Citizenship by Exception Countries List: Exclusive Nationality Pathways

Citizenship by exception countries are nations that grant nationality outside their standard legal pathways, usually reserved for cases of special merit, state interest, or humanitarian grounds.

Unlike traditional routes such as descent, marriage, or naturalization, these exceptions allow governments to fast-track citizenship on a discretionary basis, often to individuals who make cultural, economic, or political contributions.

This article explores:

• Citizenship by exception meaning
• What are the citizenship by exception countries?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of citizenship by exception?

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What is citizenship by exception?

Citizenship by exception is a legal pathway allowing individuals to acquire nationality outside standard methods like birth, descent, or naturalization.

Instead of following ordinary residency or descent-based rules, governments may grant citizenship in special cases tied to history, national interest, or humanitarian reasons.

Examples of programs that fall under this category include:

• Special legislative grants for stateless persons or long-term residents without legal pathways.
• Honorary or merit-based citizenship awarded to athletes, scientists, or cultural figures who bring international prestige.
• Discretionary presidential or parliamentary decrees where governments grant nationality in cases deemed strategically or symbolically important.

This approach makes citizenship by exception a flexible but rare legal tool, used selectively when national priorities go beyond ordinary immigration rules.

Which countries offer citizenship by exception?

Several countries globally have specific laws or programs that grant citizenship by exception. These programs are often rare and usually target certain descendants, investors, or people with strong national or cultural connections.

Below are the countries that give citizenship by exception. The specific rules that apply in each are provided after.

Citizenship by exception Serbia

Serbia offers citizenship by exception to individuals who have made significant contributions to the country, such as investments or notable achievements in fields like technology, art, and sports.

The approval process involves direct authorization from the president and the Serbian government.

Citizenship by exception UAE

The United Arab Emirates has a citizenship by exception program that allows for the granting of nationality to individuals with exceptional skills, investors, or those who contribute significantly to national development.

Citizenship by exception Poland

Polish citizenship by exception operates under presidential discretion (Article 18 of the Citizenship Act), bypassing normal requirements like residency, language, or investment.

Processing can take over 12 months with no guarantee of approval. Applicants must show exceptional merit, national interest, or strong ties to Poland, making it a discretionary but valuable path to EU citizenship.

Austria citizenship by exception

Austria provides citizenship by exception under Article 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act, which allows naturalization for individuals of extraordinary merit in the fields of science, arts, business, or sports.

Decisions are discretionary and require approval from the Austrian government.

Decisions are discretionary and require approval from the Austrian government.

Australian citizenship by exception

Australia allows exceptions to the residency rule in cases such as special residence (FIFO workers, seafarers, elite athletes), ministerial discretion for those with a close and continuing association to Australia, and Australian Defence Force service.

Children under 16 are assessed mainly on family ties, while long-absent permanent residents may still qualify if strong connections are shown.

Rare cases like statelessness or exceptional hardship can also lead to approval, though these usually require strong legal support.

Bosnia citizenship by exception

Under Article 13 of the Law on Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council of Ministers may grant citizenship by exception to individuals whose naturalization is deemed of special interest to the country.

This allows bypassing standard residency and naturalization requirements in recognition of significant benefit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Belgium citizenship by exception

Belgium offers naturalisation to adults with an unlimited right of residence who can prove exceptional merit in science, sports, or culture, contributing to the country’s international standing.

Stateless individuals may also apply after two years of legal residence.

Estonia citizenship by exception

Under the Estonian Citizenship Act, citizenship may exceptionally be granted or restored to individuals with spent criminal convictions, depending on the circumstances of the offenses and the applicant’s character.

This discretionary clause allows authorities to weigh rehabilitation against standard exclusion rules.

El Salvador citizenship by exception

El Salvador briefly announced a plan in 2024 to grant 5,000 citizenships to highly skilled foreigners as an exceptional measure.

The initiative was short-lived and is not an active pathway today.

France citizenship by exception

Under Article 21-12 of the French Civil Code, France may grant exceptional naturalization to individuals who have rendered distinguished services to the country.

Through the exclusive étranger émérite pathway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can waive standard requirements, though only a handful of cases—about 10–20 annually—are approved.

Georgia citizenship by exception

Georgia citizenship by exception is granted solely by presidential decree, bypassing normal naturalization rules.

Applicants must submit extensive documentation and demonstrate national interest, humanitarian grounds, or exceptional merit, with final approval resting entirely with the President.

German citizenship by exception

Germany allows citizenship by exception through accelerated naturalization after just three years of residence for individuals demonstrating outstanding integration.

This requires C1-level German, full financial independence, and exceptional contributions such as academic excellence, professional achievement, or community service.

This pathway restores German citizenship to families historically wronged, bypassing residency or language requirements.

Greek citizenship by exception

Greece permits citizenship by exception in rare cases where an individual has made exceptional cultural, economic, or social contributions to the country.

This discretionary pathway bypasses standard naturalization requirements but is granted very sparingly.

