What is EU citizenship?
EU citizenship is a legal status automatically given to anyone who is a citizen of an EU country. It adds to your national citizenship, rather than replacing it. It allows you to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU countries without needing a visa or work permit. It also gives you equal rights in those countries, including the ability to vote in European and local elections. Additionally, you can get help from any EU embassy or consulate when you are outside the EU.
Benefits of EU Citizenship
- Unrestricted mobility: With EU citizenship, you can live, work, study, or retire in any EU country without needing a visa or work permit. This gives you full flexibility to move between countries for better job opportunities, lifestyle changes, or family reasons.
- Equal employment rights: You can work in any EU country and will be treated the same as local citizens. This includes equal pay, fair working conditions, and access to social benefits like unemployment support and pensions.
- Simplified travel: When you have an EU passport, it will be very easy to travel to other EU countries. Citizens of the European Union can cross borders with just a national ID card and use faster EU/EEA lanes at airports, saving time when traveling frequently.
- Access to healthcare: With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can receive public healthcare during temporary stays in other EU countries. You’ll be treated under the same conditions and costs as local residents.
- Global diplomatic support: If you are outside the EU and your country does not have an embassy, you can get help from any EU country’s embassy or consulate. This adds an extra layer of security when traveling abroad.
- Political participation: You can vote and even run as a candidate in European Parliament elections and local elections in the EU country where you live.
- Educational Opportunities: You can study at public universities across the EU and usually pay the same lower tuition fees as local students. You also gain access to programs like Erasmus+, which have funded opportunities to study, train, or work abroad.
How to Become an EU Citizen
1. Citizenship by descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Citizenship by descent is a route to EU nationality that allows you to get citizenship through your family history, even if you have never lived in the country. Most EU countries allow children of citizens to apply, but some can extend it to grandchildren or even great-grandchildren. Qualifying requires proving your family line with official documents like birth and marriage certificates, which show that your ancestor did not give up their citizenship before the next generation was born.
These are some of the easiest countries to get citizenship by descent in the EU.
| Country | Generational Limit | Brief Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | No limit | Your ancestor must have been a Polish citizen after 1920. You need to prove an “unbroken chain” of citizenship, showing no ancestor gave it up or served in a non-Allied military before 1951. |
| Hungary Hungary citizenship by descent | No limit | You must show a direct family line to a Hungarian citizen. You also need to pass a basic conversational interview in Hungarian. |
| Ireland | Grandparents | You qualify if a grandparent was born in Ireland. You must first register in the Foreign Births Register before applying for a passport. |
| Italy Italy Citizenship by Descent | 2 generations* | As of 2026, most applications are limited to parents or grandparents due to new rules. Some special “1948 cases” (through the female line) may still allow claims further back through the courts. |
| Germany | Parents | Usually requires a parent to have been a German citizen when you were born. Recent reforms now allow dual citizenship, so you can keep your original nationality. |
2. Naturalization through residency
This is also known as citizenship by naturalization, and people interested in becoming EU citizens can apply once they have lived in a specific EU country for a set number of years, which is normally 5 to 10 years. Applicants need to show that they are integrated into the country, which means passing a basic language test at the A2 or B1 level and a test on local laws and culture.
Here is an overview of countries with the shortest residency stay requirements.
| Country | Standard Stay | Fast Track” Stay | Notes on 2026 Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 5 years | 3 years | The 2024 reform is now fully in place. The 3-year fast track requires a high level of integration and C1 German. Dual citizenship is now allowed. |
| Spain | 10 years | 2 years | The 2-year fast track is only available to citizens of Latin American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, and Portugal. |
| Portugal | 5 years | 5 years | Although the timeline is 5 years, the Golden Visa allows you to qualify while staying only about 7 days per year. |
| France | 5 years | 2 years | The reduced 2-year option applies to those who complete at least two years of higher education in France. |
| Cyprus | 7 years | 4–5 years | Recent updates allow high-skilled professionals (such as in tech or R&D) to apply sooner if they meet certain Greek language requirements (A2/B1). |
3. Citizenship by marriage or civil partnership
Citizenship by marriage can speed up the process to EU citizenship because marrying an EU citizen comes with reduced stay requirements of about one to three years if you already live together. Authorities will verify the relationship’s authenticity, which may include requesting proof such as joint bank accounts, shared leases, or utility bills. These EU countries have some of the shortest residency requirements for those married to EU nationals.
