An EU passport is not a product. You first acquire a Member State’s nationality, gaining EU citizenship and rights to live and work across the EU.[1] Routes vary by country and may rely on residence, marriage or descent.[2] Germany’s standard route, for example, requires five years of legal residence, costs €255, and may take 18 months or longer.[3] We suggest first checking your ancestry and lawful residence options with the relevant government.
Conditions for Obtaining EU Citizenship
| Option | Price | Timeframe | Requirements | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation (Germany) | €255 | 18 months or longer | At least 5 years of legal residence | U.S. citizens must enter and leave the U.S. using a U.S. passport [4] |
| Naturalisation (Portugal) | Uclarify | 7-10 years residence | Ordinary naturalisation residence period increased to 7 years for Portuguese-speaking countries and 10 years for others [5] | U.S. citizens subject to tax reporting on worldwide income [6] |
| Citizenship by descent (Ireland) | €278 | Uclarify | Grandparent born in Ireland [7] | U.S. citizens must apply for an Irish passport after registration [7] |
| Citizenship by descent (Italy) | Uclarify | Uclarify | Parent or grandparent held exclusively Italian citizenship or parent resided in Italy for 2 years [8] | Uclarify |
| Investment-residence (Portugal) | €250,000+ | Temporary residence permit | Options include creating 10 jobs or investing in cultural projects [9] | Does not grant citizenship directly [9] |
| Investor citizenship (Malta) | Uclarify | Uclarify | Predetermined payments or investments [10] | Scheme ruled unlawful by the Court of Justice of the EU [10] |
How to obtain an EU passport lawfully
- 1. Choose a citizenship route
Start with citizenship, not the passport. EU citizenship comes through nationality of an individual Member State; it is additional to national citizenship and provides rights including living and working across the EU.[1] There is no single EU application, so compare the routes offered by relevant countries: qualifying residence, marriage to a citizen, or descent from a citizen parent or grandparent.[2] Checklist: identify countries connected to your ancestry or spouse, decide whether relocation is realistic, and use the responsible national authority's requirements rather than an agent's generic "EU passport" offer.
- 2. Rule out direct-purchase offers
A passport is not a lawful investment product. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on April 29, 2025, that Malta's scheme granting nationality for predetermined payments or investments unlawfully commercialised EU citizenship.[10] Investor residence programmes are different: Portugal's programme issues temporary residence, with options including creating 10 jobs, contributing at least €250,000 to eligible cultural projects, or investing at least €500,000 in qualifying non-real-estate funds, research or businesses.[9] Checklist: confirm whether an offer provides residence or citizenship, which national law governs it, and what must happen before naturalisation can be requested; the European Commission warns that investor citizenship and residence schemes can create security, money-laundering, tax-evasion and corruption risks.[11]
- 3. Check whether ancestry is faster
Review family records before planning a move. Someone with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland may obtain Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register; the adult fee is €278, and passport eligibility begins only after registration makes the applicant an Irish citizen.[7] Italy applies narrower rules under Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, generally requiring a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship, or a parent who lived in Italy continuously for at least two years before the applicant's birth or adoption.[8] Checklist: establish the exact family relationship, compare it with the current national criteria, and obtain the records requested by the relevant authority rather than assuming that a European surname is sufficient.
- 4. Apply through the national authority
Follow the selected country's procedure. For Germany's standard route, an applicant needs at least five years of legal residence, pays €255 for naturalisation and a separate €25 test fee, and should expect processing to take 18 months or longer.[3] Portugal's changes effective May 19, 2026 set ordinary residence periods of seven years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries or EU Member States and ten years for other nationals, including most Americans using the residence route.[5] Checklist: confirm the current eligibility period, required evidence, fees and submission channel directly with the national authority before paying, translating or organising documents.
- 5. Verify advisers and plan continuing obligations
Check every paid representative independently. The European Commission's Find a Lawyer service lets applicants search participating national bar registers instead of trusting only an agent's website or social-media profile.[12] Americans applying from Seattle or living in Europe should also plan for continuing U.S. obligations: U.S. citizens abroad generally remain subject to tax reporting on worldwide income, while an FBAR is required when foreign financial accounts exceed an aggregate value of $10,000 at any point during the calendar year.[6] Checklist: verify the lawyer's registration, obtain the official fee and processing information, and review U.S. tax reporting before opening or funding European accounts.
