An EU passport can be obtained through several routes, including ancestry, marriage, residence, investment-linked residence, culturally linked nationality strategies, and exceptional merit. The right route depends on eligibility, timeline, cost, residence obligations, and the risk that laws change before an applicant reaches naturalization.
Why an EU passport matters
An EU passport gives the holder the legal right to live, work, study, and retire across the 27 EU member states. It also provides visa-free access to more than 150 countries, making it one of the stronger second-nationality options globally.
The main trade-off is that EU citizenship is usually not instant. Most routes require ancestry, marriage, residence, investment, or a qualifying personal profile.
Citizenship by descent
Citizenship by descent is usually the first route to check because it can be the lowest-cost option. It depends on family ancestry rather than investment.
Potentially relevant countries include:
- Italy
- Ireland
- Poland
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- France
Applicants generally need to prove the family line using documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death records. These may need to be collected from different countries and translated.
Processing can take around 6 months to 3 years, depending on the country and complexity of the paperwork.
Italy has reportedly tightened its rules, with great-grandparent claims no longer accepted under the route described in the transcript. Ireland is described as a cleaner and relatively attractive pathway for people who can trace eligible ancestry.
Marriage to an EU citizen may also create a path in some countries, but it is separate from ancestry-based citizenship.
Citizenship by marriage
Marriage to an EU citizen can shorten the naturalization timeline, but the rules are stricter than they used to be.
Common requirements include:
- A legally recognized marriage
- Evidence that the marriage is genuine
- A period of living together
- In many cases, physical residence in the EU country
Portugal is described as requiring about 3 years of marriage with residence. Spain is described as offering a 1-year legal residence route for the spouse of a Spanish citizen, but the applicant must live in Spain during that year.
Other countries may take around 2 to 5 years. France and Italy are mentioned as examples where residence requirements may differ.
Marriage should not be treated as a passport strategy by itself. The route only works where the relationship is genuine and the applicant complies with the country’s rules.
Residence leading to citizenship
Residence-to-citizenship is a common route for people who genuinely want to move to Europe. Residence permits may be based on:
- Work
- Retirement
- Passive income
- Remote work
- Other country-specific visa categories
Countries mentioned include Spain, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland.
The main risk is time. A long residence period creates a bigger window for laws to change before the applicant qualifies for citizenship. Portugal is given as an example where the citizenship timeline was described as moving from 5 years to 10 years.
Some countries are described as having 5-year naturalization periods, including Belgium, Sweden, France, and Germany. Italy and Spain are described as 10-year routes for ordinary applicants.
This route is strongest when the applicant actually wants to live in the country, with citizenship as a later outcome rather than the only goal.
Citizenship by investment and EU limits
Direct EU citizenship by investment has largely disappeared. Cyprus previously had a real estate-based route described as costing around €2.5 million, but it closed.
Malta is described as the remaining EU member state with a relevant pathway, but the transcript says it changed in April 2025 from “citizenship by investment” to “citizenship by merit.” The change is presented as a response to EU pressure around selling or undervaluing EU citizenship.
The practical distinction is that applicants must qualify rather than simply apply by making an investment.
Golden visas and residency by investment
Golden visas are not citizenship by investment. They provide residence, sometimes with a path to citizenship later, but the naturalization rules can change.
Programs mentioned include:
- Greece, with tiered real estate investment options
- Italy, with investment fund options that may include real estate as an underlying asset
- Malta residency
- Latvia
- Hungary
Spain and Ireland are mentioned as former options that closed.
These programs may involve investment into property, funds, or in some cases donations. Applicants must still meet normal nationality requirements later, including clean source of funds, a clean record, and compliance with the law.
Expected citizenship timelines can be around 5, 7, 10, or more years, depending on the country and nationality law in force at the time.
The advantage is that capital may be parked in European assets and potentially recovered or redeployed if rules change. The risk is assuming that residence will definitely become citizenship.
Using another citizenship to shorten the EU timeline
Some EU countries give shorter naturalization timelines to citizens of culturally or historically linked countries.
Spain is described as offering a 2-year citizenship timeline to citizens of former Spanish colonies and the Philippines. Portugal is described as offering a shorter 7-year path for nationals of CPLP countries, compared with the longer general route described in the transcript.
The strategy described is to first acquire a qualifying citizenship, such as Brazilian, Mexican, Argentine, Filipino, or another eligible nationality, and then apply for residence or naturalization in Spain or Portugal from a stronger position.
Examples mentioned include:
- Brazil through residence or birth-related routes
- São Tomé and Príncipe nationality
- Mexico
- Argentina
- The Philippines
The transcript says some of these citizenships may be achievable within 2 to 4 years of residence, while São Tomé and Príncipe is described as taking around 5 to 9 months in practice. It also warns that newer programs may have delays and that early applicants often face administrative issues.
This strategy does not guarantee future EU citizenship, because laws can still change.
Citizenship by merit or exception
Some countries have laws allowing citizenship by merit or exception. These routes may apply to people with strong profiles, such as:
- Scientists
- High-profile business figures
- Athletes
- People with major public achievements
Malta is described as the best-known example because its previous investment route was heavily marketed for years. The transcript also mentions demand around Eastern European countries, but warns that this area can be obscure and higher-risk.
Applicants should read the relevant country’s legislation and understand whether they genuinely qualify. Costs can vary because the government has discretion and the decision may depend heavily on the applicant’s profile.
Restoration and persecution-based claims
Some European countries may have restoration routes for people whose families lost citizenship because of historical persecution. The transcript warns that these routes should only be used where there is a genuine link to the country.
Slovenia is mentioned as an example of a route being promoted online in a way the transcript describes as risky or potentially scam-like. The concern is that unethical practitioners may try to create a weak or artificial connection to a country.
The practical warning is that false or manipulated documentation can create long-term consequences. If detected, it may exclude the applicant from legitimate citizenship or residency programs later.
Moving to Europe as the simple route
For some applicants, the most straightforward path is simply moving to the country and building a life there.
Countries mentioned as attractive include:
- Portugal
- Spain
- Ireland
- Germany
Portugal is described as increasingly backed up, while Spain is described as smoother and faster by comparison. Germany is described as forward-thinking, and Ireland as another viable option.
Language, lifestyle, administrative speed, tax exposure, residence obligations, and long-term family goals should all be considered before choosing a country.
The main decision point is whether the applicant wants an EU passport as a direct objective or whether they actually want to live in Europe. For many people, the best first step is to check ancestry before spending money on residence or investment routes.
