Citizenship
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How to get European citizenship by investment: complete guide

Most often citizenship of the European Union is obtained through naturalisation. You need to obtain a resident status and live in the country for several years.

In some EU countries, there are investment residence permit programs that simplify the path to citizenship. In Malta, cosmopolitans can obtain citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment after one or three years as a resident.

Albert Ioffe

Author •Albert Ioffe

Answered questions on how to obtain citizenship in European countries

Everything about EU Citizenship by Investment

How to get European citizenship by investment: complete guide

EU citizenship helps to ensure a safe future for you and your family, make a profitable investment, give your children a good education and the opportunity to build a career abroad. In addition, citizens of EU countries receive quality social security and health care services.

Many EU countries allow people to obtain a second citizenship without renouncing the first one. This is important for those who want to maintain their previous status and rights in their home country.Uncover the advantages of European citizenship and the fastest way to obtain an EU passport

Uncover the advantages of European citizenship and the fastest way to obtain an EU passport

9 benefits of EU citizenship

  1. Free residence in any country of the European Union (EU).

  2. The opportunity to get a job in any EU country with an EU passport.

  3. Travel without visas in the EU and Schengen countries.

  4. Visa-free travel to over 170 countries.

  5. Purchase of real estate in any of the 27 EU countries.

  6. Access to social security, including pensions and benefits.

  7. Opportunity to educate children in prestigious universities.

  8. High-quality healthcare.

  9. A stable high standard of living and safety.

Comparison of citizenship and residency by investment programs

Practical Guide

Comparison of citizenship and residency by investment programs

How to get EU citizenship

There are three main ways to become a citizen of the European Union:

  • by repatriation;

  • by naturalisation;

  • by investment.

Each option has its own limitations. They are not available to everyone and the programs do not work in every country.

Repatriation programs operate in Hungary, Germany, Finland and some other countries. Their participants receive a residence permit or an EU passport. The main condition is the presence of close relatives who were citizens of the country.

Some programs impose restrictions based on participants' date of birth or the period during which their relatives lived in the country. For example, in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, citizenship can be obtained only if relatives lived there during the countries' periods of independence. If relatives lived in these countries during the Soviet era, it will not work to obtain a passport upon repatriation.

Citizenship by naturalisation assumes that a person first receives a residence permit, then a permanent residency, and only then a passport. The procedure takes 6 to 12 years.

It is difficult to obtain citizenship by naturalisation. First, a residence permit is issued, but it is not easily granted, as you need a valid reason to move. Acceptable reasons include: an invitation from an employer, university studies, or marriage to a citizen of the country. After several years of permanent residence, you can apply for a permanent residence permit, and later, citizenship.

Citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment is offered by Malta. Malta passports are issued on the basis of naturalisation after a few years in resident status.

Portugal, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Cyprus, and Malta offer residency by investment programs. In Austria and Switzerland, you can get a residence permit card for financially independent people. These statuses will allow you to solve some of the tasks now to eventually get citizenship.

How to get citizenship in Malta

Malta is an EU country where you can obtain a second citizenship on the basis of direct investment. You do not need to move or renounce your first citizenship to do so

Investment citizenship in the EU

Wealthy individuals can obtain status in several countries of the European Union. In most cases, we are talking about a residence permit and less often about citizenship. It is not possible to buy a passport, as states have strict requirements for applicants, and the process of obtaining the status takes months.

Depending on the program, the applicant meets a number of investment conditions. These may include:

  • non-refundable contribution to a state fund;

  • purchase or long-term lease of real estate;

  • buying government stocks or bonds.

In a number of countries, the state becomes the guarantor of the return of funds for several years. Given the stability of the economies in EU countries, the investor receives a significant guarantee of return on the money invested.

Ultimate comparison of Golden Visa programs

Practical Guide

Ultimate comparison of Golden Visa programs

Is it possible to immediately obtain EU citizenship by investment?

It is impossible to obtain citizenship immediately. We will explain what are the stages previous to citizenship.

A residence permit is the first step towards obtaining citizenship. Many countries only offer residence permits for investment. These include Portugal, Greece, Hungary, and Spain.

After the residence permit, the investor can obtain citizenship by naturalisation. To do this, you need to live in the country for five to ten years.

