How to Get Djibouti CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- 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)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Djibouti, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been habitually resident in Djibouti for at least 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Assimilation demonstrated by one of the languages used in Djibouti,
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person is of good character, no convictions for crime against state security, no convictions for crime against state security, no convictions for various other offences (including related to fraud) and sentenced to more than 6 months imprisonment, not subject to expulsion or house arrest.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Djibouti, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is married to a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period is reduced to 5 years if there are children of the marriage).
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Djibouti. The law of Djibouti confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Djibouti to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Djibouti, the rules below set out what applies. The law of Djibouti confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is the minor child of married parents who are naturalising.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. The law of Djibouti confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is born in Djibouti to unknown parents.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Djibouti. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has rendered or could render important services to Djibouti. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period is reduced to 5 years).
Not available in Djibouti: Birth in the country, Adoption, Other family members of citizens, Former citizens (reacquisition), Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Djibouti for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- 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
The period of 10 years set under the law of Djibouti is also the most common one in Eastern Africa.
Check where Djibouti sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Comoros | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Mozambique | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 South Sudan | 10 years | None | Accepted |
 Uganda | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Zambia | 10 years | None | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 15-21.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Djibouti Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/djibouti/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/djibouti/">How to Get Djibouti 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 a Djiboutian citizen?
A foreign resident needs 10 years of residence to meet the condition for naturalisation in Djibouti. Other conditions also apply.
Does Djibouti allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Djibouti accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Djiboutian citizenship?
Language ability is required for Djiboutian citizenship, though no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Djiboutian citizenship?
Applicants for Djiboutian citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Djiboutian citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Djiboutian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Djibouti citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Djibouti. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Djibouti citizenship by descent?
Yes, Djibouti has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Djibouti citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Djibouti.
Related pages
Also see: Djibouti passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.