difficulty in getting Nationality is mostly in Middle East . We don’t know why they don’t allow it but Residency laws are also strict in United Arab emirates. Moreover, In January 2021 UAE Government approved amendement on Citizenship. In the amendment they nominate different categories for the citizenship.
- Doctors
- Investors
- Specialists
- Scientists
- Inventors
- Individuals with Creative Talents
- Intellectuals
Furthermore, you’ll have to live there for at least 30 years before the UAE will consider your application for naturalization. But there’s an exception for citizens of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, all of whom can apply after just three years of residency. However, Citizens of other Arab countries can apply after seven years in the UAE.
4. Japan
Japan holds one of the most powerful passports in the world and allowing citizens to tavel 293 countries visa free. But how can a foreigner acquire Japanese citizenship through naturalization? Is it even possible? According to Japan’s s nationality law, a foreigner must have been domiciled in Japan for almost consecutively five years, receive permission from the Justice Minister, and complete a large amount of paperwork, much of which includes questions related to the personal lives of applicants, before applying for citizenship. However the whole process can take between six to 12 months, although those who have gone through it have reported that it can take years.9 If approved, applicants must be ready to renounce citizenship in other countries.
5. Switzerland
To obtain a settlement or a permanent residence visa, you must have lived in the country for at least five years, sometimes more depending on the circumstances. Moreover, If you’re not already a citizen of the EU or EEA, you’ll need a ‘C residence permit’ to live and work in Switzerland.
You’ll also need to speak one of Switzerland’s national languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh) to B2 level and write it to A2 level.
State Secretariat for Migration SEM. “C EU/EFTA permit (Settled foreign nationals).” If you qualify for permanent residency by the length of time you have lived in the country, you also qualify to apply for citizenship. However, this is not guaranteed; applicants for citizenship must also prove they have been assimilated into Swiss society and do not pose a threat to security. Having a Swiss passport could be well worth the effort, especially in an increasingly dangerous world. Switzerland is consistently ranked one of the safest countries in the world.