Citizenship by Investment Programs or EU residency programs are the fastest way to get European citizenship. In exchange for a qualifying investment in the nation, you and your family can get EU passports in as little as six months, depending on what country program you pick.
1) Portugal
What make Portugal the easiest country in Europe to gain citizenship is that there are no physical presence requirements. Meaning you only need to hold your resident permit in order to qualify for naturalization. You don't need to spend most of the year in the country like most other countries.
The most preferred and easiest way to apply for European citizenship is through your ancestry or descent. If you have parents, grandparents, and in some cases, even great grandparents from any of the EU countries like Poland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, and many others, you can apply for citizenship.
The fastest way to obtain citizenship is in Vanuatu; on average, it takes a month. Caribbean citizenship has become popular among entrepreneurs. Dominica residents do not pay dividend taxes.
There is no minimum stay required. A St Kitts & Nevis passport allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 157 destinations, including Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, the UK, and Europe's Schengen Area. Citizenship-by-descent is available to future generations.
The typical route to getting European citizenship takes seven or more years. You must first invest in a country and acquire a five-year residency permit, maintain your investment, and reside in the country for a substantial amount of years before applying for citizenship by naturalization.
Sweden is one of the easiest and non-restricted countries for citizenship in the European continent. Like Portugal, Sweden requires at least a five-year resident permit without any language obligations to get citizenship.
According to the legislation of the European Union, you 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.
Germany and Spain's passports have been considered Europe's most powerful ones, according to the Henley Passport Index.
The most difficult countries to obtain citizenship include Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Bhutan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Switzerland, China, and North Korea. If you have ever submitted an application for citizenship, you will know just how difficult the process can be.
French nationality remained the best in the world according to the 2018 edition of the Quality of Nationality Index, earning a score of 83.5% out of a possible 100%, fractionally ahead of Germany and the Netherlands.
Malta is the easiest country in the EU to get citizenship, if you're willing to pay a high fee (€750,000). Otherwise, Portugal is the most affordable and fastest route to EU citizenship, with a range of flexible residency options, from the Portugal Golden Visa to the D7 passive income or retirement visa.
Portugal. Portugal is one of the easiest countries to move to if you have enough money. Its Golden Visa scheme allows you to apply for permanent residency after five years.
Residency by investment can be obtained in Portugal, Greece, Spain and Malta when buying real estate.
The best way to move to Europe without a job is by getting a student visa and studying there. Whether it's for your Bachelor's or Master's or even just a language school, this is the most common and easiest entrance into a lot of countries in Europe.
Which Country in Europe is Easiest to Get Citizenship? The most accessible country to get citizenship in the EU is Portugal. The country offers one of the most affordable investment options for citizenship, and after five years, you gain an EU passport.
A European passport is the holy grail of passports, but this also means that it is not easy to get. For those who qualify for European citizenship by descent, the process can be quite straightforward and easy.
Perhaps one of the most sought after second citizenships (or first citizenships, for that matter) on earth, Switzerland offers those married to Swiss nationals a “simplified naturalization” process.
EU countries that allow dual citizenship: Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Sweden.
To obtain a US passport, you need to invest $900,000 in an American company, live in the country for five years and obtain citizenship by naturalization.
Japan has the world's most powerful passport - providing hassle-free entry to 193 countries. Just one country short, Singapore and South Korea are tied in second place, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners, an immigration consultancy.