Buying an EU passport in 2026 is no longer possible: the direct sale of citizenship in the EU has ended. Cyprus wound down its golden passports in 2020, Bulgaria in 2022, and in April 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU ruled Malta's programme incompatible with EU law. Only "golden visas" remain, but those grant residence, not a passport: citizenship is still obtained through naturalisation, over years. So the right question is not "where can I buy one" but "where can I actually get one, and how long does it take." Below we break down how EU citizenship works, how many years it takes in different countries, how the fast routes differ, and why Italy turns out to be a rational choice for many people. Let's fix the key point up front: there is no single "EU passport" — each of the 27 countries grants citizenship under its own law, and EU citizenship comes automatically along with it.
Is there a single "EU passport"
No. This is the first misconception worth dispelling. The EU does not issue a passport and does not naturalise people centrally. You become a citizen of a specific country — Italy or Germany, for example — and along with that national citizenship you automatically receive EU citizenship with all its rights.
And those rights are substantial. An EU citizen can live, work, study, run a business or retire in any of the 27 countries without a visa or permits. On top of that comes a strong visa-free regime worldwide. According to the Henley Index for 2025, seven EU passports share third place in the world, opening around 189 destinations visa-free: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland and Ireland. All 27 EU passports are in the world's top 15. In other words, an EU passport is not just a document but a package of "top-tier freedom of movement plus the right to move anywhere in the union."
Can you buy EU citizenship in 2026
In short: no. Citizenship-by-investment (CBI) schemes, where a passport was granted in exchange for an investment without real residence, are effectively closed in the EU. Cyprus ended its programme in 2020, Bulgaria in 2022, and Malta — the last remaining programme — was ruled incompatible with EU law by the Court of Justice in April 2025. No EU country sells citizenship directly in 2026.
Here it is important not to confuse two different instruments. Citizenship by investment means a passport straight away, and that no longer exists. A "golden visa" is a residence permit for investment: it exists in several countries, including Italy, but it does not grant a passport. After a golden visa you still have to live in the country for years and naturalise. The Italian version is examined in detail in the article on the Italian golden visa. Any advertisement of an "EU passport in a couple of months" in 2026 is a sign of fraud.
Residence permit, permanent residence and citizenship: three steps of one ladder
A second frequent confusion: "moving to Europe" and "getting a passport" are not the same thing. The path to citizenship almost everywhere runs up a ladder of three steps.
First comes a temporary residence permit (permesso di soggiorno): it is granted on a specific ground, such as work, study, business, investment or financial independence. Then, usually after five years, permanent residence is issued. And only after a certain period of residence does the right to citizenship open up. In most EU countries the overall horizon from residence permit to passport is around ten to twelve years. Understanding this ladder immediately cuts off unrealistic expectations and explains why there are few "fast" routes.
How many years it really takes: a comparison of EU countries
Naturalisation timelines differ from country to country, as do language requirements and attitudes towards dual citizenship. Below is a guide to popular destinations.
| Country | Standard naturalisation | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 5 years | B1 | Yes (since 2024) |
| France | 5 years | B2 (from 2026) | Yes |
| Ireland | 5 of the last 9 years | no exam | Yes |
| Greece | 7 years | B1 | Yes |
| Portugal | 7 years for EU, otherwise 10 | A2 | Yes |
| Italy | 10 years | B1 | Yes |
| Spain | 10 years (2 for certain countries) | DELE A2 | Usually requires renunciation |
| Austria | around 10 years (6 fast-tracked) | B1 | As a rule, no |
The figures reveal a pattern: the shorter the timeline, the stricter the other conditions usually are, and vice versa. Germany cut its timeline to five years and allowed dual citizenship from 2024, but it requires genuine integration. Spain formally asks for ten years and, as a rule, renunciation of the previous passport, though for citizens of a number of historically connected countries the term drops to two years.
Worth noting separately is the 2025–2026 trend: rules are tightening almost everywhere. Portugal raised its term from the previous five years to seven for EU citizens and ten for everyone else, France from 2026 requires B2-level language, and several countries are discussing longer timelines. Against this backdrop, ten years in Italy — with stable rules, a manageable B1 language level and permitted dual citizenship — looks like a predictable choice.
Fast routes: roots and marriage
There are two legal ways to shorten the path, but each has its own conditions.
The first is citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis), where the right is passed down by blood from ancestors. Here it is important not to fall for a trap: the EU works on the principle of blood, not place of birth, so "born in the EU means a citizen" is a myth. Moreover, the rules are tightening. Italy, for example, restricted the transfer of citizenship to distant generations through Law 74/2025: automatic recognition now requires a parent, grandfather or grandmother born in Italy. A family tree should be checked only against official documents.
The second is marriage to a citizen of an EU country. It also speeds up naturalisation, but not instantly: it usually requires several years of living together and verification that the marriage is genuine. A sham marriage or having a child "for the passport" is not a loophole but a risk of refusal and legal consequences.
Which EU passport is the strongest
The question of passport strength concerns almost everyone, but in practice the spread within the EU is small. According to the Henley Index for 2025, the Italian passport shares third place in the world with the German, French and several others, opening around 189 destinations visa-free. Even the passports at the bottom of the list of EU countries consistently rank in the world's top 15.
This means there is little sense in chasing the "strongest" EU passport: almost all of them provide roughly the same freedom of movement. Far more important is the real attainability of citizenship for you personally — the route of entry, the timeline, the language and the country's attitude to dual citizenship. A strong passport that you will never obtain loses out to one that is slightly less "star-studded" but actually accessible.
