How to Get Suriname CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- New citizens only
- 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
- Partly accepted: for new citizens onlyNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- 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)
Residence in Suriname is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Suriname for 5 years immediately preceding the application.
- 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
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Suriname is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for 3 years, and both have been resident at the same address in Suriname for 2 years, or person was and is still resident in Suriname for at least five years, or children have been born from the relationship. Spouse must be a citizen at the time of celebration of marriage as well as the time of declaration.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Suriname, the rules below set out how this route works. The law of Suriname confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Suriname to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Suriname, and only in the situations described below.
Person is born in Suriname to a resident parent and has been resident him/herself for 3 years immediately before reaching the age of majority (not applicable to children of foreign diplomats). Application must be lodged within 1 year of reaching the age of majority.
Person is born in Suriname, has reached the age of majority and holds citizenship of another country. Other conditions: person is resident in Suriname, serious attempt to renounce citizenship of another country after naturalisation (unless legally impossible or unreasonable), and no danger to public order, morals or health.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Suriname, subject to the conditions below. The law of Suriname confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is born in wedlock (or is legitimated or recognised while a minor) to a father who is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation, or out of wedlock to a mother who is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation. Person him/herself can revoke the acquisition within 1 year after reaching the age of majority.
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Suriname, the rules below set out what applies. The law of Suriname confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Suriname, subject to the conditions below.
Person is a former citizen who holds citizenship of another country or is stateless. Other conditions: person is resident in Suriname, serious attempt to renounce citizenship of another country after naturalisation (unless legally impossible or unreasonable), and no danger to public order, morals or health.
Person is a former citizen who has lost Surinamese citizenship on the basis of SUR 10 or 16 as a minor. Other requirements: reacquisition declaration must take place within 1 year after reaching the age of majority, and person is resident in Suriname. Citizenship is reacquired as of the moment of reaching the age of majority.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
This route covers people with an ethnic or cultural link to Suriname, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is of Surinamese origin and has been recognised as such under the PSA Act. Other conditions: person is resident in Suriname, serious attempt to renounce citizenship of another country after naturalisation (unless legally impossible or unreasonable), and no danger to public order, morals or health.
Residence during childhood
Residence in Suriname as a child is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a minor born to a mother (who is a citizen) from a previous marriage or whose father is deceased or legally unknown, and the child has been resident in Suriname for at least 1 year before the application. Person him/herself can revoke the acquisition within 1 year after reaching the age of majority.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Suriname.
Foundlings
Person is found or abandoned in Suriname of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Suriname and does not have citizenship of another country.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Suriname and is stateless. Other conditions: person is resident in Suriname and no danger to public order, morals or health.
Special achievements
For people whose achievements or contributions are recognised by Suriname, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Acquisition of citizenship is in the interest of Suriname.
Not available in Suriname: Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship in Suriname is accepted for new citizens, but not generally 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 lose their citizenship automatically
Person acquires citizenship of another country by naturalisation or declaration.
Compare with neighbours
See how Suriname compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bolivia | 3 years | None | Accepted |
 Brazil | 4 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Chile | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Colombia | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Ecuador | 3 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Guyana | 6 years | None | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 8.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Suriname Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/suriname/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/suriname/">How to Get Suriname 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 Surinamese citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in Suriname is 5 years. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Suriname allow dual citizenship?
Only in one direction: people who naturalise in Suriname, but not generally its citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Surinamese citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Suriname.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Surinamese citizenship?
Applicants for Surinamese citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Surinamese citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Surinamese citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Suriname citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Suriname provides a marriage route. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Suriname citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Suriname provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Suriname citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Suriname.
Related pages
Also see: Suriname passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.