Hungary citizenship by exception

Hungary’s Citizenship Law empowers the President, on the minister’s recommendation, to waive standard naturalization requirements in exceptional cases.

This discretionary pathway is reserved for applicants with compelling circumstances or significant national ties.

Lithuania citizenship by exception

Lithuania may grant citizenship by exception to stateless persons or foreign nationals of special merit, bypassing normal naturalization requirements.

This pathway recognizes individuals who have notably contributed to Lithuanian society.

Malta citizenship by exception

Under Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act, Malta may grant citizenship for exceptional services in science, research, sports, arts, or business.

Eligible dependants of such individuals may also be included.

New Zealand citizenship by exception

In rare cases, the New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs may grant citizenship to individuals who cannot meet normal requirements due to exceptional circumstances.

These applications undergo longer processing, are reviewed case-by-case, and the Minister has final discretion.

Panama citizenship by exception

Panama grants citizenship by exception to Americans born in the former Panama Canal Zone between 1904 and 1979 under the Citizenship for Zonians program.

Applicants must present a certified birth certificate from the U.S. Department of State, duly apostilled, to qualify.

Qatar citizenship by exception

In rare cases, the Emir of Qatar may grant citizenship to individuals who have provided exceptional services, demonstrated talents in science, arts, or sports, or contributed specialized expertise vital to the nation’s development.

This discretionary pathway is highly limited and granted only under exceptional circumstances.

Slovakia citizenship by exception

Since 2015, Slovakia permits former citizens who lost their nationality to regain it under special exceptions regulated by the Ministry of Interior, bypassing standard naturalization rules.

Easiest and hardest countries to get citizenship by exception

Easiest countries for citizenship by exception often provide clear legal frameworks or diaspora-focused programs:

• Poland – Presidential discretion (Article 18) makes it one of the more accessible EU options, especially for applicants with strong ties or recognized merit.
• Hungary – The President, upon ministerial recommendation, can exempt applicants from normal requirements in rare but clear cases of compelling national ties or exceptional contributions.
• Slovakia – Since 2015, former citizens can regain nationality under special exceptions from the Ministry of Interior.
• Lithuania – Grants citizenship by exception to stateless persons or individuals of special merit, making it one of the few that openly recognizes humanitarian and merit-based claims.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Council of Ministers can approve citizenship for individuals deemed of special interest to the country, which is broader than most EU states.

Hardest countries for citizenship by exception generally grant it only in rare or symbolic cases:

• Austria – Article 10(6) allows naturalization only for individuals of extraordinary global merit in science, arts, business, or sports; approvals are extremely rare.
• France – Only about 10–20 exceptional cases are approved annually, making it highly restrictive despite having a formal legal basis.
• UAE – Citizenship requires nomination by royals or top officials and is granted only to a handful of globally recognized contributors.
• Qatar – The Emir may grant citizenship, but only under exceptional and rare circumstances.
• Belgium – Exceptional merit cases are narrowly defined (science, sports, culture) and require long-standing residence or statelessness, making it one of the most restrictive in Western Europe.

In short, the ease or difficulty of obtaining citizenship by exception depends on whether a country treats it as a structured legal route (common in parts of Eastern Europe and Latin America) or as a rare privilege granted in extraordinary cases (typical in small or restrictive states).

What are the merits and demerits of citizenship by exception?

In essence, citizenship by exception is highly prestigious but extremely exclusive.

Merits:

• Prestige and recognition – Being granted citizenship by exception is often a recognition of outstanding talent, achievement, or contribution, adding to one’s global reputation.
• Access to rights and privileges – Recipients gain the same rights as natural-born citizens, including residence, work, property ownership, and political participation, depending on the country’s laws.
• Expedited process – Unlike standard naturalization, which may require years of residency, this pathway can significantly shorten the timeline to citizenship.
• Contribution-based acceptance – It rewards individuals who have made notable contributions in fields such as science, culture, sports, or the economy, allowing them to integrate into societies where their expertise is highly valued.

Demerits:

• Restricted availability – Only a handful of countries offer citizenship by exception, and even then, it is rarely granted.
• Unclear or opaque processes – The requirements are often discretionary, with decisions made by top government officials, making the outcome uncertain.
• Potential revocation risk – Since it is based on exceptional contributions or state interests, citizenship may sometimes be withdrawn if conditions are no longer met or if political circumstances change.
• Limited accessibility – Unlike citizenship by investment, there is no structured application system; one must usually be nominated or invited by state authorities.

It is best suited for individuals who are already recognized internationally in their fields or who can provide significant value to the granting country.

Conclusion

Citizenship by exception remains one of the rarest and most exclusive pathways to nationality.

Unlike investment or residency-based programs, it is highly discretionary and typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary merit, historic ties, or national importance.

For most people, it is not a practical route, but for the few who qualify, it offers both prestige and accelerated access to rights and opportunities that would otherwise take years to obtain.

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