Gadolinia-doped ceria nanopowder was prepared by glycine-nitrate combustion method with different glycine/nitrate mixing ratio. The characteristics of the synthesized powder were investigated by X-ray diffraction method, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravity, differential thermal analysis and thermo-mechanical analysis. The smallest powder was obtained with glycine/nitrate ratio 1.00 and the lowest organic and water vapor contained powder was made with glycine/nitrate ratio 1.75. According to dilatometry, fast densification was occurred around $1000^{circ}C$ and shows full density over $1300^{circ}C$. Finally near-fully dense ceria electrolyte was fabricated with conventional sintering technique. Glycine-nitrate process yields fine nanopowders which enable low temperature sintering and fabrication of fully dense and nanostructured oxide electrolyte.