Citizenship for exceptional service by direct investment is available in Malta. This is also citizenship by naturalisation. The investor receives a residence permit and, after one or three years, citizenship.

Investors can also obtain citizenship in Bulgaria. At the beginning of 2021, the program was updated: applicants contribute approximately one million euros, receive permanent residence and then citizenship after five years of resident status.

Individual cost calculation for permanent residence in Malta

Individual cost calculation for permanent residence in Malta

EU citizenship by investment: the amount of money to obtain it

A passport of any EU country is relatively expensive, and it takes several years to obtain a status. In some countries, you have to live there permanently to become a citizen. Therefore, there is no easiest country to get citizenship in Europe.

Cost and timing of obtaining EU citizenship

Status

Investment amount

€690,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

14–36 months, including 1 or 3 years of residency

Conditions to live in a country

None

Status

Investment amount

€150,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

6+ months for registration of permanent residence and 5 years in the status of a permanent resident

Conditions to live in a country

None if permanent residence is enough;
1 year of uninterrupted residence before obtaining citizenship, before that — residence for 4 out of 5 years

Status

Investment amount

€250,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

12+ months to obtain a residence permit, then 5 years in resident status before applying for citizenship

Conditions to live in a country

7 days a year

Status

Investment amount

€250,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

4+ months to obtain a residence permit, then 7 years in resident status

Conditions to live in a country

None, if a residence permit is enough;
at least 183 days a year to obtain citizenship

Status

Investment amount

€250,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

5+ months to obtain a residence permit, then 3 years in resident status and 8 years with permanent residence

Conditions to live in a country

None, if a residence permit is enough;

at least 183 days a year to obtain permanent residence;

no more than 45 days of absence from Hungary per year to obtain citizenship

Status

Investment amount

€500,000+

Timing of obtaining a passport

5+ months to obtain a residence permit, then 5 years in resident status and 5 years with permanent residence

Conditions to live in a country

7 days a year to maintain a residence permit;
at least 183 days a year to obtain permanent residence and citizenship

If you need to obtain conveniently cheaper citizenship by investment, we suggest considering alternatives outside the European Union. For example, the programs of the Caribbean states: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica.

Caribbean citizenship allows you to visit the Schengen area and the UK without a visa. The only exception is Dominica: holders of Dominica passports have to get a visa to enter the UK. This is an alternative to European citizenship by investment.

Looking to obtain a residence permit in Europe?

Practical Guide

Looking to obtain a residence permit in Europe?

Citizenship in Europe by investment: pitfalls

Cost of participation for family members. Together with the investor, their relatives can obtain European citizenship, including the spouse, children, and parents. Each country has its own requirements, such as the age limit for children and parents with complete financial dependence on the investor.

In some countries, extra fees apply for family members' status. For example, the additional investment for obtaining citizenship of Malta is €50,000 for each relative.

Additional expenses. In addition to the investment, the applicant pays duties, fees, taxes, and legal services. The amount depends on the country, selected status, options, and family composition.

Living in the country. Malta does not require living permanently in the country in order to obtain citizenship. To maintain a residence permit in Portugal and eventually obtain citizenship, you need to spend seven days a year in the country. But there are also stricter conditions.

You need to live permanently in Greece and Spain to obtain a passport, but you cannot leave the country for more than six months. The same rule applies to those who have received permanent residence in Malta and want to become a citizen. To maintain resident status, you do not need to permanently live in any of these countries.

In some European countries, such as Greece, there is a condition: to obtain citizenship, a resident cannot leave the country for more than ten months within the last five years.

Ban on second citizenship. Some countries do not allow second citizenship. For example, to obtain a Spanish passport, one has to renounce the citizenship of another country.

In Malta, Portugal, Hungary, and Greece you can get a second citizenship as you do not have to give up the first one.

Key points about EU citizenship by investment

  1. Portugal, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Cyprus, and Malta offer residency by investment programs. To obtain citizenship by naturalisation after receiving a residence permit, one needs to live in the country for five to ten years.

  2. EU citizenship can be obtained by repatriation, naturalisation, and investment. The most common reasons for naturalisation are marriage, employment, and business registration.

  3. An EU passport offers its holder the opportunity to travel visa-free to over 170 countries, improve the quality of life, educate children in prestigious schools and universities, as well as work or run a business in any EU country.

  4. Some countries do not permit second citizenship. For example, obtaining a Spanish passport requires renouncing any other nationality.

