With rising interest in relocating, exploring options like citizenship by descent, naturalization, marriage, or investment can open doors to life in Europe. Learn more about eligibility, residency, and the steps to take for a successful application.
October 25, 2024
By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP
You might be tired of life in the US and are seeking something new and greater. But unfortunately, for most Americans, you can’t just pick up and move to Europe. Having citizenship can help greatly though, so how can you acquire it?
Read on to find out how to get EU citizenship as an American.
EU Citizenship by Descent
If you’re lucky, then perhaps you have a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. who originally came from an EU country. Many of them offer citizenship to descendants, so if you can prove your lineage, this can be the faster and less bureaucratic route than others.
Each country has its own rules and timelines for eligibility. Below are some EU countries with favorable ancestry laws.
Italy
Italy has one of the most flexible citizenship-by-descent laws, and it’s also known as Jure Sanguinis (right of blood). There are no generational limits for claiming Italian citizenship through your ancestors, as long as no one in your direct family line has renounced their Italian citizenship before the birth of the next generation.
This might sound fantastic, but truthfully, it can be tedious and drawn out. You’ll have to gather birth, death, and marriage certificates across generations. And the further back you go, the more difficult it’ll be.
Despite this, Jure Sanguinis is still a very popular method to get an EU passport for a US citizen.
Ireland
Another popular citizenship by descent country is Ireland. You can apply for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register if your parent or grandparent was born in Ireland. You can even apply if one of your great-grandparents was Irish, but only if one of your parents was registered as an Irish citizen before you were born.
With this route, you’ll also have to gather documents, such as original birth, marriage, and death certificates. But because you’re only going a few generations back, these papers shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain.
Poland
Many Americans have ancestors who fled Poland and went to the US, so there’s a good chance you can get EU citizenship through this route, using your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Your ancestor must have been born in Poland or a Polish territory and lived in the country after 1920. They must have also maintained their Polish citizenship until 1920 and up until your birth. Again, you’ll need birth, marriage, and death certificates to apply.
Naturalization
Naturalization is when you become a citizen of a country after living there for a certain period as a legal resident. While every country will have its own rules, here’s the general path you’ll likely take.
Visa and Residency Permit
First, you’ll get a visa to live in the EU country. The most common types include:
- Work
- Student
- Family reunification
- Entrepreneur
Duration of Residency
Most EU countries require you to have 5-10 years of continuous legal residency before you can apply for citizenship. During this time, you’ll have to comply with legal requirements, such as taxes and insurance. You may also need to renew your residency permit.
Language and Cultural Requirements
Typically, EU countries will have language and civic knowledge tests as part of their citizenship requirements; for instance, Germany requires knowledge of German at the B1 level, which is intermediate. This is to ensure integration into the society.
Make sure you know what these requirements are ahead of time so you can prepare and ace these tests.
Permanent Residency
After a few years, you will probably be eligible for permanent residency, which allows you to stay indefinitely without applying for visas. This is usually necessary before applying for citizenship.
Citizenship Application
After you’ve met the residency and language requirements, you can apply for citizenship. The process will typically include interviews and thorough background checks.
Marriage to an EU Citizen
If you’re wondering how to become a European citizen fast, then marrying an EU citizen can be one of the quickest ways. Again, the exact requirements will vary, but in general, you’ll need to live in the country for a few years before applying for citizenship and meet the usual requirements for naturalization. But in the majority of cases, it should be faster.
Spain has one of the shortest times for citizenship by marriage. After getting residency, you only need to live with your spouse for one year in Spain or one of the country’s territories before you’re eligible for citizenship. Plus, you’ll have to pass some exams.
Italy also has short requirements. You only need to live with your spouse in Italian territory for two years after marriage to apply for citizenship. If you’re a resident abroad, then this increases to three years.
Citizenship by Investment
Some EU countries offer citizenship in exchange for significant financial investments.
One of the best options here is Malta, especially if you have money to spend. You can obtain citizenship by having proof of residence in the country for 36 months and donating €600,000 to the government. You can shorten the residence time to 12 months if you donate €750,000 instead.
Greece has a similar program, but it takes much longer. You can invest at least €250,000 in real estate, and then apply for citizenship after seven years of residency.
If you have questions about what your tax situation would be like if you took the citizenship-by-investment route, then join GWP Insiders. We can help you protect your assets.
Key Considerations
While reading this article, you might’ve thought: Can you have dual US and EU citizenship? Well, the answer is, it depends. Some countries may require that you renounce your American nationality while others will allow you to have as many citizenships as you want, so double-check before you start your journey.
Also, we mentioned earlier that language proficiency is an important factor for most EU countries. While each one will have different requirements, you’ll usually need to prove proficiency at a level ranging from A2 (elementary) to B1 (intermediate), so pick a country where you’re interested in learning the language.
Because there are also integration tests in many EU countries, make sure you’re genuinely interested in learning about the culture, history, and legal systems of where you’re moving to. Successful integration can be a key factor in citizenship applications.
Know How to Get EU Citizenship as an American
Knowing how to get EU citizenship as an American is useful, especially if you plan on moving away on a long-term basis or permanently.
Because citizenship laws can be complex and vary significantly between countries, you should consult with an immigration lawyer. This will ensure that you understand the steps involved and avoid any potential roadblocks.
Contact us now to find out more about asset protection as a location-independent entrepreneur or investor. We at Global Wealth Protection have years of experience helping others like you minimize their tax obligations.
