EU citizenship grants individuals the right to live, work, and travel freely across all 27 member states. It provides access to the best healthcare, education, and business opportunities, making it highly desirable for many.
This article explains how to become an EU citizen through naturalization, ancestry, marriage, and investment. It also covers passport requirements and highlights the best Golden Visa programs that can lead to EU citizenship for those who are trying to figure out how to get a European passport faster.
This is more of what we will cover:
What is European citizenship?
EU citizenship is a legal status granted to nationals of European Union (EU) member states. It provides the right to live, work, and travel freely across all 27 EU countries. EU citizens also benefit from consular protection, voting rights in European elections, and access to social services within the bloc.
You must apply for citizenship in an EU country to get EU citizenship. While the process to obtain European citizenship varies between states, in general, the minimum requirement is for you to live in the country for a certain amount of time, provide proof of legal residence, and lodge your application for citizenship.
Anyone possessing the nationality of an EU member state is instantly an EU citizen. EU citizenship complements national citizenship without replacing it.
Rights of EU Citizens
There are many EU citizenship rights and benefits. European citizenship in EU countries grants you unlimited working rights in any EU member state, as well as increased international mobility and freedom of opportunities.
Here are the rights of being an EU citizen:
- Full working and residential rights in 27 EU countries
- Gain access to tertiary education and scholarship choices
- Grow your business with full EU protection
- Right to consular protection by EU member states
- National health care benefits
- Privacy laws to protect you
- A European passport gives you a plan B during times of crisis
- Own property without a permit
- Visa-free travel to more than 170 countries
- An EU passport can be passed down to future generations
How to get EU Citizenship
Birthright citizenship
Citizenship by Birthright means you can acquire EU citizenship based on where you are born or the nationality of your parents. Some EU countries grant citizenship if you are born there, regardless of your parents’ nationality. In contrast, others only grant citizenship if at least one of your parents is an EU citizen. The rules vary by country; in some cases, residency requirements or additional steps may apply. Here are some of the countries with birthright citizenship:
Country | Birthright citizenship |
France | Yes, if born in France regardless of parent's nationality |
Germany | No, unless one parent is a German citizen or the child has lived in Germany for a certain number of years |
Ireland | Yes, if born in Ireland, regardless of parent's nationality |
Italy | No, requires at least one parent to be an Italian citizen |
Portugal | Yes, if born in Portugal and parents are not diplomats or on a short-term visa |
Spain | No, unless at least one parent is a Spanish citizen |
Citizenship by ancestry
The easiest way to get EU citizenship is through ancestry if your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents were EU citizens from countries like Hungary, Ireland, Italy, and Poland. If you’re wondering how to get EU citizenship through ancestry, the process depends on each country’s specific rules for citizenship by descent. Below is a list of all the countries in Europe that allow citizenship by descent:
 Austria |  Germany |  Netherlands |
 Bulgaria |  Greece |  Poland |
 Croatia |  Hungary |  Portugal |
 Cyprus |  Iceland |  Romania |
 Czechia |  Italy |  Slovakia |
 Denmark |  Latvia |  Slovenia |
 Estonia |  Lithuania |  Spain |
 Finland |  Luxembourg |  Sweden |
 France |  Malta |
Citizenship by naturalization
Citizenship by naturalization is another way to get EU citizenship, which you can apply for after living in a country for several years. To qualify, you must meet certain conditions like learning the local language, integrating into society, and providing stable finances. Once you’ve fulfilled these requirements, you can apply for citizenship, which usually takes five to ten years of residency. Here are countries with the shortest naturalization periods.
Country | Naturalization Period |
Portugal | 5 years |
Belgium | 5 years |
Malta | 5 years |
Hungary | 8 years |
France | 5 years |
Citizenship by marriage
Citizenship by marriage allows a non-EU citizen to gain EU citizenship through marriage to an EU citizen. After several years of marriage, usually three to five, the non-EU spouse can apply for citizenship, provided they meet language skills and residency requirements. Once granted, they gain the right to live, work, and travel freely within the EU. These are countries with the lowest residency requirements for citizenship through marriage.
