In this article, we will take a look at the 10 easiest countries in Europe to get citizenship. If you want to see more companies in this selection, go to the 5 Easiest Countries in Europe to Get Citizenship.
Europe had a difficult 2022. Industries and consumers had to deal with skyrocketing energy prices as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. The imbalance between post-pandemic pent-up demand and constricted supply across a number of sectors, coupled with inflation, were already putting pressure on the region. Energy inflation peaked in October 2022, when prices rose by 4.4%, according to statistics from Eurostat.
On top of inflation, the scarcity of skilled personnel is a problem that is more pressing than ever for businesses in Europe. In the third quarter of 2022, 2.9 % of jobs in the European Union and 3.1 % of jobs in the Eurozone area were vacant. Europe's biggest economy, Germany, had 1.74 million vacant positions throughout the country last year, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). About half of all German businesses were forced to cut down operations in July last year due to lack of workers, as per Institute for Economic Research. Meanwhile in the UK, global talent shortages reached a 16 year high in 2022.
In a historically tight labor market, businesses across the continent lament their growing inability to recruit workers. While some countries are proposing improved working conditions, others are considering easing the rules for obtaining a visa for employees from other nations.
The opportunity to apply for European citizenship is better than it has ever been, given the European companies' desperation and the enormous volume of unfilled positions. Some of the top European companies offering employment opportunities due to a dearth of skilled labor in the region include Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML).
In addition to a variety of career opportunities, Europe offers some of the world's strongest passports. The requirements and costs for becoming a citizen vary substantially from one country to the other. One of the quickest and least expensive ways to obtain citizenship in a European country is through ancestry. Moreover, those who migrated to a European Union country to work or conduct business, are married to a citizen of that country, have undergone extensive medical care, or obtained residency permits as financially independent individuals are all eligible for naturalization. Foreign nationals must live legally in the country for a predetermined period of time, around 3 to 5 years, depending on the country, before submitting an application for citizenship via naturalization. However, citizenship by naturalization following investment, permits a candidate to make an economic or real estate investment in one of the EU countries in exchange for a residency permit that can be used to submit an application for citizenship later.
Let’s move on to the list of the 10 easiest countries in Europe to get citizenship.
Our Methodology
For this article, we visited subreddits like r/IWantOut where thousands of people ask ever month on how to get citizenship of European countries. Along with this, we also made use of top 10 Google search results.
These sources included articles from CEOWORLD magazine, Global Residency & Citizenship Group, Global Citizenship Solution, VisaGuide.World, ASTONS, Fully- fundedScholarships, Nomad Capitalist, GoVisaFree, My Spain Visa, and Sovspot. In order to ascertain the easiest countries in Europe to get citizenship, we assigned a score to every country in each article. For instance, a country receives a score of 10 if it is ranked #1 in an article. If it is ranked #2, the score is 9, and so on. We then proceeded to calculate the average score for each country using these 10 sources. Based on their average scores, the countries are ranked from lowest to highest. It should be noted that a country is not given a score if it is not mentioned in the article.
For example, since Portugal receives a score of 10 in CEOWORLD magazine, 10 in Global Residency & Citizenship Group, 0 in Global Citizenship Solution, 10 in VisaGuide.World, 9 in ASTONS, 9 in Fully- fundedScholarships, 10 in Nomad Capitalist, 8 in GoVisaFree, 9 in My Spain Visa and 10 in Sovspot, its average score for the purpose of this article is 8.5.
It takes a lot of paperwork to become a naturalized German citizen. An applicant must have a valid residence permit and have lived in Germany for at least 8 years in order to be eligible to apply for naturalization. A potential applicant must meet certain standard in order to be eligible for a residents permit for the country. Among these are a valid passport, secure livelihood, health insurance and social insurance contributions, adequate living space, and grasp of the German language on a basic level. Applicants who have successfully completed an integration course can apply for naturalization after seven years. Moreover, candidates need to pass a citizenship test that includes questions about German politics and culture.
Germany boasts a strong economy and several lucrative work opportunities for expats. As of 2020, expats make up 12.9% of the population in Germany. The key industries attracting foreign talent are aerospace, agriculture, automobile, pharmaceutical and chemical, wholesale, retail, and IT. Mynaric AG (NASDAQ:MYNA), VIA optronics AG (NYSE:VIAO), and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) are some top German companies trading on exchanges in the United States.
Some of the renowned companies offering employment opportunities to foreigners with specialized technical skills in Germany include Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML).
