How to Get Tuvalu CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 7 years
- Language
- None
- 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 Tuvalu is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
- Residence
- 7 years
Residence in Tuvalu for 7 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Familiarity with the laws and customs of Tuvalu.
- 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 is and will be able to remain financially self-supporting
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Tuvalu 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 who marries a person who is or becomes a citizen can apply to be registered as a citizen.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Tuvalu, the rules below set out how this route works. The law of Tuvalu confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
A person born outside Tuvalu on or after the date the Constitution took effect (1 October 2023) is a citizen of Tuvalu by birth if on the date of his birth either of his parents is, or would but for their death have been, a citizen of Tuvalu.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Tuvalu, and only in the situations described below. The law of Tuvalu confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
A person born in Tuvalu on or after the date the Constitution took effect (1 October 2023) is a citizen of Tuvalu by birth. Exceptions: If neither parent is a citizen and person's father (or mother if born outside marriage) was a diplomat in Tuvalu, or neither parent is a citizen and person's father (or mother if born outside marriage) was a citizen of a country at war and birth occurred in occupied territory.
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Tuvalu, the rules below set out what applies. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person who is adopted by a citizen (or person who would be a citizen by operation of law but for his or her death) can apply to be registered as a citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Tuvalu, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person can regain citizenship by application. Requires five years residence in Tuvalu (not including period before citizenship was lost).
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Tuvalu. The law of Tuvalu confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
A foundling is considered to have been born in Tuvalu, absent proof to the contrary.
Public or military service
This route covers people who have served Tuvalu in a public or military role, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has worked for Tuvalu for preceding seven years as an official or representative in a foreign country protecting and promoting the interests of the Government of Tuvalu and its citizens, as remunerated by government of Tuvalu.
Not available in Tuvalu: Child of a new citizen, Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Special achievements, 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 Tuvalu: 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
Under the law of Tuvalu, 7 years applies, exceeding the usual 5 years found across Oceania.
See how Tuvalu 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 |
 New Zealand | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Papua New Guinea | 8 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Samoa | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Tonga | 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. 6.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Tuvalu Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/tuvalu/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/tuvalu/">How to Get Tuvalu 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 Tuvaluan citizen?
7 years of residence is the period for ordinary naturalisation in Tuvalu. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Tuvalu 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 Tuvaluan citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Tuvalu.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Tuvaluan citizenship?
Civic knowledge is required for Tuvaluan citizenship, though no specific test is defined.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Tuvaluan citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Tuvaluan citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Tuvalu citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Tuvalu provides a marriage route. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Tuvalu citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Tuvalu provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Tuvalu citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Tuvalu.
Related pages
Also see: Tuvalu passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.