In 2025, EU citizenship is not granted directly for investments in any of the countries of the association. Usually, you can open a residence permit for investments in certain areas of the economy, such as the purchase of real estate or securities. A residence permit is the first step towards naturalization in the regular or accelerated procedure. Current programs are available, for example, in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Italy. The minimum amount of initial investment on average is from 250 to 500 thousand EUR.

In some countries, such as Cyprus and Bulgaria, you can immediately register a residence permit as an investor, which reduces the period of naturalization. However, you will still have to live in the country for a certain period of time before you receive your passport. The fastest investment citizenship program is provided in Malta. You can move to the island and in 12 months you can apply for a passport without additional requirements provided that you invest 750 000 EUR in the economy of the country.

Citizenship programs for investment in the EU

The conditions of granting EU citizenship for investments differ depending on the laws of different countries. The differences lie in the starting capital, areas of investment, granted status (residence permit or permanent residence), waiting period for a passport. In general, the requirements for participants are similar: they must have no criminal record, pass a security check (prove the legality of the invested funds), and undertake not to withdraw the invested amount while the residence permit is valid. The main conditions of the current programs in 2025 are presented in the table below.

In most EU countries, investors apply for citizenship through regular naturalization. They have to pass a test for knowledge of the national language, study the constitution and laws, live in the state for an average of 5 to 10 years with residence permit or permanent residence permit, and sometimes also renounce their passport in their home country. It is faster and easier to obtain EU citizenship through repatriation programs. With the assistance of Relocation Compass specialized lawyers, the procedure takes from 4 months and does not require large investments. You can learn more at a free consultation.

Main types of investments for obtaining citizenship

In most European countries, to acquire a residence permit, and then a passport, it is necessary to invest in the purchase of real estate, commercial activities, state assets. Charitable contributions are allowed, placing the required amount on deposit with a restriction on withdrawal within a certain period of time. These and other relevant options will be further analyzed in detail.

Real estate

Buying real estate is the most popular way to obtain a second citizenship in the European Union among investors. Many purchase a residential property directly for themselves, move to the state and live in it until the moment of citizenship. The amount and conditions of investment depend on the country, for example:

• 300 000 EUR in Cyprus to purchase private or commercial real estate (it is possible in total);
• 250 000 EUR in Latvia, with territorial restrictions on the location of the house or apartment;
• 307 000 EUR in Bulgaria for the purchase of residential property or commercial premises;
• 400 000 EUR in Greece for the purchase of only one property of at least 120 m²;
• 500 000 EUR for the purchase of any number of properties in Spain.

When investing in real estate you need to consider its liquidity, prospects of payback in the long term. Compare the cost of living in the EU to understand in which country you will feel more comfortable if you decide to live in the purchased house or apartment. Sometimes the amount of investment can differ depending on the city where the property is located. For example, if you want to buy an apartment in Athens and get a residence permit, its price should be from 800 thousand EUR instead of the standard 400 000 EUR for the rest of Greece.

Government bonds

European Union countries grant the right of residence to those who are ready to invest in the state budget. Usually we are talking about large sums, for example:

• from 500 thousand EUR in Greece (it is possible using funds from local credit organizations);
• from 2 million EUR in Italy and Spain (the purchase of government bonds and debt securities is allowed).

Business

Another popular type of investment for acquiring EU citizenship is opening a business or investing in local companies. It is not uncommon for states to distinguish different types of residence permits for entrepreneurs and investors. In the first case, the amount of start-up capital may not be set, as well as the sphere of activity, but there are other requirements, such as approval of the business plan by the specialized bodies or demonstration of experience and education in the profile.

It is easier to qualify for EU residency by investing directly in companies. The list of organizations in which you can invest is usually limited. For example, you can invest from 500 thousand EUR in Greece to Italy, choosing a joint-stock company, investment or venture fund. In Spain, the amount of investment increases up to one million EUR.

Favorable amounts of investments can be provided for those who direct funds to a certain business. For example, you can get an Italian residence permit if you support the opening of a startup with a payment of 250 000 EUR.

France also grants a residence permit for 4 years to those who are ready to invest from 300 000 EUR in an innovative company, provided that he owns at least 30% of its shares.

The lowest entry threshold is offered by Bulgaria: you can count on a residence permit if you invest from 128 000 EUR in the capital of a company located in an economically disadvantaged region. In Cyprus you will immediately get a residence permit if you invest from 300 thousand EUR in the opening or development of business.

