How to Get Gabon CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- 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)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Gabon, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Gabon for at least 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required, person may not have criminal convictions.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person does not have a serious physical or mental incapacity not incurred for the benefit of Gabon or a Gabonese citizen.
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Gabon, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship must be granted under the law of Gabon once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person has been married to a Gabonese citizen for at least 3 years. Government may oppose acquisition during the 6 months following the acquisition.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Gabon. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Gabon, without any authority making a decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Gabon to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
For people born in Gabon, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in Gabon to a parent who was also born there or, if born out of wedlock, when the parent whose parentage is first established was also born there.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in Gabon to foreign parents and has been resident for at least 5 consecutive years. Other conditions: declaration within 12 months preceding majority.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Gabon, the rules below set out what applies. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Gabon, without any authority making a decision.
Person is the minor child of a person who is acquiring or re-acquiring citizenship.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Gabon is the basis of this route. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Gabon, without any authority making a decision.
Person is a child adopted by a citizen.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Gabon, the rules below set out what applies. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is the spouse of someone who is acquiring citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement may be waived).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Gabon, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Citizenship must be granted under the law of Gabon once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person lost Gabonese citizenship as a result of a decision made in his or her name while still a child.
Residence during childhood
This route covers people who lived in Gabon during childhood, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship must be granted under the law of Gabon once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person has been received in Gabon before the age of 15 years and brought up by a Gabonese citizen or by the public authorities.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Gabon, without any authority making a decision.
Foundlings
Person is born in Gabon to unknown parents. A newborn infant found in Gabon is presumed born in Gabon until proved otherwise.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Gabon to stateless parents.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Gabon. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has rendered or is capable of rendering exceptional services to Gabon.
Not available in Gabon: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, 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 Gabon 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
Among the 8 countries in Middle Africa with a residence route, 5 years is the most common requirement, and Gabon follows it.
Check where Gabon sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Angola | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Cameroon | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Central African Republic | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Chad | 15 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. 30, 31.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Gabon Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/gabon/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/gabon/">How to Get Gabon 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 Gabonese citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Gabon requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Gabon allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Gabon accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Gabonese citizenship?
A language test is not part of the requirements for Gabonese citizenship.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Gabonese citizenship?
Civic knowledge is not assessed as part of the naturalisation process for Gabonese citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Gabonese citizenship?
No, you do not have to give up your current citizenship to get Gabonese citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Gabon citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Gabon. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Gabon citizenship by descent?
Yes, Gabon has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Gabon citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Gabon.
Related pages
Also see: Gabon passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.