Having an EU passport is highly beneficial in terms of social, economic, and personal security. Not only will you have the freedom to live and work in any EU country, but you also have the opportunity to travel visa-free to most countries globally. However, to obtain European citizenship, you must meet several qualifying criteria to prove that you can integrate into European society and uphold all EU laws.
How to Get European Citizenship?
You can obtain European citizenship in one of three ways as listed below:
- By descent – if you have a family member that can pass on EU citizenship to you.
- By naturalization – if you lived and worked long enough in an EU country to qualify for citizenship.
- By investment – if you have enough money to invest in an EU country and receive citizenship.
European Citizenship by Descent
To obtain EU citizenship by descent, you must have an ancestor—usually, a parent— born in the EU. But, depending on which country you apply for citizenship, you may meet the eligibility criteria even if you have grandparents or great-grandparents who were EU citizens.
European citizenship through ancestry is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to obtain a passport in the EU— provided that you qualify for this option. In order to pass citizenship to you, your ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.) must not have lost or forfeited their nationality. They must still be entitled to it, even if they do not live in the EU.
Which EU Countries Allow Citizenship by Descent?
The EU countries listed below allow citizenship by descent:
- Austria
- France
- Malta
- Belgium
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Bulgaria*
- Greece*
- Poland*
- Croatia
- Hungary*
- Portugal
- Cyprus
- Ireland*
- Romania
- Czech Republic
- Italy*
- Slovakia*
- Denmark
- Latvia
- Slovenia
- Estonia
- Lithuania*
- Spain
- Finland
- Luxembourg*
- Sweden
*These EU countries allow citizenship by descent up to the third generation or earlier, i.e., from your great-grandparents to you.
How to Apply for European Citizenship by Descent?
To apply for EU citizenship through ancestry, you have to collect the required documents, fill out the application form, and submit them to your nearest EU mission abroad. Some of the required documents include submitting proof of your ancestor’s citizenship in Europe, such as a previous passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, refugee documents, etc.
Please note that the processing time may take several months up to a year, depending on the embassy’s workload and how long it takes to verify your ancestors had EU citizenship.
>> German citizenship by descent
How Much Does it Cost?
The processing fee for EU citizenship by descent—including service and administration fees— can go up to EUR 1,000, varying from country to country. This does not take into account any legal fees or costs related to documentation.
Becoming Naturalized in Europe
You can become a naturalized citizen in Europe if you have worked and lived in an EU country for a minimum of five years (or more depending on the country). The application process for naturalization varies depending on which pathway to citizenship you followed, i.e., work or marriage. In addition, you must show evidence of language proficiency in your EU country to qualify for citizenship by naturalization.
EU Citizenship Through Work
You can move to almost any country in the EU with a work visa and live there; after working for a number of years (5-10), you can apply for naturalization. To apply for a work visa, (in most cases) you must have a job offer in the EU and your employer must sponsor you.
There are several work permits that EU countries issue depending on your qualifications and experience— the most common being the EU Blue Card. To qualify for an EU Blue Card, you must score enough points in the scoring system based on your education and work experience, and other skills.
EU Citizenship Through Marriage
Another way to obtain citizenship in the EU is by marrying an EU citizen. In most EU countries, you qualify for naturalization three years after marriage. However, if your partner is a foreign citizen, both of you must meet the criteria for citizenship (including the language requirements) before you can apply.
Citizenship by Investment in Europe
You can become an EU passport holder through citizenship by investment schemes if you have enough funds to cover your investment. This type of program— also known as a Golden Visa— allows you to invest in an EU country, and in exchange, you can apply for naturalization.
The investment opportunities and the money required for citizenship programs vary from country to country. But, the most common investments include real estate or purchasing government bonds. Then, within three or five years, you gain an EU passport.
Usually, you have to spend a few days a year in that country to meet the citizenship requirements— no language requirements are needed.
Most Popular EU Countries With Investment Schemes
Some of the most popular EU citizenship investment schemes include the following:
- Malta offers a direct pathway to citizenship within three years if you purchase real estate for at least €700,000. Additionally, it offers an expedited option of investment which allows you to get a Maltese passport within a year by investing at least €750,000. You can also choose other investment options such as government bonds or donate your money to an approved organization.
- The citizenship by investment program in Portugal is one of the most popular in Europe. However, this program does not allow you to apply for citizenship directly. First, you gain permanent residence— much faster than other pathways— and then, after five years, you can apply for citizenship. The most common investment in Portugal is real estate, where you have to purchase a property for at least €500,000.
- Spain’s investment program allows you to qualify for permanent residency if you invest at least €500,000 in real estate. Like Portugal’s program, you cannot apply for citizenship directly, but you qualify for a Spanish passport ten years after applying for the Spanish citizenship program.
- Greece offers one of the cheapest residences through investment, with the minimum amount required of at least €250,000. But, if you want a Greece passport, you must live in the country for at least seven years after you make your investment to qualify for citizenship.
- You can get German citizenship if you open a business in Germany that will benefit the country’s economy. In other words, your business must provide new jobs and economic opportunities to Germany. To qualify for Germany’s investment program, you have to apply for a self-employment visa, and then after six years, you qualify for citizenship.
Which Country in Europe is Easiest to Get Citizenship?
The most accessible country to get citizenship in the EU is Portugal. The country offers one of the most affordable investment options for citizenship, and after five years, you gain an EU passport. The living criteria are fulfilled by spending only 35 days in the country within the five years of your investment.
In comparison, Malta has one of the fastest citizenship programs in the EU—only a year after your investment is finalized. However, it comes at a higher price of €750,000.
How Long Does it Take to Get EU Citizenship?
It takes anywhere from a few months to several years before you can get European citizenship. The amount of time depends on which EU citizenship pathway you qualify for:
- Six months up to a year- for citizenship by descent.
- Five to ten years-for citizenship by naturalization.
- One to five years– for citizenship by investment.
How to Get EU Citizenship as an American?
To get EU citizenship with an American passport, you have to follow the same citizenship pathways as other foreigners, i.e., citizenship by descent, naturalization, work, or marriage.
Benefits of EU Citizenship
If you qualify for citizenship in an EU country, then you will have several benefits, which include:
- The opportunity to work, live and study in any country in the EU that you want.
- Consular protection from all EU states when you are travelling abroad.
- Access to some of the best national healthcare plans.
- The right to vote in European Parliament elections.