How to get an EU passport if you are British after Brexit

EU Passport for UK Citizens

With Brexit now in full effect, UK citizens no longer have access to European rights, which means reduced mobility and constrained economic freedom. If you are looking to regain your rights, there is a solution: you can get an EU passport after Brexit. Thanks to European citizenship by investment and residency by investment programs, getting EU citizenship after Brexit is possible. We tell you all there is to know about it in this guide.

Benefits of EU Passport after Brexit

Getting an EU passport for UK citizens

Since 1 January 2021, UK citizens no longer have access to European rights, which makes them eligible to apply for EU residency and citizenship by investment programs. 

Designed to boost economic development, the residency and citizenship by investment programs are economic schemes designed to help non-EU investors and their families acquire EU citizenship in exchange for an economic investment. Countries offering some of the most attractive EU immigration schemes are Malta, Spain and Portugal.

Requirements to get an EU passport for UK citizens

Requirements to get an EU passport for UK citizens vary from country to country, however, here are some of the common features you will find:

• Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA
• Make a minimum investment in exchange for residency or citizenship
• Have a clean criminal record
• Comply with the country’s stay requirement

Citizenship by investment programs

Malta

Famous for its beauty and excellent healthcare, the Mediterranean island nation Malta has launched a new Citizenship by Investment Program, now called Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES). It is one of the fastest ways to maintain ties to Europe as you can get a

Malta passport

in just a year. 

Acquiring Maltese citizenship holds multiple benefits such as the ability to partially or fully travel visa-free to over 190 countries worldwide, acquire recognized dual citizenship, and tap into tax efficiency opportunities based upon residency.

CES investment requirements:

• Make a minimum contribution of €600,000 to the national development fund and prove 36 months of residency, or make a contribution of €750,000 and show evidence of 12 months residency.
• In addition to the contribution, invest €700,000 into residential real estate, or enter into a rental agreement at a minimum value of €16,000 per annum which must be maintained for five years. 
• Donate €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, animal welfare, or artistic non-governmental approved organization or society.

Golden Visa programs

Spain

With an excellent quality of life and a fantastic cuisine, Spain has been for many years one of Europe’s best countries to live in. Thanks to its Spain Golden Visa, UK citizens and their families can become Spanish residents and benefit from EU rights in exchange for a qualifying investment. 

The Spain Golden Visa allows you to travel without restriction in the EU, live, work and study in Spain and the best part is: once you’ve been a Spanish resident for 10 years, you can apply for a

Spanish passport

which will grant you unlimited access to the EU.

Spain Golden Visa investment requirements:

Spain Golden Visa investment options are multiple and applicants get to choose which one suits their needs best:

• Purchase real estate with a minimum value of €500,000.
• Issue a bank deposit of at least €1,000,000.
• Invest €1,000,000 in shares of Spanish businesses.
• Contribute €2,000,000 in government bonds.
• Start a business in Spain that generates employment, contributes to technological and/or scientific innovation, or has a strong socio-economic impact.

Portugal

Considered the best Golden Visa program in Europe due to its fantastic investment opportunities and excellent profile, the Portugal Golden Visa program gives investors Portuguese residency in a few months which can eventually lead to a Portuguese passport in 5 years’ time.

The Portugal Golden Visa program not only allows you to be a resident of the best European country for expats — famous for its sunny weather and great quality of life —  but it also gives you total freedom of movement in the EU, program eligibility that extends to the entire family and a very favorable tax system.

Portugal Golden Visa investment requirements:

There are many investment options to choose from when applying for the Portugal Golden Visa. Whatever your needs are, you’ll find accommodating options and below are some of the most sought after:

• Fund subscription: Make a contribution to Portuguese investment funds (such as private equity funds or venture capital funds) worth at least €500,000
• Investment or donation in the arts or reconstruction of national cultural heritage with a donation of at least €250,000
• Scientific research: Science or Technology research contribution of at least €500,000
• Creation of ten jobs: Creation and maintenance of ten jobs during the required period
• Share capital and job creation: Incorporation of a commercial company in the national territory or reinforcement of a company’s share capital (this company must have its head office in the national territory), in either case with an investment of €500,000, combined with the creation of five or maintaining ten jobs (five of them permanent).