With increasing globalization and growing interest in international mobility, citizenship of one of the European Union countries is becoming much more than a formal status – it is real access to a range of privileges that can completely transform daily life. In 2025, more and more people are choosing to seek a second citizenship, seeing it as an opportunity for greater stability, freedom of travel, social security or better professional and educational prospects – both for themselves and their families.
However, obtaining EU citizenship is not equally easy everywhere. Procedures vary not only in length, but also in requirements, from language skills to level of social integration to amount of investment. The good news is that there are countries that are meeting the expectations of new citizens by offering simplified, transparent and, importantly, increasingly flexible naturalization paths, both for investors and those choosing to stay longer.
That’s why below are the five European Union countries that are considered the most welcoming to those seeking European citizenship in 2025. Whether you’re thinking about a new place to live, expanding your travel options, or building a future for your family, these countries offer some of the most accessible and transparent paths to achieving that goal.
1. Malta – fastest path to citizenship through investment
Malta offers one of the most attractive pathways to citizenship in the EU through an investment program known as Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment. This program allows people to obtain citizenship after only 12 months of residency, provided they meet certain financial requirements:
- €750,000 – minimum investment for fast track (12 months of residency).
- €600,000 – for the standard path (36 months of residency).
- In addition: purchase of a property worth at least €700,000 or rent for a minimum of €16,000 per year for 5 years, and a donation of €10,000 to a Maltese non-profit organization.
Maltese citizenship provides access to more than 190 countries without a visa and the right to live and work throughout the EU. This program is particularly attractive to families, as it covers the spouse, children up to age 29 and parents over 55.
2. Portugal – flexible conditions and low residency requirements
Portugal is continuing its popular Golden Visa program, which allows people to obtain citizenship after five years, with a minimum residency requirement of seven days in the first year and 14 days in subsequent two-year periods. Investment options include:
- Investment in equity funds from €250,000.
- Purchase of real estate from €500,000 or €350,000 for properties requiring renovation.
After 5 years of legal residency and meeting basic requirements, such as A2 level Portuguese, you can apply for citizenship.
3. Greece – low investment thresholds and no residency requirement
Greece offers one of the most affordable Golden Visa programs in Europe, requiring a real estate investment of at least €250,000. In addition, the program does not require physical presence in the country, and after 7 years of legal residence (even without permanent residence), one can apply for citizenship, subject to passing a Greek language exam and social integration.
4. Bulgaria – fast track to citizenship through investment
Bulgaria offers an investment program that allows citizenship after just 2 years. The requirement is to invest €512,000 in government bonds for 5 years, or double that amount to €1,024,000 for a faster path. Similar to Greece, the program does not require physical presence in the country, and Bulgarian citizenship provides access to more than 170 countries without a visa and the right to live and work in the EU.
5. Poland – citizenship by residence, marriage or descent
Poland offers several paths to citizenship, but they differ from the examples above:
- Residency: After 3 years of legal residence under a permanent residence permit, one can apply for citizenship.
- Marriage: After 3 years of marriage to a Polish citizen and 2 years of legal residence.
- Origin: People with Polish roots (parents, grandparents) can apply for citizenship on the basis of ancestry.
Poland does not offer a citizenship by investment program, but for those planning long-term residence and social integration, the naturalization process is relatively simple.
So, as you can see, obtaining citizenship in the European Union in 2025 remains an ambitious but realistic goal for many people from around the world. As we have shown in the overview above, some EU member states offer very affordable and transparent naturalization procedures – whether through long-term legal residency, ancestral descent, marriage to a national, or even economic investment. If, in turn, you would like to learn even more about the paths to obtaining citizenship of one of the EU countries, please visit https://fivetoeurope.com/, where a group of specialists will provide professional support.