Funds and shares

It is possible to apply for an EU passport for investments through the opening of a residence permit by investing in securities and various national funds, for example:

• from 350,000 EUR in mutual funds, investment funds operating on regulated markets;
• from 300,000 EUR in shares of the Cyprus Collective Investment Organization (type AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF), with the right to immediately open a residence permit;
• from 1,000,000 EUR in shares of licensed commercial organizations, defined by law investment and venture capital funds.

Charity

Sometimes EU countries provide residence permits for those who are ready to financially support the country through donations. For example, in Portugal it is possible to invest from 250 thousand EUR in artistic production, restoration or preservation of national cultural heritage. Greece provides for the issuance of residence permit for a similar amount, aimed at the conversion of commercial real estate into residential or restoration of architectural monuments. Italy grants the right of residence for investments from 1 000 000 EUR in charity.

Other options

It is possible to move to the European Union as an investor if you place funds on deposit in a local financial organization. For example, Latvia grants residence permit to those who have obligations to the credit institution of the republic in the amount of 280 000 EUR or more. In Greece it is possible to make a term deposit of half a million EUR to obtain residency.

Sometimes states do not set a specific number of investments to obtain an investor residence permit in the EU, but put forward alternative conditions. For example, in Portugal it is necessary to organize a minimum of 10 new full-time jobs for the citizens of the state to obtain residency regardless of the authorized capital of the company.

Relocation Compass international law specialists help to understand the peculiarities of different immigration programs in the European Union. Specialized lawyers comprehensively study your request and recommend the best ways to obtain residency or citizenship in the EU.

Step-by-step procedure for obtaining citizenship for investment in 2025

The process of obtaining citizenship by investment in 2025 involves several key stages that require careful preparation and compliance with all requirements. Let’s go through them step by step.

1. Preparatory procedures.
   You choose the best investment option, compare the conditions for granting residence permit in different countries, determine the optimal amount of investment for you.
2. Formation of a dossier.
   Having determined the immigration program, it is necessary to check yourself for compliance with the requirements to the applicant and prepare the necessary documents, for example, to order a certificate of criminal record and notarized translations of passport, civil status certificates.
3. Submission of the application.
   In most cases, investors first open a residence permit to apply for citizenship in the EU. Usually “golden visa” or residence permit is issued through the consulate or embassy of your chosen EU country. You need to make an appointment in advance, submit a dossier, and if necessary, go through an interview.
4. Passing a due diligence check.
   For investors in the EU there is a Due Diligence procedure – a comprehensive risk check, during which the authorized bodies assess your background, absence of sanctions and criminal records, check the legitimacy of the invested funds. A residence permit will be issued only if approved by the specialized commission.
5. Obtaining residency and immigration to the EU.
   If your request is approved, you will receive a residence permit, with which you should move to Europe and stay there until the naturalization conditions are met. Sometimes the residence permit gives special privileges, for example in France you can get a “talent passport” for 4 years at a time with the right to family relocation. Portugal investment visa allows you to live in the country for only 7 days out of 365, without the threat of revocation of residency.
6. Registration of investment citizenship.
   After 5-10 years of stay in Europe with investor residence permit you can expect to receive a passport by naturalization. In rare cases the period of stay is shortened, for example, in Romania those who invested in the economy from 1 000 000 EUR, acquire citizenship in 4 years after moving instead of 8. In Malta it is possible to obtain a passport in 12-36 months after moving, depending on the amount of investment. In addition to compliance with the norms of residence, it is usually necessary to learn the language and the basics of the constitution, demonstrate loyalty to the state and law-abiding behavior.

Advantages of EU citizenship for investment

By obtaining a European Union passport for investments you will get access to such privileges:

• residence together with family members in any of the EU member states without searching for reasons for relocation, time limitations and additional conditions;
• opportunity to do business at the international level, to present goods and services in the Single Market of Europe with customs privileges;
• participation in private and state grant programs of the European Union, aimed at supporting enterprises of different forms of ownership;
• access to developed medicine in the EU throughout the whole territory of the association on the basis of a basic insurance policy, without additional payments;
• the possibility to register the status of a citizen for children, as well as to pass it on to the next generations;
• change of tax residency to reduce the financial burden;
• Freedom to travel to more than 160 countries, including popular destinations such as North America or Asian countries.