| Country | Residency Required | Marriage Duration | Key 2026 Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 year | 1 year | You must live in Spain with your spouse for at least 1 year and show A2-level Spanish language skills. |
| Italy | 2 years | 2 years | The timeline is reduced to 1 year if you have children. You must also pass a B1 Italian language test. |
| Germany | 3 years | 2 years | You must have lived in Germany for 3 years and been married for at least 2. Dual citizenship is now fully allowed. |
| Netherlands | 3 years | 3 years | You can apply after 3 years of marriage even if living outside the Netherlands, as long as it is not your home country. |
| France | 4 years | 4 years | New rules require B2-level French (higher than before) and proof that you are well integrated into society. |
4. Special Residency pathways (Investment & Digital Nomads)
Even though EU countries no longer offer citizenship-by-investment programs, several nations still offer very attractive residency-by-investment programs, also known as Golden Visas, that require applicants to invest in real estate, innovative start-ups, government bonds, or other assets in exchange for EU residency. There are also digital nomad visas that specifically cater to remote workers who work for countries based outside of Europe. These special residency programs can lead to permanent residency or even citizenship.
| Country | Golden Visa (GV) Investment | Digital Nomad (DNV) Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal Portugal Golden Visa | €200k (cultural donation) / €500k (investment fund) | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa €3,680+ (based on 2026 minimum wage of €920) |
| Malta Malta Residency by Investment | €169k – €474k (rental or property purchase + government fees) | Malta Digital Nomad Visa €3,500 (€42,000 gross annually) |
| Greece Greece Golden Visa | €250k (property conversion) / €800k (prime areas real estate) | Greece Digital Nomad Visa €3,500 (net income after taxes) |
| Italy Italy Golden Visa | €250k (startup investment) / €500k (company shares) | Italy Digital Nomad Visa (approximately €28,000 per year) |
| Cyprus Cyprus Golden Visa | €300k (new-build real estate) | Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa €3,500 (net income after taxes) |
Requirements to Apply for EU Citizenship
- Continuous legal residency: You have to live in the country legally for a set number of years, between 5 and 10. It is also important to keep in mind that if you leave the country for more than 6 months in a year, your residency period might restart.
- Language skills: You need to show basic knowledge of the local language at the A2 (basic) or B1 (intermediate) level.
- Integration & civics knowledge: Most countries require you to pass a test or attend an interview about the country’s history, laws, and way of life.
- Financial stability: You have to prove that you can support yourself and your family, if applicable, without relying on government assistance.
- Clean criminal record: You will need to provide police clearance certificates from your home country and any country where you have lived for more than 6 months.
- Citizenship rules (dual citizenship): Several EU countries now allow dual citizenship. However, some countries may still require you to give up your original nationality.
Start your EU residency journey and take a look at the Golden Visas available in the EU and beyond.
How to Apply for EU Citizenship: Step by Step Process
Step 1: Secure a Long-Term Legal Status
You cannot apply for EU citizenship from your home country unless you are using the ancestry route. Therefore, for all routes, you have to first move to the country which starts with applying for a Type D (National) based on either work, study, digital nomad status, or family reunification. Once you arrive, you have to then change this visa to a temporary residence permit (TRP) at the local immigration office, which allows you to legally stay long-term.
Step 2: Fulfill the residency period
The most common route to citizenship in the EU is through residency, meaning you should live in the country legally and continuously for a set number of years, which is normally between 5 and 10, depending on the country.
Step 3: Demonstrate integration
As you approach the end of your residency period, you will need to prove that you are integrated into the country. This entails obtaining an official language certificate at around B1 level and passing a civics test that covers the country’s history, laws, and social values. You also need to show that you have been paying taxes and contributing to Social Security.
Step 4: Gather your paperwork
This is the most time-consuming stage of the process. You will need to collect several official documents, including clean criminal record certificates from your home country and your EU country of residence. You must also provide birth and marriage certificates, which need to be apostilled and translated by a certified translator. You also need to submit proof of income, such as bank statements, employment contracts, or tax returns, to show financial stability.
Step 5: Submit the application and wait
Once your documents are ready, you submit your full application to the relevant authority, such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, or a local government office. The process can take between 12 and 24 months. If your application is successful, you will receive official confirmation of your naturalization.
Step 6: The oath and passport
After approval, most countries require you to attend an oath ceremony where you formally pledge allegiance to the country and its values. Once you receive your naturalization certificate, you can then apply for your national ID card and EU passport at your local police station or passport office.
Does an EU passport allow dual citizenship?
You can have dual citizenship with an EU passport if the country that gives you the passport allows it. EU law gives you shared rights like living and working in the EU, but it does not control dual citizenship. Each country decides its own rules. However, most EU countries allow dual citizenship, but there are still some exceptions and specific rules you need to check before applying.
EU countries that allow dual citizenship
| Policy | Countries |
|---|---|
| Fully Allowed | Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland |
| Restricted / Selective | Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia |
| Generally Prohibited | Austria, Netherlands, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia |
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.
