Citizenship in Europe: how and where is it easiest to get

Many people flock to Western countries, believing that there they can get much more comfortable conditions for their lives. But in order to take advantage of the benefits that European states are able to provide, one must acquire citizenship of one or another power in the region. In which European country can you obtain citizenship, and what is the easiest way to do it?

Ways to obtain official citizenship in Europe

Before describing specific examples, we should briefly describe what citizenship is and what are the main ways to obtain it in the EU countries.

The status of a citizen of a state can be obtained by a person who is connected with him by certain legal relations. Along with citizenship, a person receives a set of rights and obligations prescribed in the Constitution of this state. It guarantees its citizen the protection of rights, allows him to legally and without restrictions be on its territory, live, work, acquire property, etc.

By becoming a citizen, a person establishes a long-term stable connection with the state. Citizenship is one of the most important elements of everyone's social life.

By becoming a subject of a particular European country, a person has the opportunity to receive the privileges that it can give: finding a well-paid job, receiving social protection of high quality standards, the right to go to power or do business.

How can I get a European passport?

• By right of birth.

If the fact of a person’s birth on the territory of a European country (European Union) is proven, then citizenship can be taken on this basis.

• If a person has relatives living in a given country.

They must be citizens of this state.

• In case of marriage with a citizen of the relevant state.

If people are married, they become one family, that is, equal.

• If a person has lived in the country for several years.

In the event that all of its documents comply with legal requirements.

• The state can grant citizenship for certain merits or investments.

You can also take advantage of special programs for immigrants: if a person is a master of his craft, has high qualifications in a certain field of work, then in many European countries they can accept him with open arms as a valuable carrier of intellectual property.

Speaking about the simplest ways to obtain citizenship, the easiest way to obtain documents is to:

1. For money (easier).

In this case, a person receives citizenship if he invests significant financial resources in the country. Each EU state has its own requirements for the amount of financial injection.

1. Traditionally, through naturalization.

This is a rather long process, which is characterized by obtaining a residence permit (residence permit), living in the country for 5-7 years, obtaining permanent residence (permanent residence) and after that – citizenship itself.

What privileges does citizenship in the European Union provide?

For what reasons do people from many countries wish to obtain citizenship in European powers? We can highlight the following privileges that a citizen of these countries receives:

• live peacefully in economically developed and stable countries;
• receive a professional education that is considered prestigious and in demand throughout the world;
• have various guarantees that will ensure a decent standard of living (high cash payments and other social obligations);
• take advantage of high-quality financial services (advantageous accounts, various low-interest loans, etc.);
• medical care here is considered one of the best in the world. Having a passport of a member state of the European Union, you can receive professional medical care throughout the territory of the union;
• move freely throughout the Schengen countries and other participants. And in relation to more than a hundred countries of the world, citizens of European countries can travel without visas.

Citizenship and residence permit for cash injections

There are countries in Europe where you can buy citizenship outright for money or purchase a residence permit, with the help of which you can obtain citizenship through naturalization.

In which country is it easier to acquire official documents and the desired citizenship status, and can you do it right away?

1. Malta.

For official documents of this small island state, it will be necessary to donate funds or invest them in a specific project. In the first case, the amount is $500,000, in the second – $650,000.

1. Cyprus.

Here citizenship will be more expensive; for it you will have to invest 3-5 million euros in the country.

It should be remembered that in most cases the emigrant can forget about this money, it cannot be returned, and he cannot expect to receive interest income from investments either.

In most cases, European countries offer a residence permit with subsequent naturalization for financial investments. In fact, a residence permit gives an emigrant practically the same rights as the status of a citizen (with the exception of the right to go to power and some other restrictions). In the future, if you do not commit any offenses, you can count on an easier time obtaining citizenship itself.

Below we will consider those countries in which it is cheapest to obtain a residence permit, because in countries such as Austria or France the price for it reaches 10 million euros.

In some EU countries it is easier to obtain a residence permit for the purchase of real estate:

• Latvia.

This is where it will be easiest for an emigrant from Russia, also because the Russian language is understood everywhere. It will be necessary to purchase a property for personal use for 250,000 euros. In this case, papers for a residence permit will be received during the provision of documents establishing ownership.

These documents will need to be renewed several times. Citizenship of this Baltic state can be taken after 10 years.

• Spain.

Here, a temporary residence permit can be obtained for the purchase of personal housing in the amount of 160,000 euros; citizenship itself can actually be acquired after 15 years.

The downside is that you need to show an account statement that there is enough money there to live on. You will also have to pay taxes on all your property (including Russian property).

• Portugal.

For a Portuguese residence permit, you need living space worth at least 500,000 euros. Citizenship can be obtained in just 6 years.

• Bulgaria.

The price for a residence permit in Bulgaria is 300,000 euros. This is the minimum amount for which you need to buy real estate and obtain a residence permit. The advantage is that you can buy several objects with this money.

It is also possible to start a business in this country, a company that will employ at least 10 people (Bulgarians), for this you can also purchase a residence permit. There are programs for wealthy pensioners to obtain documents.

• Greece.

In this ancient and incredibly beautiful country, you can buy real estate for a residence permit for 250,000 euros. You also need to provide an extract from your account, which should contain the same amount, proving the emigrant’s wealth.

• Hungary.

In this country you cannot get a residence permit for real estate, but you can buy government bonds worth 250,000 euros. This money can actually be returned in 5 years, without interest.

Having proven that the emigrant has where and what to live on, he can easily acquire documents.

These are the easiest ways to legally obtain citizenship or a residence permit for him in European countries. The other way, the more traditional one, means a lot of paperwork, obtaining visas, waiting for a positive decision, approval of a residence permit, and so on.

In any case, moving to the EU countries and obtaining official documents is associated with high expenses. The more developed and wealthy the country, the more complicated the procedure for obtaining documents for emigrants.

At the same time, everyone has the opportunity to do this, because there are many examples of successful acquisition of citizenship in European powers. And since there are such people, it means that it is possible to achieve success in this, simply by making an effort!

Attention! Due to recent changes in legislation, the legal information in this article may be out of date!

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