Discover how to obtain an EU citizen through naturalization, descent, or investment. Learn the steps, requirements, and benefits of holding an EU passport. There are three major ways of getting a European Union citizenship: by naturalization, descent, or investment.
- Naturalization
The most common way of getting the citizenship among applicants is getting it by naturalization. There are two main options of it: through the work or marriage. In both ways of the naturalization it is necessary to prove applicant’s level of language proficiency.
In order to become a European Union citizen through the naturalization, one has to constantly live and work in a certain country. Usually it takes from 5 to 10 years to become a European Union citizen. In order to work legally one should have a work permit. For instance, EU Blue Card. Applicants with business also have an opportunity to become a European Union citizen by naturalization.
Marriage – wise, applicant must be married to a citizen of any European country for more than three years. Moreover, couple has to provide the local authorities with proves regarding the veracity of the marriage to become legal EU citizens by the naturalization.
- Descent
Descent method is the easiest and cheapest one for the applicant to become a European Union citizen, but the main requirement may seem to be very difficult to accomplish – applicant has to have an ancestor or parent with an EU citizenship to get it by descent. By the way, 9 out of 27 European Union countries allow citizenship by descent from great-grandparents. The main advantage of the descent method is that the preparation of the documents and the process of getting an EU citizenship takes from six months to a year.
- Investment
It is possible to become a European Union citizen by making any investment in a European country, this type of investment program is also known as a Golden Visa. This way has fewer requirements, than other options: an applicant does not need to prove ones’ level of language proficiency or live constantly within the territory of a certain country, but has to have a financial support to make an investment. The procedure of getting an EU citizenship takes from 3 to 5 years, depending on the country. The investment amount is also different in each country: it ranges from €250.000 to €700.000.
Benefits of an EU citizenship
- Working opportunities
It is possible to work and become an employee in any European country with an EU citizenship. Moreover, employees with a European Union citizenship are more valuable among other job candidates.
- Travelling opportunities
European Union citizenship is one of the strongest in the world – it is providing citizens with visa-free entrance to 180–190 countries, including non-EU countries. In addition to that, a European Union citizenship holder does not have any restrictions regarding the time spent in any European Union country.
- Educational opportunities
Europe is widely known for its huge number of prestigious universities, where the level of education is very high. Citizens of the European Union have the opportunity to get a degree at a minimum price or even for free. In addition to that, students can take internships with the help of Erasmus+ program to develop their practical skills and get working experience.
- Medical care
European insurance allows patients to receive the highest quality medical care in any EU country without restrictions. European Union citizens do not need to have visa to travel around the Europe, so they can choose any hospital to have a treatment in.
- Business opportunities
EU citizenship allows citizens to easily set up a business in 3 days for less than €100, while foreigners need several months or years to do so. Sometimes foreigners are not even allowed to set up a business in a certain European Union country.
- Voting
Citizenship of the European Union gives citizens the opportunity to vote in elections and hold various positions in the European Parliament.
- Fast tracking when arriving
EU citizens have access to a separated queue in all European airports, that allow arriving European Union tourists to finish tracking faster.
Conclusions
According to this article it is noticeable that European Union citizenship gives citizens a lot of different benefits, such as free entry to 180–190 countries, good working and educational facilities, high level of medical treatment and et cetera. However, if you do not have an EU citizenship yet, you have many opportunities to become a European Union citizen – by the naturalization, the investment or even the descent.
