The easiest country in Europe to get citizenship in 2026 depends on your eligibility. For applicants with qualifying Irish or Italian ancestry, descent-based recognition routes exist that require no period of residency. For investors without ancestral ties, Portugal’s Golden Visa offers a credible low-presence route to eventual EU citizenship. Since Malta’s programme was discontinued following the CJEU ruling of April 2025, no EU member state operates a citizenship by investment programme in 2026.
- EU citizenship by investment does not exist in 2026: Malta’s programme was discontinued following the CJEU ruling of 29 April 2025
- Portugal requires 7 days’ physical presence in year one and 14 days in subsequent periods under its Golden Visa
- Ireland offers citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register for grandchildren of Irish-born individuals, with no residency requirement
- Italy’s jure sanguinis route changed materially in May 2025: transmission is now subject to a two-generation limit and additional statutory conditions
- Greece’s Golden Visa is one of Europe’s most established investment residency programmes, with a Greek passport ranked 4th globally on the Henley Index
- Spain’s investor residence scheme closed to new applicants on 3 April 2025
If you have qualifying ancestry: Ireland’s Foreign Births Register or Italy’s jure sanguinis route are the most direct options, with no residency required.
If you need low physical presence: Portugal’s Golden Visa is the clearest investor route to eventual EU citizenship currently available.
Routes no longer available to new applicants: Malta’s citizenship by investment programme and Spain’s investor residence scheme are both closed.
Which is the Easiest Country in Europe to Get Citizenship in 2026?
The easiest country in Europe to get citizenship in 2026 depends on the applicant’s profile: Ireland is usually the simplest ancestry-based route, while Portugal’s Golden Visa is the clearest low-presence option for those without European ancestry.
Ireland: Citizenship by Descent and the Foreign Births Register
Ireland’s Foreign Births Register is one of the most straightforward descent-based routes in Europe. A person with an Irish-born grandparent can obtain citizenship without living in Ireland. Where the parent also became Irish through the Foreign Births Register, that parent must have been registered before the applicant was born.
The practical difficulty is documentary rather than legal. Applicants need birth, marriage, and death records across up to three generations, and incomplete files are a common cause of delay. Fees are 278 EUR for adults and 153 EUR for minors. For those without qualifying ancestry, standard naturalization requires five years of legal residence, including one continuous year immediately before the application.
Portugal: The Clearest Low-Presence Route to EU Citizenship
Portugal’s Golden Visa remains the clearest investor route for applicants who need limited physical presence. It grants residence, not citizenship, but it can lead to naturalization after five years of legal residence.
Residential real estate no longer qualifies. The main options are 500,000 EUR in qualifying funds, 500,000 EUR in research, 250,000 EUR in arts and heritage support, or 500,000 EUR in company investment with job-creation conditions. The minimum stay is 7 days in the first period and 14 days in each later renewal period. Official application, grant, and renewal fees apply on top of legal and structuring costs.
Greece: Active Golden Visa, Higher Entry Costs
Greece Golden Visa remains an active property-led residency route, though it is less straightforward than Portugal for applicants focused on eventual citizenship. Thresholds are 800,000 EUR in the highest-demand areas, 400,000 EUR in most other regions, and 250,000 EUR for certain qualifying conversions and listed historic buildings.
The Greece Golden Visa suits investors who want Greek property exposure alongside residency rights. The trade-off is a higher entry cost in mainstream areas and less clear primary-source guidance on the route from residence to citizenship. Short-term rentals are prohibited for qualifying properties, so the investment should be treated as a long-term holding rather than a short-let strategy.
Italy: Citizenship by Descent After the 2025 Reform
Italy’s jure sanguinis route still exists, but it is no longer the broad ancestry option many applicants assume it to be. The May 2025 reform introduced a two-generation transmission limit for those born abroad and added further statutory connection tests.
As a result, eligibility now turns on the parent’s citizenship position and the applicant’s connection to Italy under the amended law, not simply on proving an Italian ancestor in the line. Applications are filed through the relevant consulate. The fee is 600 EUR per adult, and processing times vary by post.