- 6. Confirm citizenship before seeking the passport
Citizenship must come first. Once the Member State confirms nationality, follow that country's official passport process; Ireland, for example, allows a Foreign Births Register applicant to seek an Irish passport only after registration has made the person an Irish citizen.[7] The United States permits dual or multiple nationality and does not normally require Americans naturalising elsewhere to surrender U.S. citizenship, but dual nationals must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.[4] Checklist: verify the citizenship decision with the issuing authority, compare the finished document's published features through PRADO, and refer any suspected document to the relevant national contact point.[13] Never use a forged document: knowingly making, supplying or using a counterfeit passport can carry up to 10 years' imprisonment for a first or second ordinary offence under 18 U.S.C. §1543.[14]
Risks, Limitations and Guarantees
Acquiring EU citizenship through lawful means involves various risks and limitations. A common misconception is that EU passports can be purchased directly, but this is not the case. Citizenship is obtained through nationality of an EU Member State, which cannot be commercialised[1][10]. Many countries have specific naturalisation procedures, which often require residence, marriage, or descent[2].
Before proceeding, we recommend verifying the legitimacy of any offers. The European Commission has highlighted that investor citizenship schemes may pose risks related to security, money laundering, and tax evasion[11]. For instance, Malta's citizenship scheme was ruled unlawful for commercialising citizenship[10].
It is also crucial to check the specific requirements of each Member State, as they vary significantly. For example, Germany requires five years of legal residence and a fee of €255, while Portugal's new rules will extend the residence period for naturalisation to up to ten years for non-Portuguese speakers[5][3].
If you need to cancel or withdraw your application, ensure you understand the procedures of the respective Member State. Always consult the national authority directly for the most accurate and current information regarding your application status and any potential refunds. Checking the registration of immigration lawyers through the European Commission's Find a Lawyer service can also safeguard against fraudulent practices[12].
Straight answers
Which EU country has the lowest cost of living?
Bulgaria had the EU's lowest overall household-consumption price level in the 2025 Eurostat comparison, at 63% of the EU average; its housing-cost level was 41% of the average.[15] We suggest treating these national figures as a starting point, since they do not show what a particular household would spend in a specific city.
What is the cheapest EU passport?
There is no single "cheapest EU passport" because applicants must qualify for national citizenship before applying for a passport.[1][2] For comparison, Germany charges €255 for naturalisation plus €25 for the test, while Ireland's Foreign Births Register costs €278 for an adult who qualifies through an Irish-born grandparent; neither figure represents the full cost of obtaining a passport.[3][7] We advise comparing eligibility, document costs and residence requirements rather than application fees alone.
How do I get an EU passport by descent?
We suggest tracing parents and grandparents, then checking the citizenship rules of the relevant country because there is no EU-wide descent procedure.[2] Ireland permits someone with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland to seek citizenship through the Foreign Births Register, whereas Italy generally applies narrower conditions involving a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship or a parent's qualifying residence in Italy.[7][8] Citizenship must be confirmed before the national passport application begins.[7]
Easiest country to get citizenship in Europe without investment
No country is universally the easiest because eligibility depends on ancestry, family connections and lawful residence under national law.[2] If you have a grandparent born on the island of Ireland, registration through the Foreign Births Register may avoid a residence-based naturalisation route; otherwise, Germany offers a standard route after at least five years of legal residence.[3][7] We would check ancestry before comparing relocation options, since investment is not required for either route.
Links and references
- 1. EU citizenship - EUR-Lex
- 2. Naturalisation and citizenship in an EU country - Your Europe
- 3. Key questions about naturalisation
- 4. Dual Nationality - U.S. Department of State
- 5. Lei da Nacionalidade: novas regras entram em vigor a 19 de maio
- 6. U.S. citizens and residents abroad – Filing requirements
- 7. Registering A Foreign Birth - Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
- 8. Citizenship – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- 9. Autorização de Residência para Investimento – Art. 90.º-A - AIMA
- 10. Union citizenship: the Maltese investor citizenship scheme is contrary to EU law
- 11. Investor Citizenship Schemes - European Commission
- 12. Find a lawyer - European e-Justice Portal
- 13. PRADO - Public Register of Authentic identity and travel Documents Online
- 14. 18 USC 1543: Forgery or false use of passport
- 15. Household consumption price levels across the EU in 2025
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