🇪🇺 Country Comparison: Pathways to EU Citizenship
This table provides a high-level comparison of the most popular EU countries for US citizens seeking dual nationality. The requirements, costs, and processing times vary drastically based on the specific Pathway chosen (Descent, Naturalization, or Residency-by-Investment).
⚠️ IMPORTANT CAVEATS & WARNINGS
- Descent/Ancestry (Jure Sanguinis): This path often has the lowest official government fees but the highest ancestry documentation costs (genealogy research, correcting vital records, and legal/consular fees). Processing times are highly dependent on consular backlogs in your US jurisdiction.
- Naturalization (Residency): This path generally requires a long-term commitment to living in the country and successfully passing a language and civics test. The total cost includes the fees for the application, language courses, and test certifications.
- Investment (Golden Visa): This path requires a massive upfront capital outlay (the investment itself) but often the shortest physical residency requirement before you can apply for citizenship. The investment amount is not a fee but a required investment that can often be recovered.
| Country | Pathway | Residency Requirement | Language Requirement | Official Application Fee (Approx.) | Typical Total Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Descent (Foreign Births Register) | None (must register before next generation is born) | None | $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}278$ (Adult) | 9–12 months (Once documents are complete) |
| Ireland | Naturalization (Standard) | 5 out of 9 years total, with 1 year continuous residency before application. | None (Good Character/Intent to Remain) | $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}1,225$ total ($\text{\textgreek{\euro}}175$ application + $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}950$ certificate fee) | 5+ years of residency |
| Italy | Descent (Jure Sanguinis) | None (Consulate Route) OR Establish residence | None | $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}300-\text{\textgreek{\euro}}600$ (Consular fee per adult applicant) | 2–5+ years (Appointment wait time varies widely by US Consulate) |
| Germany | Naturalization (Standard) | 5 years of legal residence (can be reduced to 3 years for spouses of German citizens, or 6-7 years for exceptional integration). | B1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) | $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}255$ | 5+ years of residency + 18–24 month processing |
| Portugal | Naturalization (Standard) | 5 years of legal residence (often achieved via Golden Visa) | A2 (Basic Portuguese, known as CIPLE) | $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}250$ | 5+ years of residency |
| Portugal | Residency by Investment (Golden Visa) | 7 days/year physical stay for 5 years. | A2 (Required at the end of the 5 years to apply for citizenship) | Varies, high legal/application fees plus $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}250,000$ to $\text{\textgreek{\euro}}500,000+$ investment | 5 years of residency + 12-24 month processing |