EU passport holders have all of the abovementioned rights regardless of the method of acquiring citizenship. For this reason, it is better to choose the easiest, fastest and most affordable program – repatriation. You can analyze the chances of simplified registration of the EU citizenship status as early in 2025 at the free legal consultation.

Recent changes and legislative trends

The European Parliament has a policy of tightening the issuance of residency and citizenship for investment. For example, since 2022 there have been internal proceedings involving Malta, where representatives of the European Commission demand that the state abandon the “golden passport” program. Previously, similar investment citizenship schemes in Cyprus and Bulgaria have already been closed.

Potential investors are subjected to more and more requirements, including a thorough security check. Special attention is paid to the legality of the invested funds, which is not always confirmed by documents. There are also restrictions on citizenship, for example, Latvia from September 24, 2022 does not issue residence permits to Russians and Belarusians, even if they already have acquired real estate in the country.

At risk of cancellation are also programs for granting residence permits through investment. For example, Portugal refused to grant residency through the purchase of real estate to settle the demand in the domestic market and slow down the price of objects. Its example plans to follow Spain in 2025. The Netherlands has also canceled “golden visa” programs, and a similar trend is emerging across the EU.

Comparison with other immigration-for-investment programs

The United States has an immigrant visa for investors – EB-5. It can be obtained when investing in the economy of the country from 800 thousand USD in the target area of employment, located in an area with high unemployment or in rural areas. Investments without territorial restrictions are from 1,050,000 USD. Upon arrival in the United States, the investor is granted a green card – a local residence permit. You can count on citizenship by naturalization in 5 years after immigration.

The U.S. passport ranks 8th in the Passport Index power ranking, behind many EU countries. An investor needs to wait for it approximately as long as in the EU (for example, in Portugal or France). At the same time, the minimum investment amount is about 3-4 times higher than in Europe. Issuance of investment visas in the United States is quota-based – up to 140,000 applications per year.

The Pacific Republic of Vanuatu grants citizenship in exchange for direct investment of 130,000 USD or more (non-refundable, in the form of a charitable donation). The passport is granted immediately and does not require residence on the island, but gives few rights. With it you can visit only 96 countries without a visa, and the list does not include popular destinations such as the United States, Canada and EU territories.

Citizenship for investors is also issued by St. Kitts and Nevis, a small island state in the Caribbean. The threshold for entry into the program – 250,000 USD, which are made as a contribution to the development of the country or charity. You can buy real estate for 325 thousand USD with the right to resell after 7 years. With a local passport you can visit 147 countries without a visa.

Pitfalls of investment citizenship in the EU

Holders of a residence permit issued for investment may be left without it at any time. For example, the amount of required investments will change or the program will simply be withdrawn, which is quite realistic given the current trends in Europe. Then the chances of obtaining citizenship will be reduced, as it will be necessary to find another basis for residence in the country (for example, through study in the EU) or leave it, after which the entire period of stay will be canceled.

It is not easy for investors to obtain a residence permit even if they have the required amount. Usually, the main problem is to prove the legality of the origin of the invested funds, which is not easy. It is possible to fail the security check even with the citizenship of the applicant, after the introduction of international sanctions.

It is not possible to obtain a passport in the EU for investments. In most cases it is necessary to comply with the norms of ordinary naturalization, which implies mandatory relocation to the chosen country and living here for a long time. You will also have to attend language courses, integrate into society, and sometimes declare your withdrawal from your current citizenship.

How to obtain an EU passport more easily and without investment

Since citizenship by investment usually does not differ from standard naturalization, it is possible to obtain a residence permit in Europe on less costly grounds, such as opening a company or official employment. You will need to live in the country for an average of 5 to 10 years, which does not suit every foreigner. Many people are looking for ways to obtain a second passport of a developed EU country without a long wait, passing a language exam and mandatory relocation. This is possible for participants of the repatriation program.

Repatriates can be those who have or had at least one relative from among the citizens of the EU countries up to 3-4 generations. Optimal conditions of the program are provided in Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria. Here it is possible to obtain a passport within 4-6 months, and there is no need to pass an integration exam, invest large amount in the economy and renounce the current citizenship. Repatriates receive all the rights of citizens of the European Union, as well as investors.

International law specialists can help you to find the best immigration program. At a free consultation you can get a detailed analysis of your request, compare with a lawyer the conditions and requirements for different procedures, decide on the subsequent personalized plan of action. You can make an appointment with a Relocation Compass immigration specialist today to get what you wish.