  5. Most investment programs do not require living in the country if a resident status is enough. Obtaining citizenship often requires spending at least 183 days a year in the country.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.

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Frequently asked questions

  • What are the benefits of EU citizenship?

    EU citizenship is a high standard of living, political and economic stability. With an EU passport, you can freely move and live in any of the countries of the Union, as well as travel without visas to many countries of the world.

    Also, EU citizenship makes it possible to:

    1. Get a job in any EU country.

    2. Teach children in the best schools and universities in the world.

    3. Get treated in clinics with modern equipment and quality service.

    4. Transfer savings to European banks.

  • How can you get citizenship in an EU country?

    EU citizenship can be obtained by repatriation, naturalisation, and investment.

    Repatriation is the return of an ethnic population to their historical homeland which is valid in several European countries. For example, German citizenship can be obtained by foreigners who lost their citizenship due to repression or political immigration during the reign of Hitler, as well as ethnic Germans and Jews.

    Naturalisation is obtaining citizenship after long-term residence. The most common reasons for naturalisation are due to marriage, employment, and business registration.

    According to the legislation of the European Union, one cannot buy citizenship. However, in some countries, it is easier for investors to obtain citizenship. In Portugal, you can apply for citizenship five years after obtaining a residence permit for investment.

    In Malta, citizenship can be obtained by naturalisation for exceptional service by direct investment after 1 or 3 years of residency. The minimum investment amount is €690,000. You can also obtain citizenship in the EU countries for special services in the field of sports, culture, education, or medicine.

  • What is the fastest way to get EU citizenship?

    To obtain citizenship in an EU country, you need to spend an average of around ten years. It is necessary to comply with the terms of stay in the country and the requirements that are spelled out in the law. To obtain citizenship faster, you can take part in investment government residence permit programs.

    The residence permit program in Portugal gives a quick perspective of citizenship: you can apply for a passport after five years of maintaining the residence permit status. The investment amount for obtaining residency starts at €250,000.

    To obtain citizenship, the investor needs to prove knowledge of the Portuguese language at the A2 level, but is not required to reside in the country either before or after obtaining citizenship.

    A residence permit in Greece can be obtained in three months under the Greece Golden Visa Europe Program. The minimum investment amount is €250,000.

    After seven years of maintaining the residence permit status, the investor can obtain citizenship. To do this, you will need to have lived in the country for five years before submitting an application and passing a language proficiency test. Family members cannot be included in the citizenship application; they receive citizenship in the usual way.

  • How can you obtain Malta citizenship by investment?

    The Government of Malta grants citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. The amount of investment depends on when you plan to apply for citizenship — one or three years after the registration of the residence permit status.

    The investor makes a contribution to the National Development Fund of Malta and a charitable donation to a non-governmental organisation. It is also necessary to buy or rent property on the island.

    If you apply for citizenship after one year, the minimum contribution is €750,000. If you wait three years, the contribution will be reduced to €600,000.

  • What status besides citizenship gives a visa-free entry to the EU countries?

    Citizens of Vanuatu and Caribbean countries have the opportunity to travel without visas to the countries of the European Union. Citizenship investment programs operate in these states.

    Under the Vanuatu program, it is necessary to make a non-refundable contribution of $130,000 to the country’s economy. The foreigner confirms the legality of the investment and good health, as well as the absence of a criminal record. The passport is issued in 1—4 months.

    Caribbean citizenship by investment is issued by five countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. The minimum investment amount is $200,000. The passport is issued within 6—8 months.

  • Which EU country is easiest to buy citizenship?

    Foreigners cannot purchase citizenship in the European Union. No country in the region offers citizenship by investment programs.

    In Malta, citizenship can only be obtained by naturalisation — for exceptional services by direct investment. The minimum investment required is €690,000.

    Alternatively, investors can pursue citizenship by investment programs in the Caribbean or Vanuatu, where the minimum investment amount is $100,000.

  • Which European country is best for dual citizenship?

    The choice depends on the investor’s objectives. For instance, if acquiring a second home is a primary goal, obtaining citizenship in Portugal or Greece presents a viable option. These nations permit dual citizenship, eliminating the need to renounce the original passport. Moreover, Portugal and Greece do not mandate investors who acquire Golden Visas to maintain constant residency within their borders.