Do you have to renounce your current citizenship
This is one of the main emotional fears, and the answer depends on the country. Many EU states, including Italy, Germany (since 2024), France, Ireland and Portugal, allow dual or multiple citizenship and do not require renunciation. Others, such as Spain in the general case, Austria and the Netherlands, as a rule ask you to give up your former passport.
So if keeping your first citizenship is essential to you, this should be factored into your choice of country from the very start. For Italy the question is resolved simply: no renunciation is required, and how it works is examined in detail in the article on dual citizenship with Italy.
Why Italy turns out to be a rational choice
When you set aside the fantasy of "buying a passport in a year" and look at real routes, Italy looks well-balanced for several reasons.
First, a top-tier passport: third place in the world for visa-free access plus full freedom of movement across the EU. Second, not one narrow door but several legal routes to the very same passport:
- Naturalisation through residence — the main path: ten years of legal residence open the right to citizenship.
- Elective residence (residenza elettiva) — a residence permit for the financially independent with passive income of roughly €31.160 per year; work is not required, suitable for those who live on a pension, rent or dividends.
- Investor visa — from €250.000 into a startup, €500.000 into a company, €1.000.000 into philanthropy or €2.000.000 into government bonds.
- Work and self-employment (lavoro autonomo), as well as family reunification.
- Citizenship by roots — if you have suitable ancestors and subject to the 2025 restrictions.
Third, language at a manageable B1 level: this is conversational, not fluent, and Italian is considered one of the more accessible languages to learn. Fourth, dual citizenship is allowed, and the rules are stable and transparent. Finally, it is not only about a passport but about life in a country with a high quality of life, healthcare and schooling for children. The first step on this path is a residence permit: Law Honor's lawyers arrange an Italian residence permit turnkey and accompany the client all the way to citizenship.
How not to fall for fraudsters
The closure of citizenship-by-investment programmes gave rise to a wave of grey schemes. Several signs help tell fraud apart from a legal path.
You should be wary of promises of a "passport in a couple of months" or "in a year," offers to "find" you non-existent ancestors and produce a forged genealogy, demands for a large upfront payment and any schemes bypassing official procedures. Forged documents mean not only lost money but also criminal risk. The legal path is always longer and more transparent: it runs through a real ground for a residence permit, an honest ladder to permanent residence and naturalisation under the law. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.
What next
There is no direct purchase of an EU passport in 2026: the real path is only one — residence, then naturalisation. Against this backdrop Italy offers a rare combination: a top-tier passport, several legal routes of entry, a manageable language and permitted dual citizenship. Which route suits you specifically depends on your income, goals and residence plans. Law Honor's lawyers will help you choose the ground for a residence permit, build a path to citizenship and avoid grey schemes. The first consultation can be obtained free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy EU citizenship (a passport) through investment in 2026? No. Direct "citizenship by investment" programmes in the EU are closed: Cyprus in 2020, Bulgaria in 2022, and Malta's programme was ruled unlawful by the Court of Justice of the EU in April 2025. Only golden visas remain, but those are residence permits, not passports.
What is the difference between a residence permit, permanent residence and EU citizenship? These are three steps. A residence permit is temporary residence for a specific ground. Permanent residence is permanent residency, usually after five years. Citizenship is a passport and full rights, including freedom of movement across the EU. The path from the first step to a passport most often takes around ten to twelve years.
How many years does it really take to get an EU passport? In most countries naturalisation requires from five to ten years of legal residence plus time on the residence-permit and permanent-residence ladder. Germany, France and Ireland aim for five years, Greece seven, and Italy, Spain and — from 2026 — Portugal ten. Promises of "within a year" are a sign of fraud.
Is there a single EU passport? No. Each of the 27 countries grants citizenship under its own law, and EU citizenship comes automatically along with the national one. There is no centralised "European naturalisation."
In which EU country is it easiest to obtain citizenship? There is no universal answer: shorter timelines usually come with stricter other conditions. Germany and France offer five years but require integration and language (France from 2026 at B2 level). Italy asks for ten years, but stands out for its flexibility: several routes of entry, a manageable B1 and permitted dual citizenship.
Do you have to renounce your first citizenship? It depends on the country. Italy, Germany, France, Ireland and Portugal allow dual citizenship. Spain in the general case, Austria and the Netherlands, as a rule, require renunciation. If keeping your first passport matters, this is worth considering when choosing a country.
What does an EU passport give you and which one is the strongest? An EU passport gives the right to live, work and study in any of the 27 countries plus a strong visa-free regime. According to the Henley Index 2025, the Italian passport shares third place in the world (around 189 destinations). The spread within the EU is small, so what matters is not "strength" but the real attainability of citizenship.
Can you obtain EU citizenship by roots? Yes, if you have suitable ancestors: this is citizenship by blood (jus sanguinis). But the rules are tightening. Italy restricted transfer to distant generations through Law 74/2025: you need a parent, grandfather or grandmother born in Italy. A family tree must be checked against official documents, not through dubious intermediaries.
How do you tell a legal path from a fraudulent scheme? You should be alarmed by promises of a passport in months or a year, offers to "find" you ancestors and forge documents, demands for a large upfront payment and bypassing official procedures. The legal path always runs through a real ground for a residence permit and honest naturalisation under the law.