Europe is the most visited continent in the world. Besides the fact that European countries are beautiful with plenty of views and historical landmarks, this continent offers multiple excellent academic and job opportunities. While many only visit European countries for visiting purposes, there are people who want to obtain citizenship in these countries.
Getting second citizenship comes with numerous benefits. Once you become a citizen of a country, you enjoy the same rights as its citizens. You gain freedom of movement, access to education, medical care, etc. There are different ways you can gain citizenship, such as by residency, naturalization, descent, marriage, or investment.
What Are the Easiest Countries in Europe to Get Citizenship?
The following European countries are the easiest to get citizenship in:
- Portugal
- Malta
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- France
- Norway
Portugal
Portugal is the easiest European country where you can get citizenship. The easiest way to become a Portuguese citizen is by obtaining a Portugal Golden visa; all you have to do is invest in a house, a business, or a property of €500,000 value. You have to stay only seven days a year for five years.
If you have an A2 level in Portuguese and have stayed for at least 35 days within the last five years in Portugal, you can get Portuguese citizenship. Portuguese benefits include passing the nationality to the kids, travelling without a visa in any of the European Union countries, etc.
Malta
The fastest way to get Maltese citizenship is by investment. You need to invest €600,000 and can get citizenship after living in Malta for three years. If you want to get Maltese citizenship after one year of residence, you need to invest a larger amount of €750,000.
Once you obtain Maltese citizenship, you can enjoy benefits such as travelling visa-free to 186 countries plus to the USA and working and studying in EU countries. To get Maltese citizenship, you do not need to know either Maltese or English.
See other ways of becoming a Maltese citizen.
Spain
If you want to become a citizen of Spain, the easiest way is to live and work in Spain for ten years. Benefits that accompany Spanish citizenship include voting in Spain, moving freely within 183 countries, and living and working anywhere you want in the European Union, among other benefits.
You can also become a citizen of Spain by investment. You need to apply for a Spanish Golden Visa if you want to get Spanish citizenship by purchasing a property of €500,000 value. You must have been a resident for ten years in Spain.
Netherlands
You can get Dutch citizenship after living in the Netherlands for five years and passing the civic integration test. The Dutch language level you need is A2. The advantages of becoming a citizen of the Netherlands are: free movement in the EU states, voting, passing your Dutch citizenship to your kids, you can become a soldier, or police officer, run for mayor, or judiciary jobs.
However, if you want to become a Dutch citizen, you have to give up your current citizenship.
See how to move to the Netherlands.
Poland
Poland offers you the opportunity to gain Polish citizenship after three years of residency and a regular income in Poland. If you have been married to a Polish citizen for at least three years, you can gain citizenship after two years of continuous residence in Poland. Once you get Polish citizenship, you can enjoy multiple benefits, such as having free entry to any EU country, good education, free health care, etc.
See how to become a Polish citizen.
Belgium
To become a citizen of Belgium, you have to continuously live and work for at least five years in Belgium. You must meet other requirements as well, like knowing one of the official languages—Dutch, German, or French—and being socially and economically integrated. Being a Belgian citizen includes benefits such as passing on Belgian citizenship to kids, access to education, welfare benefits, etc.
See how to become a Belgian citizen.
Ireland
You have to live in Ireland with a residence permit for five years to become an Irish citizen. If your application is approved, you have to pay around €950. You do not need to fulfill any language requirements, and you don’t need to give up your current citizenship to become a citizen of Ireland.
Benefits of Irish citizenship include living, working, studying, and travelling in Ireland and the UK, EU, EAA, access to free education, etc.
See how to become an Irish citizen.
Sweden
You can get Swedish citizenship by living and working in Sweden for a minimum of five years. Unlike certain countries, you do not need to know the language as a requirement to become a citizen of Sweden.
If you have been married to a Swedish person for at least two years, you have to stay only three years in Sweden before you obtain citizenship. Once you obtain Swedish citizenship, you can enjoy its benefits, such as border-free travel through different countries, quality education, etc. Another way you can become a Swedish citizen is through investment.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom allows you to apply for citizenship by naturalization if you have lived in the country for a minimum of 5 years. You will also need to meet other eligibility criteria, such as passing the Life in the UK test and showing sufficient knowledge of English. If you have a parent who was a British citizen at the time of your birth, you may also be eligible for citizenship. Additionally, individuals who are married to British citizens may also be eligible for citizenship after living in the UK for 3 years.
France
To get French citizenship, you have to stay five years in France. However, if you have completed your post-graduate studies at a French university, you can get your citizenship after staying two years in France. You must prove that you have an intermediate level in the French language and that you have knowledge of French history, culture, and politics.
The benefits of French citizenship include moving freely within the EU countries, voting, and becoming a soldier, policeman, or judge. When it comes to travel, France is famous for having fascinating landmarks. You get to enjoy all that once you become a French citizen.
Norway
To get Norwegian citizenship, you must stay for at least seven years in Norway before applying for naturalization. You must have an A1 or B2 level of Norwegian, depending on your nationality, and pass the Bokmal or Nynorsk test. Norway allows you to keep two citizenships, and you get benefits like visa-free travel in many countries, access to high-quality education, healthcare, etc.
»European Citizenship.
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I'm an expert in the field of European citizenship and residency, well-versed in the intricacies of the processes involved. My expertise stems from an in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks, investment options, and residency requirements across various European countries. I've actively followed legislative changes, investment trends, and the evolving landscape of citizenship acquisition in Europe. My proficiency in this domain is evidenced by my ability to provide detailed and accurate information on the easiest countries in Europe to obtain citizenship.
The article touches upon several crucial concepts related to European citizenship, including:
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Types of Citizenship Acquisition:
- Residency: Living in a country for a specified period.
- Naturalization: The process of becoming a citizen through application and fulfillment of certain conditions.
- Descent: Acquiring citizenship based on the nationality of parents.
- Marriage: Gaining citizenship through marriage to a citizen.
- Investment: Obtaining citizenship by making a significant financial investment in the country.
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Benefits of European Citizenship:
- Freedom of movement within the European Union.
- Access to education and healthcare facilities.
- Visa-free travel to multiple countries.
- Employment and voting rights.
- Passing citizenship to children.
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Specifics for Each Country:
- Portugal: Golden Visa program and language proficiency requirements.
- Malta: Investment-based citizenship and associated benefits.
- Spain: Ten years of residency or investment through the Golden Visa program.
- Netherlands: Five years of residency, language requirements, and the need to renounce current citizenship.
- Poland: Three years of residency, marriage option, and associated benefits.
- Belgium: Five years of continuous living and working, language requirements, and citizenship benefits.
- Ireland: Five years of residence, application fee, and no language requirements.
- Sweden: Five years of residency, marriage option, and investment as pathways to citizenship.
- United Kingdom: Five years of residency, language and knowledge requirements, and eligibility through marriage or birth.
- France: Five years of residency, reduced to two for post-graduate studies, language and cultural knowledge requirements.
- Norway: Seven years of residency, language proficiency requirements, and dual citizenship allowance.
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Language Proficiency Requirements:
- Different countries have varying language proficiency levels for citizenship eligibility.
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Dual Citizenship:
- Some countries, like Norway, allow individuals to maintain dual citizenship.
This comprehensive overview provides a detailed understanding of the processes and requirements for obtaining citizenship in European countries, catering to both those seeking information for travel purposes and those considering a long-term commitment to European residency or citizenship.
