How to Get Haiti CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsThe law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Americas
- 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 Haiti, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Haiti for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- The law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences
Oath of renunciation of citizenship of another country required (proof of renunciation is not required).
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Haiti, the rules below set out what this route requires. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has been married to a female citizen for 2 years. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Haiti, subject to the conditions below.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Haiti to a citizen by birth who has never renounced his/her citizenship.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens who have never renounced their citizenship.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a father who is not a citizen and a mother who is a citizen. Declaration must be lodged within one year of reaching the age of majority.
Birth in the country
Birth in Haiti is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below.
Birth in country
Person is born in Haiti to a father who is an alien and of the African race, or, in case of non-recognition, to a mother who is an alien and of the African race.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in Haiti to foreign citizens not belonging to the African race, or to foreign parents themselves born in Haiti and not belonging to the African race, or out of wedlock (and not recognised) to a Haitian father and a foreign mother who is not of the African race. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Haiti, subject to the conditions below. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Person is adopted by a citizen (by declaration within 1 year after reaching the age of majority). Other conditions: renunciation of another citizenship.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Haiti is the basis of this route. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Person is the female spouse of a man who acquires citizenship by naturalisation.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Haiti provides. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Foundlings
Person is born in Haiti to parents who are unknown.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Haiti to parents who are of unknown citizenship.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Haiti, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has rendered important services to Haiti, has special talents that are in the interest of the country, has brought an industry, art or invention to Haiti, or has established an industry or agricultural company. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Public or military service
Public or military service for Haiti is the basis of this route. Haiti grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person has held a civil or military function for 5 years. Unless he/she prefers to retain citizenship of another country.
Not available in Haiti: Child of a new citizen, Former citizens (reacquisition), Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Haiti accepts dual citizenship in both directions.
- New citizens
- The law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Across the Caribbean, 4 of 13 countries ask for 5 years or fewer, and Haiti is one of them.
Compare Haiti with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Antigua and Barbuda | 6 years | None | Accepted |
 Barbados | 6 years | None | Accepted |
 Cuba | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Grenada | 6 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Jamaica | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 The Bahamas | 6 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 12, Nationality law Art. 15, 22.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Haiti Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/haiti/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/haiti/">How to Get Haiti 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 Haitian citizen?
5 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page.
Does Haiti allow dual citizenship?
Yes. The law of Haiti accepts dual citizenship for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Haitian citizenship?
There is no language condition attached to Haitian citizenship.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Haitian citizenship?
There is no civic knowledge requirement for Haitian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Haitian citizenship?
Haiti has a renunciation requirement in law, and the data classes it as nominal. In GLOBALCIT's wording: "nominal requirement without apparent consequences".
Can I get Haiti citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Haiti has a route for spouses. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Haiti citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Haiti by descent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Haiti citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Haiti.
Related pages
Also see: Haiti passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.