Country | Residency Requirements for Citizenship by Marriage |
Germany | 2-3 years if married to a German citizen |
Italy | 1.5 to 2 years of marriage if living in Italy |
Spain | 1 year of marriage if residing in Spain |
Sweden | 3 years if married to a Swedish citizen |
Netherlands | 3 years if married to a Dutch citizen |
Luxembourg | 3 years if married to a Luxembourg citizen |
Citizenship by investment
EU citizenship by investment programs and EU residency programs like Golden Visas are the quickest ways to obtain European nationality if you don’t qualify through ancestry. Golden Visas, in particular, offer residency in exchange for a qualifying investment. After meeting certain criteria—such as maintaining the investment and meeting residency requirements—you and your family can eventually apply for citizenship. EU passports can be obtained in as little as a year, depending on the country’s program. These options provide a faster route to citizenship compared to traditional residency requirements.
How get EU citizenship through investment
As mentioned, one of the quickest ways to become an EU citizen is through citizenship and residency by investment programs.
Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal’s Golden Visa program allows individuals to gain legal residency by making a qualifying investment, with a minimum investment of €250,000 in areas like business, research, or job creation. Applicants and their families can receive residency within months and are only required to spend seven days per year in Portugal.
After holding the investment for at least five years and passing a basic language test, criminal background check, and proving integration, applicants can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Malta Citizenship by Investment
Malta offers two main routes to an EU passport: Malta citizenship by investment and Residency by Investment. For Citizenship, you can apply after 12 months with a €600,000 investment or 36 months with €750,000. You’ll also need a real estate investment (€16,000 lease or €700,000 purchase) and a €10,000 donation. Additional fees apply.
The minimum requirements for the Malta Residency by Investment are a €30,000 contribution and €375,000 in real estate or a €14,000 yearly lease. After 11 to 12 months, you will receive your permanent residence permit, and citizenship will be possible after five years of legal residence.
Take a look at our Malta Citizenship by Investment Guide by local experts
Cyprus Golden Visa
The Cyprus Golden Visa requires an investment of at least €300,000 in real estate. This investment grants residency, allowing you to live, work, and study in Cyprus. After holding residency for seven years, you can apply for Cypriot citizenship.
A Cypriot passport allows visa-free travel to 170 countries, and you and your family can enjoy living in Cyprus, just a short flight from the rest of Europe.
Greece Golden Visa
The Greece Golden Visa program requires an investment of at least €250,000 in real estate. This grants you residency, allowing you to live, work, and study in Greece and travel freely within the Schengen Area.
After holding your residency for seven years, you may be eligible to apply for Greek citizenship.
The Greek Golden Visa also provides visa-free access to over 170 countries. You and your family can enjoy the benefits of living in Greece, with the potential to become EU citizens.
Italy Golden Visa
The Italy Golden Visa program requires an investment of at least €250,000 in government bonds or €500,000 in Italian real estate.
This investment grants you residency, allowing you to live, work, study in Italy, and travel within the Schengen Area.
After holding your residency for 10 years, you can apply for Italian citizenship. With an Italian passport, you gain visa-free access to over 170 countries, and you and your family can enjoy the benefits of living in one of Europe’s most desirable destinations.
Serbia Residency by Investment
Serbia offers a path to European citizenship through the Serbia Residency by Investment program. Foreign nationals can obtain residency by purchasing real estate in Serbia, allowing them to live and work there.
There are no restrictions on property price or location. After maintaining legal residency for three years legal residency, you can apply for a five-year residence permit, and then permanent residence is possible. However, applicants may qualify for Serbian citizenship after several years.
Latvia Golden Visa
The Latvia Golden Visa program offers a pathway to European citizenship for non-EU investors. It grants residency, allowing free movement within the Schengen Zone.
To qualify, applicants must invest at least €250,000 in real estate or €50,000 in a business. After maintaining residency for at least five years and meeting naturalization requirements, investors can apply for Latvian citizenship and gain the full benefits of an EU passport.
Hungary Golden Visa
The Hungarian Golden Visa Program provides a pathway to EU citizenship through investment. Non-EU citizens can gain long-term residency by investing at least €250,000 in a real estate fund. The program grants a 10-year renewable residence permit, allowing investors and their families to live in Hungary and travel within the Schengen Zone.
