Five Ways to Get EU Citizenship Without Writing a Check

Living in the European Union no longer requires a six‑figure “golden‑visa” investment. Five distinct pathways grant an EU passport based solely on a qualifying personal connection—ancestry, a reclaimed family citizenship, marriage, lawful residence, or birthplace. Each route involves administrative fees and, for residence‑based options, years of living in the country, but none demands a direct entry fee.

1. Claim It Through Ancestry

Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) passes nationality down the family line regardless of birthplace.

Documentation: Birth, marriage, and death certificates (often apostilled and translated) are required; processing can take years.

2. Reclaim a Citizenship Your Family Lost

Several countries allow descendants of individuals stripped of nationality during the Nazi era or earlier discriminatory laws to regain citizenship, typically without residence or language tests.

• Germany
  • Article 116(2) & § 15 Nationality Act: Descendants of those who lost citizenship for political, racial, or religious reasons (1933‑May 1945) may apply.
  • 2021 law: Descendants of women barred from passing citizenship pre‑1975 can apply until 19 Aug 2031.
• Austria (Sept 2020): Direct descendants of persons who fled Nazi persecution before 15 May 1955 may acquire citizenship without renouncing current nationality.
• Spain: Democratic Memory Law (closed to new applicants on 22 Oct 2025) previously allowed descendants of Civil War and Franco‑era exiles to reclaim nationality. The separate Sephardic‑origin program closed in 2019.
• Portugal: Sephardic route abolished in the 2026 reform.

Note: Verify current legislative status, as many of these windows have already closed.

3. Marry an EU Citizen

Spousal naturalisation accelerates the residence requirement, though most states still require some period of living in the country.

• Spain: Naturalisation after 1 year of legal residence for spouses.
• Germany: Standard five‑year residence reduced to 3 years for spouses, provided the marriage lasts at least two years.
• Ireland: Three years of marriage plus three years of reckonable residence on the island.
• Portugal: Citizenship after 3 years of marriage/cohabitation, without any residence requirement (2026 reform tightened proof of genuine connection).
• Italy: Spouse may apply from abroad after 3 years of marriage (reduced to 1.5 years if children are present); requires B1‑level Italian.

Authorities scrutinise marriage‑based applications to prevent convenience marriages.

4. Earn It by Living There

Naturalisation based solely on lawful residence is available in every EU member state, with varying timeframes and language/civic‑test requirements. Recent legislative changes have generally lengthened the required periods.

• Ireland: Five years of reckonable residence within the previous nine years; no language test.
• Germany: Five years of residence (reduced from eight in 2024); requires B1‑level German and a citizenship test. The fast‑track for “exceptionally integrated” residents ended in Oct 2025.
• Spain: Two‑track system – 2 years for nationals of Ibero‑American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic origin; 10 years for others.
• Portugal: As of May 2026, the residency requirement is 7 years for EU and Portuguese‑speaking nationals, 10 years for all others; the clock starts from the issuance of the residence permit. Applications filed before 19 May 2026 follow the former five‑year rule.
• Other countries (e.g., Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia) generally require 5–10 years of residence, often with language or civics exams.

Applicants must fund their own living expenses, meet physical‑presence rules, and pass any required language or civic examinations.

5. Inherit It From Where You Were Born

Some EU states grant citizenship based on birth within their territory, usually conditioned on a parent’s legal residence.

• Germany: Child born in Germany to a parent with at least five years of legal residence and a permanent right of residence receives citizenship at birth.
• France: “Double jus soli” – child born to a French‑born parent is automatically French; child born to foreign parents may acquire citizenship at 18 years if sufficient residence is demonstrated.
• Italy: Person born in Italy to foreign parents may apply between ages 18–19 if continuous residence since birth is proven.
• Spain: Child born to a Spanish‑born parent is Spanish by origin; child born to foreign parents may naturalise after 1 year of legal residence.
• Portugal: Until 2026, a similar rule existed; since then, a parent must have five years of legal residence for the child to claim citizenship.

These provisions primarily benefit the next generation rather than adult applicants born elsewhere.

A Rare Merit‑Based Route

All EU countries retain discretionary citizenship for individuals who provide exceptional contributions in science, sport, culture, or public service. This pathway does not require investment or residence but is limited to a handful of cases annually and is not typically open to direct application.

Practical Steps

1. Map your family tree back two or three generations; gather birth, marriage, and death certificates.
2. Match ancestry against the specific descent rules of each EU country, noting any generational caps or language requirements.
3. Check current legislation—many nations revised citizenship laws in 2025‑2026, tightening eligibility.
4. Assess reparation windows (e.g., German 2021 law, Austrian 2020 law) for applicability.
5. Consider residence timelines if you plan to naturalise through living in a particular country, accounting for recent extensions (e.g., Portugal’s 2026 change).
6. Prepare for administrative costs such as government fees, apostilles, certified translations, and possible legal counsel.

By confirming an existing qualifying connection, the primary cost becomes time and paperwork rather than a substantial monetary investment.

Source article: www.imidaily.com