So, you’re looking for a way out. Or maybe just a way in to the Schengen Zone. Most people start this journey by Googling "easiest place to get citizenship in Europe" and end up buried in a pile of outdated blog posts from 2019. Honestly, the map has changed. Governments have gotten a bit nervous about "Golden Passports," and the European Union has been leaning hard on countries like Malta to tighten the screws.
If you want a second passport in 2026, you can't just buy one over the counter anymore. It’s more of a long game now. But some doors are still wide open if you know which handle to turn.
Portugal: The residency hack that actually works
Portugal is basically the poster child for the "easiest" path, but there’s a massive asterisk next to it now. For years, the Golden Visa was the go-to. You bought a house, waited five years, and boom—EU passport. In 2026, you can't just buy residential real estate to get that visa. They scrapped that because it was driving local rents into the stratosphere.
Instead, you’ve got to look at investment funds or the D7 Visa. If you’re a remote worker or a retiree with a steady income, the D7 is still arguably the smoothest path in the entire EU. You move there, pay your taxes, and after five years of living among the cork trees and tiled hills, you apply for naturalization.
The best part? You only need A2-level Portuguese. That’s basically being able to order a pastel de nata and ask where the bathroom is without crying. Compared to the grueling C1 German requirements or the complex French "integration" interviews, Portugal is a breeze.
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Germany’s 2024 law is the 2026 gold mine
Germany used to be the "hard" country. You had to live there for eight years, speak perfect German, and—this was the dealbreaker for many—give up your original passport.
That’s dead.
Since the Modernization of Nationality Law kicked in, Germany has become one of the most attractive spots in Europe. You can now get naturalized in five years. If you’re a "high achiever"—maybe you speak C1 German or do significant volunteer work—you can actually fast-track that to three years.
And the biggest win? Dual citizenship is now officially allowed for everyone. You don't have to choose between your home and your new life. If you’re a tech worker or a skilled professional, Germany is practically begging you to stay. It’s a complete 180 from where they were five years ago.
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The "Shortcut" countries: Spain and Ireland
If you have the right bloodline, stop reading about visas.
Ireland is the holy grail for anyone with an Irish grandparent. If your grandma was born on the Emerald Isle, you can basically just claim your citizenship through the Foreign Births Register. No residency required. You don't even have to know how to pour a Guinness.
Spain has a weirdly specific "fast lane" that most people ignore. Usually, it takes ten years to become Spanish. That’s a decade of eating tapas before you get a passport. But if you’re from a former Spanish colony—think Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines—that requirement drops to two years.
Important Note: Spain still officially asks most people to renounce their original citizenship, though they don't always enforce the "loss" of the old passport with the same vigor as other nations. Still, for Latin Americans, it’s the undisputed fastest route in Europe.
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Malta: The last of the "Fast" passports?
Malta’s "Golden Passport" (the MEIN program) has been through the ringer. The European Court of Justice hasn't been kind to it. As of 2026, the old "buy it in a year" system is essentially a "merit" system now.
You still have to put up a lot of cash—we’re talking north of €700,000 between donations and investments—and you have to prove a "genuine link" to the country. It’s not a transaction anymore; it’s an expensive relationship. If you have the money and want a passport in 12 to 36 months, it’s still the only "official" investment-to-citizenship route left in the EU, but the scrutiny is intense. They will check your bank records back to the day you were born.
France and the "Two-Year" Master's Degree
France is tough. The bureaucracy is a literal labyrinth. But there is a secret door for students.
If you graduate from a French university with a Master’s degree, the five-year residency requirement for citizenship is slashed to two years. You still have to find a job afterward and prove you’re "assimilated" (which usually means speaking French well enough to argue about cheese), but for young professionals, it’s a brilliant way to bypass the five-to-ten-year wait elsewhere.
What you need to do right now
Thinking about this is step one. Doing it requires a paper trail. If you’re serious about finding the easiest place to get citizenship in Europe, here is your immediate checklist:
- Check your family tree: Dig up those birth certificates. Italy, Poland, and Ireland have "Right of Blood" laws that can bypass years of residency.
- Audit your income: If you earn over €3,000 a month remotely, Portugal’s D7 or Spain’s Digital Nomad visa are your best bets.
- Start the language app today: No matter where you go, you’ll need a basic proficiency test. A2 is the standard for Portugal and Spain; B1 is usually the floor for Germany and France.
- Get a "Clean" Criminal Record: Any prison sentence over a year (or sometimes even less) will get your application tossed in almost every EU country. Keep your nose clean while you wait.
The "easiest" path isn't the same for everyone. If you’re rich, it’s Malta. If you’re a remote worker, it’s Portugal. If you’re a skilled dev, it’s Germany. Pick your lane and start the clock, because the best time to have started a five-year residency was five years ago. The second best time is today.