After maintaining residency for at least eight years and meeting naturalization requirements, applicants may apply for Hungarian citizenship and become a European citizen.
Spain Golden Visa
Spain also has a Golden Visa program that can lead to citizenship, provided you live in the country for at least ten years. Getting a Spanish passport through the Spain Golden Visa program is possible if you buy a property in the country worth €500,000 and meet the program’s additional requirements, such as having a clean criminal record.
Investors can obtain permanent residency in Spain in less than six years if they have lived in the country for at least four years and two months during the five-year period.
Spain Golden Visa Ending: April 2024 Update
On April 8th, 2024, Spain announced that it plans to end the Golden Visa program for foreigners who invest in real estate in the country. The decision to investigate the feasibility of the Golden Visa was made due to concerns that the program contributes to rising real estate prices and money laundering in the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the decision was made to make affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business.” He added, "Today, 94 out of every 100 such visas are linked to real estate investment...in major cities facing a highly stressed market and where it's almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work, and pay their taxes there.”
Take a look at our Spain Golden Visa Ultimate Guide by Local Experts
EU Passport Requirements
To obtain an EU passport, you must first be a citizen of an EU member state. While the exact requirements may vary slightly by country, general steps include:
- Citizenship – You need to prove that you are a citizen of an EU country, which can be obtained by birth, descent, naturalization, or marriage in many cases.
- Residency – Some countries may require a period of legal residence, usually five to years, before applying for citizenship.
- Language & integration – You might need to demonstrate knowledge of the country’s language and integration into its society, especially if applying for naturalization.
- Good character – Applicants must show that they have no serious criminal record and meet other moral standards.
- Proof of identity – Submit identification documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or documents proving your ancestral ties to the country (for citizenship by descent).
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU Citizenship
Who qualifies as an EU citizen?
EU citizenship is granted automatically to anyone who holds the nationality of an EU country. Some rights and benefits derive from national law, and these may differ from country to country.As an EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, or study anywhere in the European Union, provided you report your presence after three months in the country.
What are the benefits of being an EU citizen?
EU citizenship offers the right to live, work, and study in any EU country, with access to free movement across member states. It also provides consular protection from other EU countries, the ability to vote in European Parliament elections, and access to various social benefits, healthcare, and education across the EU.
How can I get EU citizenship?
You can obtain EU citizenship through various routes, such as naturalization after living in an EU country for a certain number of years, by descent from EU citizens, or through investment programs like Golden Visas. Marriage to an EU citizen or special contributions to the country can also lead to citizenship.
What is the easiest citizenship to get?
The easiest citizenship to get is often through descent, especially in countries like Ireland, Italy, and Poland, if you have family roots there. Marriage or investment can also lead to citizenship faster in some countries, depending on the requirements.
What is the fastest way to get EU citizenship?
The fastest way to get EU citizenship would be to apply for citizenship through a citizenship by investment program. If you take the one-year option in Malta citizenship by naturalization program, the country offers excellent investment opportunities for international families seeking EU citizenship.
How do I get a European passport as an American?
Getting a European passport as an American depends on your personal situation. Generally, you can get a European passport if you invest in a country through a citizenship by investment program. You can also get a European passport indirectly if you apply for a residency by investment, although this involves becoming a naturalized citizen after maintaining a minimum residency period.
How can I get a European passport?
You can get a European passport through citizenship by descent, marriage, or naturalization. Some countries also offer citizenship through investment or residency programs. After meeting the requirements, you can apply for a passport once you gain citizenship.
How to buy citizenship in Europe?
The only way to buy citizenship in Europe is to invest in a citizenship by investment scheme. You must invest a certain sum of money in a country offering the program and hold that respective investment for a specified period to get citizenship.
Which EU country gives citizenship easily?
Portugal is often considered one of the easiest EU countries to get citizenship, especially through its Golden Visa program. After five years of legal residency, you can apply for citizenship. Other pathways, such as through marriage or descent, may also be available depending on the country.
