How to Get EU Citizenship

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 3, 2021 References Approved

Citizenship in the European Union (EU) comes with the ability to work, travel, or study anywhere in the EU without a visa. The road towards citizenship can take several years. To receive EU citizenship, you must actually apply for citizenship in an EU country. The process for citizenship varies from country to country. In general, you will need to live in the country for a certain number of years, gather proof of your eligibility to be a citizen, and submit an application. Citizenship tests, language tests, and an application fee may also be required. If you have already been living in an EU country for a while, however, you may have a strong chance at getting citizenship.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Meeting the Requirements

1
Establish residency in an EU country. If you are not already living in an EU country, you will need to move to one to become a resident. Immigrating is a very serious and expensive decision that will require you to apply for a visa, find a job, learn a new language, and remain in the country for several years.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- There are 28 countries in the EU. Becoming a citizen of any one of them will grant you EU citizenship. Each has different requirements for becoming a citizen, however.
- Remember that not all countries in Europe belong to the EU. Moving to Norway, North Macedonia, or Switzerland will not help you gain EU citizenship.
- Keep in mind that the UK is currently in the process of leaving the EU. If you apply for British citizenship, you may not have EU citizenship permanently.
2
Determine how long you must live in the country to become a citizen. Most countries require that you live there for at least 5 years, although some may have longer residency requirements. Look up how long you will have to live in your desired country before applying for citizenship.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- For example, you must live in Germany for 8 years to get a passport. In France, you only need to be a resident for 5 years.
Advertisement
3
Consider your spouse's citizenship. If your spouse is a citizen of an EU country, you may be able to apply for citizenship through them. Depending on where they have citizenship, marriage to an EU citizen might shorten the amount of time you need to live in the country before applying for citizenship.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- In Sweden, you normally need to live in the country for 5 years before applying for citizenship. If you are married or in a registered partnership with a Swedish citizen, however, you only need to live there for 3 years.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
4
Learn the language of the country you are living in. Many EU countries have language requirements before you can apply for citizenship. Some may require you to take a language course while others ask you to complete a basic language test. Countries with language requirements or tests include:^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Hungary
- Germany
- Latvia
- Romania
- Denmark
5
Check to see if you have ancestry in any EU countries. Some EU countries will allow the children or grandchildren of citizens become a citizen themselves, even if they do not live in the country themselves. These laws are called jus sanguinis (or right by blood).^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Ireland, Italy, and Greece will give citizenship to children and grandchildren of citizens. Hungary includes great-grandchildren.
- In Germany and the UK, you can only get citizenship this way if your parents were citizens.
- Some countries will have requirements on when your ancestor left the country. For example, in Poland, you can get citizenship if your ancestor left after 1951 while in Spain, your ancestors must have left between 1936 and 1955.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying for Citizenship

1
Gather your documents. Make copies of the important documents. Do not submit the original document. While the exact requirements may vary from country to country, in general, you will need:^{[7]
X
Research source}
- A copy of your birth certificate
- A copy of your current passport
- Proof of residency, such as job records, bank statements, travel records, or official mail with your address on it.
- Proof of employment, such as a signed statement from your employer. If you're retired or self-employed, show financial records to demonstrate that you are financially stable.
- If you are married to a citizen of the country, you will need proof of the marriage, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificates of any children, and family photos.
2
Fill out the application. This application is typically available on the website of the country's department of immigration. Read through the application carefully before filling it out. While the application is different in every country, you may need to state:
- Your full name
- Current and previous addresses
- Date of birth
- Current citizenship
- Education
- How long you have been a resident in the country
- Details about your family, including your parents, spouse, and children.
3
Pay the application fee. You may have to pay for the application to be processed. These fees can wary widely. Some examples of application fees include:^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Ireland: €175
- Germany: €255
- Sweden: 1,500 SEK
- Spain: €60-100
4
Take the citizenship test. A citizenship test shows that you are knowledgeable about the country's customs, language, laws, history, and culture. These tests are short, but they are required in many EU countries.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- For example, in Germany, you will be asked 33 questions about German history, law, and culture. You must answer at least 17 correctly.^{[10]
  X
  Research source}
- This test will usually be given in the country's official language.
5
Attend a hearing or interview if requested. In some countries, you must be interviewed by a judge or the police before you can receive citizenship. After you fill out your application, you will receive notification of the date and place of your hearing.^{[11]
X
Research source}
6
Go to the citizenship ceremony. Most countries have a ceremony for new citizens. At this ceremony, citizens sworn in. You may receive a certificate of naturalization, proving your new citizenship. Once you have citizenship in an EU country, you are automatically an EU citizen.
- You will usually hear back about whether you have received citizenship within 3 months of your application. Some countries may take much longer, however.
- These ceremonies may take place in big cities or capitols.
- Attendance at this ceremony is usually required for you to receive citizenship.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Improving Your Application

1
Avoid leaving the country for long stretches of time. Your residency in the country must usually be continuous. This means that you must live only in that country for a specified amount of time. If you leave the country for longer than a few weeks a year, you may no longer be eligible for citizenship.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- For example, in France, if you leave for more than 6 months, you may become ineligible for citizenship.
2
Increase your yearly salary. Most countries will not give you citizenship unless you make a certain amount of money. Some may request proof that you are employed in the country. If you are married and do not work, you may need to provide details of your spouse's job instead.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- For example, in Denmark, you must prove that you are able to support yourself and your family without relying on any public assistance, such as housing or welfare.^{[14]
  X
  Research source}
- If you are a student, the requirements may vary. You may need to graduate and get a full-time job before you become eligible.
3
Buy property in the country you are living in. If you own a house or land in the country to which you are applying for citizenship, you may have a better case. In some countries, such as Greece, Latvia, Portugal, and Cyprus, you can earn the right to citizenship just by owning a certain amount of property.^{[15]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

Can I become a Slovakian citizen if one of my parents is one, even if I was born in the US?

Community Answer

It could help your argument to become a Slovakina citizen if your parents are. Similar to most other EU countries, you would need to show your proof or heritage and understanding of the Slovakian language.
Question

Is it faster to get EU citizenship through marriage in any particular country?

Community Answer

Yes; you can find a full chart online of how most yearly times are cut. In France, for example, instead of 5 years you get 3.
Question

If I own property in an EU country, can I apply for EU citizenship?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Just be sure to check the specific country and review its requirements.