Recently, I read about how difficult it is to obtain citizenship in certain countries, and honestly, I was surprised by the level of requirements. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are practically fortresses—minimum 20-30 years of residence, knowledge of Arabic, and sometimes you have to renounce your previous citizenship. But that’s not all.

Japan and Finland seem closer to Europe, but still—5 years is the minimum, plus language tests that are really tough. Switzerland and Austria are also difficult countries for naturalization because they require not only time but also local approval or a B2 level of language proficiency. San Marino and Monaco? There, 30 years is standard, and you cannot hold dual citizenship.

The worst are China and North Korea—citizenship is practically never granted unless you are someone truly exceptional. Liechtenstein and Bhutan have their royal approvals, which add a completely new dimension to what “difficult” means. Even the Holy See—citizenship there is only for clergy and diplomats.

Interestingly, when I look at these requirements, I realize that many countries intentionally make the process difficult to maintain control over immigration. Some of these tough countries are simply strategies to protect national identity. I wonder if anyone even tries in these places or if they just give up right from the start?