European Citizenship Routes Compared
The table below compares the main routes by cost, physical presence, and citizenship timeline.
| Country | Route | Minimum Cost or Investment | Physical Presence | Citizenship Eligibility | Visa-free Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Descent (FBR) | 278 EUR adult fee | None | Upon FBR registration | 185 destinations |
| Ireland | Naturalization | No investment | 5 years; 365 days continuous before application | 5 years in 9 | 185 destinations |
| Italy | Descent (jure sanguinis) | 600 EUR consular fee per adult | Consular appointment | Variable by consulate | 185 destinations |
| Italy | Naturalization | No investment | 10 years (non-EU); 4 years (EU citizens) | 10 years (non-EU) | 185 destinations |
| Portugal | Golden Visa to naturalization | From 250,000 EUR (arts/heritage) | 7 days year one; 14 days per subsequent period | 5 years legal residence | 184 destinations |
| Greece | Golden Visa | From 250,000 EUR (conversions); 400,000 EUR or 800,000 EUR (standard) | Confirm with legal counsel | Confirm with legal counsel | 185 destinations |
| Malta | CBI | Discontinued April 2025 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Spain | Investor residence | Closed to new applicants April 2025 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Apply for European Residency by Investment with NGE
Next Generation Equity is a government-approved facilitator of citizenship and residency applications across Europe and the Caribbean. We advise high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and family offices on which programs are active, which options best fit their circumstances, and how to navigate the process correctly.
The European citizenship landscape has changed significantly since 2024. Program closures, higher investment thresholds, and the CJEU’s April 2025 judgment have removed some routes and reshaped others. Even so, credible residency by investment options remain available in Europe, including the Greece Golden Visa and the Portugal Golden Visa, both of which can lead to citizenship over time through the standard naturalization process, subject to meeting the relevant legal requirements.
Contact us to discuss which European residency by investment route is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which European Country Offers the Fastest Route to Citizenship?
For applicants with qualifying ancestry, Ireland is usually the fastest route because Irish citizenship is acquired through the Foreign Births Register rather than after a residency period. Spain can also be one of the fastest residence-based routes for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic applicants, who may qualify after two years of legal residence.
For investors without ancestry or a nationality-based fast track, Portugal is usually the clearest low-presence option, with naturalization eligibility after five years of legal residence.
Can You Buy EU Citizenship in 2026?
No EU member state offers a direct citizenship by investment program open to new applicants in 2026. The CJEU ruled Malta’s investor citizenship scheme incompatible with EU law on April 29, 2025, and Cyprus confirmed that its own investment program had already been terminated in 2020.
Investment residency programs still exist in some EU countries, but they lead to citizenship only through ordinary naturalization rules after the required period of legal residence.
What Is the Cheapest Route to European Citizenship?
The cheapest route to European citizenship is usually citizenship by descent, not investment. Ireland’s Foreign Births Register costs 278 EUR for adults and 153 EUR for minors, while Italian consular guidance shows a 600 EUR fee for adult jure sanguinis applications. By comparison, Portugal’s lowest Golden Visa threshold is 250,000 EUR under the arts and cultural heritage category, before government fees, legal fees, and other costs are added.
Can You Get a European Passport Without Living in Europe?
Yes, but only in limited cases. In the routes covered here, Ireland and Italy are the main examples because both offer citizenship by descent without a prior residency period for eligible applicants. Ireland’s route runs through the Foreign Births Register, while Italy’s jure sanguinis framework still exists in 2026, although the 2025 reform narrowed eligibility for people born abroad.
Is Italian Citizenship by Descent Still Available in 2026?
Yes, but under a narrower legal framework than before. Italy’s May 2025 reform introduced new limits and connection tests for people born abroad, so older guidance is often out of date. Applicants should assess eligibility under the amended law, not under the broader pre-2025 understanding of jure sanguinis.
How Long Does It Take to Get Portuguese Citizenship Through the Golden Visa?
Portuguese citizenship through the Golden Visa is not immediate. The Golden Visa provides residence, and naturalization eligibility begins after five years of legal residence if the applicant also meets the other nationality-law requirements. AIMA confirms a minimum stay of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in later years, so the fastest lawful path is measured in years, not months.
Does Greece Still Offer a Golden Visa in 2026?
Yes. Greece’s Golden Visa remains active in 2026. The current property thresholds are 800,000 EUR in higher-demand areas, 400,000 EUR in most other areas, and 250,000 EUR for certain qualifying conversions. Official Greek sources also confirm a minimum size of at least 120 square meters in the relevant property route, plus a 16 EUR card-printing fee and a 2,000 EUR renewal e-fee.
Which Is the Easiest Country in Europe to Get Citizenship Without European Ancestry?
For applicants without European ancestry, Portugal is usually the most practical answer in 2026. AIMA still confirms a minimum stay of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in later years, and Portuguese nationality rules still allow naturalization after five years of legal residence. Greece remains active, but its property thresholds are higher in mainstream markets.
