How to Get Solomon Islands CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- 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
- Oceania
- 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)
Residence in the Solomon Islands is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person is ordinarily resident in Solomon Islands for ten years, intention to reside or maintain close and continuing relationship with Solomon Islands.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Knowledge of English, Pidgin or a vernacular of Solomon Islands that is sufficient for normal conversational purposes.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Person respects the culture and way of life, understands the rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties of citizenship.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person has evidenced financial stability, capital property or financial contribution to the economy of the Islands.
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of the Solomon Islands is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is married to a citizen by birth for at least 5 years. Person must also be of good character and likely to reside in or maintain a close and continuing relationship with Solomon Islands.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of the Solomon Islands, the rules below set out how this route works. Under the law of the Solomon Islands, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Descent (born in country)
Person born in Solomon Islands after independence day (7 July 1978) if at the date of birth either parent is, or would but for his or her death have been, a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Every person born on or after Independence Day (7 July 1978) whether within or outside Solomon Islands, shall become a citizen of Solomon Islands if the date of birth either parent is, or would but for his/her death have been, a citizen.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of the Solomon Islands, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
A child of an applicant may be included in application for naturalisation
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in the Solomon Islands. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
At least one parent, grandparent or great grandparent is or was a birth citizen. Person must also be of good character and likely to reside in or maintain a close and continuing relationship with Solomon Islands
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of the Solomon Islands, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
A person who has lost or renounced their birth citizenship is eligible to resume their birth citizenship.
Not available in the Solomon Islands: Birth in the country, Adoption, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Stateless persons, Special achievements, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of the Solomon Islands: new citizens, and 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
A longer period of 10 years is set under the law of the Solomon Islands, compared with the most common 5 years in Oceania.
See how Solomon Islands compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Kiribati | 7 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Marshall Islands | 10 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
 Papua New Guinea | 8 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Tuvalu | 7 years | None | Accepted |
 Vanuatu | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 14(2).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Solomon Islands Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/solomon-islands/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/solomon-islands/">How to Get Solomon Islands 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 Solomon Islander citizen?
The law of the Solomon Islands sets 10 years of residence for ordinary naturalisation. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does the Solomon Islands allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Solomon Islander citizenship?
A language requirement exists, but no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Solomon Islander citizenship?
Applicants must show civic knowledge for Solomon Islander citizenship, without a designated test being named.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Solomon Islander citizenship?
You are not required to renounce your current citizenship to get Solomon Islander citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Solomon Islands citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the Solomon Islands provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Solomon Islands citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of the Solomon Islands provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Solomon Islands citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for the Solomon Islands.
Related pages
Also see: Solomon Islands passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.