Citizenship by marriage: which countries grant it and how many years it takes

Marriage to a citizen speeds up a passport almost everywhere, but in different ways: from 1 year of living in Spain to 4 years of marriage in France. We compared 17 countries: timelines, exams, fees and what happens to your current passport.

In detail

Marriage to a citizen of another country shortens the route to a passport almost everywhere, but in different ways. In Spain a citizen's spouse needs 1 year of living there, in Italy 2 years, and in Portugal, Turkey, Germany and the US 3 years. France requires 4 years of marriage, and Canada does not shorten the timeline at all.

Marriage alone gives a passport nowhere: first the spouse gets a residence permit, lives in the country or stays married for the required period and passes the exams. Below are the timelines for 17 countries and the key condition for each.

Which countries grant citizenship by marriage fastest?

Almost everywhere the period runs not from the wedding but from lawful residence in the country on a residence permit. So the first step for a couple is to get the spouse's card right: it decides when the road to a passport opens.

How do you get Italian citizenship by marriage?

The spouse of an Italian citizen applies for citizenship after 2 years of living in Italy married, or after 1 year with shared children. Italian at threshold level is required, and the application fee is about $280 (250 euros). The card for a citizen's spouse is issued for 5 years, and the visa for such a spouse is free.

For citizenship by marriage the check is stricter than for a residence permit: the marriage must last until the day of the decision, with no divorce or court-ordered separation. A registered partnership gives the same rights as marriage. The country overview is on Italy.

How many years until Portuguese citizenship by marriage?

After 3 years of marriage or a court-recognised de facto union with a Portuguese citizen. Living in Portugal is not required, but a connection to the country must be shown. If the marriage has lasted more than 6 years or the couple has children with Portuguese citizenship, the connection is presumed.

For other foreigners the naturalisation period rose to 10 years of living in the country on 19 May 2026, so marriage saves years here. The fee for citizenship by marriage is about $280 (250 euros). More in Portuguese citizenship.

Why does Spain grant citizenship by marriage after one year?

The Spanish Civil Code cuts the general 10-year period to 1 year of lawful residence for the spouse of a Spanish citizen, if the marriage has lasted at least a year and the couple live together. The Spanish language and civics exams still apply.

The card for a relative of a Spanish citizen is issued for 5 years free of charge, and all government payments for citizenship come to about $370 including the exams. All routes and timelines are in Spanish citizenship.

Where does marriage not shorten the road to a passport?

Canada has no fast track for spouses: you need 1,095 days of living in the country in 5 years, at least 730 of them as a permanent resident. In Czechia a citizen's spouse gets permanent residence faster, after 2 years, but citizenship follows the general rule, after 5 years of permanent residence. In Latvia citizenship comes through general naturalisation after 5 years of permanent residence.

Marriage still helps in these countries: it opens a residence permit with the right to work and leads to permanent status sooner.

Will you keep your current passport?

In many countries from the table, yes. Spouses of citizens of Germany, Portugal, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, France and Poland keep their previous citizenship. In Spain applicants declare renunciation of their previous nationality at the oath, but no proof of loss is required. How this works with two passports is covered in dual citizenship in 2026.

How much does a citizenship by marriage application cost?

On top of the fee come sworn translations, apostilles on certificates and police records, and before citizenship years of residence permit fees. A manager in the chat will calculate Murblz support at every stage.

How is the marriage checked and what should you prepare in advance?

Authorities look at whether the couple live together: a shared address and a shared household. A marriage concluded abroad is often first entered in the spouse's country register: in France, without this a citizen's spouse is not issued a visa. Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation.

We prepare the couple for the check in advance: we collect proof of living together, register the marriage in the right register, apply for the spouse's card and see the case through to the oath. That way the years to a passport start counting from day one, without months lost redoing paperwork.

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