Lekhapora Blog
Easiest European Countries for Citizenship & How to Move Legally. Getting citizenship in Europe varies by country, and some countries make it easier than others. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the easiest European countries to obtain citizenship, the application process, and the best ways to move to Europe.
The easiest European countries for citizenship typically include Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, and Ireland due to their flexible residency, ancestry, or investment-based pathways. Portugal offers citizenship after five years of residency without requiring permanent stay, while Spain and Italy grant citizenship through ancestry. Malta provides a fast-track option via investment. To move legally, options include work visas, study visas, family reunification, and investment programs. Each country has specific requirements, so researching visa and residency rules is essential before applying.
Easiest European Countries to Get Citizenship
1. Portugal
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- Time to Citizenship: 5 years (one of the shortest in Europe).
- Requirements: Residency through investment, work, study, or family reunification.
- Best Route: Golden Visa (investment route) or D7 Visa (for remote workers and retirees).
- Portugal work permit visa, Apply Online
- Benefits: No requirement to live full-time in Portugal; you only need to visit for a few weeks per year.
2. Spain
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- Time to Citizenship: 10 years (but only 2 years for Latin Americans, Filipinos, and people from some other former Spanish colonies).
- Requirements: Residency via work, investment, or family ties.
- Best Route: Non-Lucrative Visa (for financially independent people) or Golden Visa (investment).
- Drawback: Requires full-time residence in Spain.
3. Italy
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- Time to Citizenship: 10 years (but much faster for those with Italian ancestry).
- Requirements: Residency, marriage to an Italian, or Italian heritage.
- Best Route: Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) – if you have Italian ancestors, you can apply even without living in Italy.
- Italy work permit visa, Apply Online
- Drawback: Long processing times for naturalization.
4. Malta
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- Time to Citizenship: 1-3 years through investment.
- Requirements: Investment in real estate, government bonds, or donations to the Maltese government.
- Best Route: Malta Citizenship by Investment (Naturalization for Exceptional Services) – costs around €600,000 to €750,000.
- Drawback: High cost.
5. Greece
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- Time to Citizenship: 7 years of residency.
- Requirements: Residency through work, study, or investment.
- Best Route: Golden Visa (Investment in real estate) – minimum investment of €250,000.
- Benefits: No requirement to live full-time in Greece.
6. Ireland
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- Time to Citizenship: 5 years of residency (or immediately if you have an Irish grandparent).
- Requirements: Residency through work, investment, or ancestry.
- Best Route: Irish Citizenship by Descent – if you have an Irish grandparent, you can apply even if you’ve never lived in Ireland.
- Benefits: Easy pathway through ancestry.
7. Hungary
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- Time to Citizenship: 8 years (but 1 year if you have Hungarian ancestry).
- Requirements: Residency, Hungarian ancestry, or marriage.
- Best Route: Citizenship by Descent – If you can prove Hungarian lineage, the process is very fast.
How to Apply for Citizenship in Europe
Each country has its own process, but in general, you need to follow these steps:
- Move to the country using a legal visa (work, student, family, or investment visa).
- Live in the country for the required period (varies from 5-10 years).
- Apply for permanent residency (after 5 years in most countries).
- Pass a language and integration test (some countries require you to learn the language and take a history/culture test).
- Apply for citizenship (submit documents, pay fees, and attend an interview if required).
- Swear allegiance (some countries require a formal oath).
Ways to Move to Europe Legally
To get to Europe and start the residency process, you need a visa. Here are the most common ways:
1. Work Visa (Job Offer Required)
- If you have a job offer from a European company, you can get a work visa.
- Popular work visa programs:
- Germany’s Blue Card (for highly skilled professionals).
- UK Skilled Worker Visa (for healthcare, IT, and engineering jobs).
- Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant Visa (for tech workers).
2. Student Visa (Easiest for Young People)
- If you enroll in a European university, you can get a student visa.
- Many countries (like Germany and France) allow students to work part-time.
- After graduation, you can apply for a post-study work visa and eventually residency.
3. Business and Startup Visa
- Many European countries have special visas for entrepreneurs and business owners.
- Examples:
- France Tech Visa – for tech startups.
- Estonia e-Residency & Startup Visa – for online business owners.
- Portugal Startup Visa – for launching a new company.
4. Investment Visa (Golden Visa)
- If you can invest in real estate or businesses, you can get residency quickly.
- Best Golden Visa programs:
- Portugal (€500,000 investment in real estate or €250,000 in cultural projects).
- Spain (€500,000 real estate investment).
- Greece (€250,000 real estate investment).
5. Family Reunification (If You Have a Relative in Europe)
- If you have a spouse, parent, or child who is a European citizen, you can apply for residency.
- Some countries allow extended family (like grandparents) to apply.
6. Refugee or Asylum Seeker Route
- If you are fleeing war or persecution, you can apply for asylum.
- Best countries for asylum seekers: Germany, Sweden, France.
Which Route is Best for You?
- If you have money → Investment visa (Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta).
- If you want to work → Apply for jobs in Germany, Netherlands, UK.
- If you are a student → Study in Germany, France, or the Netherlands.
- If you have ancestry → Italy, Ireland, and Hungary have the easiest processes.
- If you want fast citizenship → Portugal (5 years), Malta (1-3 years with investment).
Would you like help with specific visa applications or job search strategies? Let me know!