9. UK
Average Score: 2.2
From roughly 5.3 million in 2004 to almost 9.3 million in 2018, the number of foreign-born people living in the United Kingdom has surged. The UK has one of the largest labor forces in Europe and is recognized as the finest major European economy for attracting talent from abroad. For the past ten years, London has been the main destination for Skilled Work visa holders. The finance and health sectors, in particular, have played a role in attracting overseas workers. Barclays (LSE:BARC), HSBC Holdings (LSE:HSBA), and AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) are some of the top companies on the London Stock Exchange.
Applicants for UK citizenship through naturalization must have lived continuously in the country for at least five years as a worker, a student with complete sickness insurance, a self-employed individual, or someone who is financially independent. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they have thoroughly assimilated to British culture and that they have an intermediate command of the English language. For wealthy foreigners seeking residency in the UK, the Tier 1 Investment Visa is the most common option. This visa offers residency to those investing $2.4 million or more in the UK.
8. Netherlands
Average Score: 2.8
The Netherlands, commonly referred to as the "gateway to Europe," is another European country that attracts many foreign investors seeking citizenship. A five years residency and knowledge of the Dutch language is required to apply for citizenship in the Netherlands. An applicant must be able to satisfy some general requirements in order to be eligible for a residents permit for the country. These include a valid passport, sufficient financial means, health insurance, and documentation of the purpose of the visit, such as a contract of work in the Netherlands, a transcript from a Dutch university, a marriage certificate, or a civil partnership certificate. Moreover, the applicants will have to renounce their prior nationality because the government prohibits dual citizenship.
In 2022, the Netherlands welcomed 401,351 immigrants. This was an increase of 148,823 in comparison to 2021. Due to the high demand for trained professionals in the Netherlands, there is a quick immigration process to allow them entry. The main industries attracting people are information technology, agriculture, chemicals, health, finance, and energy. Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG), with a market cap of $14.8 billion, is a Dutch high-tech company. It develops and manufactures medical systems and consumer electronics products.
7. France
Average Score: 3.4
France has a five years residency requirement for becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. In general, an applicant must possess certain documents in order to obtain a French residence visa. A current passport, a birth or marriage certificate, proof of income, and health insurance are a few of these crucial documents. Students who have finished a postgraduate degree at a French university are eligible for a streamlined procedure with two years of residency. The applicants must also have a basic familiarity of French language and culture. In addition, the French government's Passport Talent program aims to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs, investors, and highly skilled employees to increase the country’s economic attractiveness. The Talent Passport is valid for 4 years and can be renewed.
With its many job opportunities, France continues to draw foreign talent. Since 2000, France has seen a steady rise in the number of residence visas issued for economic immigration. Agriculture, health, energy, and military are the primary sectors attracting global talent. Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY), a pharma giant headquartered in Paris, is the largest vaccine producer in the world. The company’s 2022 annual revenue was $47.822 billion, up 3.18% from the previous year.
Companies attracting skilled workers in France include Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML).
6. Spain
Average Score: 3.6
The process of obtaining married citizenship in Europe is simplest in Spain. After one year of marriage, if your spouse is a Spanish citizen, you will also become a citizen of the country.
Another route to become a citizen of Spain is through naturalization, which requires to work there for ten years and proficiency in the language. But, in order to work in Spain, you need to apply for a Spanish Work Visa to be able to legally start work. For different types of jobs and lengths of employment, there are many types of Work Visas for the country including Long-term Work Visas, Seasonal Work Visas, Au Pair Visas, and EU Blue Card. Work authorization, a police record, a medical certificate, proof of housing, proof of professional competence, and a job contract are some of the documents needed to apply for a Spain Work Visa.
The only exceptions to the stringent residency requirement are citizens of Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, IberoAmerican nations, and those of Sephardic origin who can be fast-tracked after two years and refugees who can apply after five years. Moreover, these groups are allowed to attain dual nationality. However, new citizens of the country are typically required to renounce their prior citizenship.
Rich people are frequently advised to first apply for a residency permit in Spain using the Golden Visa program. A real estate investment of $541,675 will qualify a family for residency under this program. It doesn't lead directly to citizenship. But, if you obtain a Golden Visa and choose to stay in the country for ten years, you might be qualified for citizenship.
Spanish citizenship has a number of advantages, including the ability to vote in Spain, unrestricted travel to 183 countries, and the freedom to live and work anywhere in the European Union.
Telefonica and Repsol are two well-known businesses in Spain that offer prospects for employment to foreigners with particular technical talents.
