How to Get Angola CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Angola, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Angola allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been resident in Angola for 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person has sufficient knowledge of Portuguese as proved in an exam.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person has effective link to national community proved by exam, adequate knowledge of rights and duties under the constitution.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person is not convicted of crime punishable by more than 3 years in prison.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person is able to govern him/herself and secure subsistence (evidenced by regular tax payment in previous 3 years).
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Angola, the rules below set out what this route requires. Angola requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Person has been the spouse or legally recognised partner of a citizen for 5 years, with common household. Other conditions: required to be adult, show integration in Angolan society, and no conviction of crime. Grounds for opposition: lack of effective ties to the national community, conviction in final instance for crime punishable with prison sentence of 3 years or more or for crime against the security of the state.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Angola, subject to the conditions below. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Angola.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Angola to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Angola is the basis of this route. Angola allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is without legal capacity and either parent acquires citizenship. Person has to submit a separate request and provide proof that one of the parents has acquired Angolan citizenship. Grounds for opposition: lack of effective ties to the national community, conviction in final instance for crime punishable with prison sentence of 3 years or more or for crime against the security of the state.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Angola, subject to the conditions below. Angola requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen. Other conditions: if person is over 14, s/he must demonstrate willingness to become a citizen. Grounds for opposition: lack of effective ties to the national community, conviction in final instance for crime punishable with prison sentence of 3 years or more or for crime against the security of the state.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Angola is the basis of this route. Angola allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is a former citizen who renounced citizenship or who lost it because s/he worked for a foreign state. Grounds for opposition: lack of effective ties to the national community, conviction in final instance for crime punishable with prison sentence of 3 years or more or for crime against the security of the state, exercise of sovereign functions for a foreign state, except if authorised by the Parliament, rendering of military service to a foreign state, attempt to reacquire citizenship for a second time.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Angola provides.
Foundlings
Person is found in Angolan territory as a newborn child.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in territory and does not possess any other citizenship, or person is born in territory of parents who are stateless or of unknown citizenship.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Angola, subject to the conditions below. Angola allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person has rendered services to the country or has exceptional professional, scientific or artistic qualifications. Other conditions: National Assembly grants after debate on request of at least 15 deputies.
Person has rendered relevant services to the state. Other conditions: president grants on basis conditions provided under the rules for ordinary naturalisation, except that residence period, financial requirements, and knowledge of Portuguese may be waived.
Not available in Angola: Birth in the country, Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Angola accepts dual citizenship in both directions.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Among the 8 countries in Middle Africa with a residence route, the most common requirement is 5 years, below the 10 years set by Angola.
Compare Angola with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cameroon | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Central African Republic | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Chad | 15 years | None | Accepted |
 Gabon | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Republic of the Congo | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Sao Tome and Principe | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 14, 19.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Angola Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/angola/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/angola/">How to Get Angola Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Angolan citizen?
10 years of residence is required for ordinary naturalisation in Angola, plus further conditions.
Does Angola allow dual citizenship?
Yes. The law of Angola accepts dual citizenship for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Angolan citizenship?
A language test or certificate forms part of the requirements for Angolan citizenship.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Angolan citizenship?
Applicants must pass a civic knowledge test or present a certificate for Angolan citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Angolan citizenship?
Angola does not require you to give up your current citizenship for Angolan citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Angola citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Angola has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Angola citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Angola by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Angola citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Angola.
Related pages
Also see: Angola passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.