How to a become an EU citizen
The purpose of this post is to help you gain EU citizenship in a legal way.
Dual citizen as an American
Many Americans often talk about the desire to be a dual citizen. We Americans do not always like some of the economic or political policies of Europe, but peace and love we secretly admire the more relaxed lifestyle and cultural richness. Third generations Americans rediscover and connect to the roots that the first generation left and the second generation swore off.
How citizenship is determined
American citizenship is defined by birth, whereas European Citizenship is often connected to nationality. You ca be born in Germany yet not granted citizenship.So how can An American get/claim a dual citizenship, now the USA allows this. You will simply follow the laws of each country you enter and can not claim protect as a USA citizen if you entered on another passport.
Jason Bourne and his multiple passports
Ok so how do you get a draw full of passports like Jason Bourne.
Rules of citizenship
Generally for most counties these are the rules, – a parent, not a grandparent must have citizenship. If you grandparents came from there your patents must get it first, than you have to apply.
How to get citizenship
You can get all birth certificate on line and sent to you; just check off the box that says you are applying fore dual citizen it costs about 20 dollars at any state online site. Once you have all the birth and marriage documents, create a family tree. Then translate all this by an official translator. Then fill out the paperwork you can get at the consulate. If you parents are citizens then you are all set, if not usually you have to legally live in the country for five years for at least six months out of the year. Last option is write the president with your story and sometimes if you give them enough paper you case will be accepted. Oh and if you speak the language even to some level this will help you case.
Myth: Marry a EU citizen and you will become a EU citizen.
People have old fashion TV based ideas. Marriage does not change your citizenship. It will allow you to get a visa easier to stay in the country which in term will allow you get get become citizen after many years and lot of paper.
If you know some of the language, you will see how much easier it will be to be a citizen.
Tags: American, citizen, citizenship, EU, Europe, Jason-bourne, language, learn, passports, USA
242 responses to How to get an EU citizenship
Hello, I am brazilian marriage with a hungarian citizen . We get married in Brazil but we’ve been living in Ireland for 2 years . I had apply for the Ireland residence but is taking to longer and my passport will expire next year . I dont want to come to Brazil only to renew that ( distance and money). Can I get a hungarian passport ? I need to live there? What is the documents required? Thanks
I would like to know how I can get a EU passport. My mother and two sisters were born in Germany, and immigrated in 1949. They became citizens in the late 50′s.
Do I quailify for a EU passport? And if so, how do I go about obtaining one?
Dea k, you can get a Hungarian visa for sure if your married to a Hungarian citizen. Also you can get a new Brazilian passport from the Brazilian consultat, you do not need to go back to Brazil. To get a Hungarian passport it will take at least 3 years – after you apply.
German citizenship is based on “right of blood”, it does not matter where you were born. Well is your mother still a German citizen? you have to determine that. If she is then I think you have a good chance of being confirmed as a German citizen – that is you already are- Yet on the other hand the Germans have an age requirement of 23 so it might be more difficult to get confirmed. I recommend you go to the German consulat and ask directly as your case has complexities. Your do not need a lawyer, but as the embassy and they will tell you the law. I think you have to live in German for 5 years. But If your mother is German you will have some sort of special treatment. I am American with Polish roots, Polish job, Polish family, married to a Polish citizen, speak Polish, and I have lived in Poland for 5 years and still waiting. But my friend who was confirmed and it only took 3 months, so it is different from case to case.
Hello, I am Canadian citizen. I have a trade deploma in a Furniture making program. Is it possible to use my trade deploma to help become an EU citizen. What are the steps I have to take in order to get this done?
Thank you
hello.i have a question :i am romanian and i want to get same -gender marriage with someone from ecuador(he will come in spain with a tourist visa for 3 months),we intend to move in spain.can you tell me if we make this step he will be able to live legal in spain ?i am eu citizenship!!!also i have read in the spanish lagislation that throught marriage he can have all the rights like me. can someone confirm this ?thank you
tiberiu, I do not know. That is a hard question. However, if there is marriage in spain with same gender partners, it is possible – but I do not think there is. I think only holland is an EU country where this is possible.
thank you, i can say sure that is marriage in spain with same gender partners,so this i had need it , this answer, thanks
Hello,
I have one set of grandparents who were born in Hungary and were of Hungarian descent, and another set born in what was then Czechoslovakia. I’d like to find out if this would allow me to obtain an EU green card or citizenship based on either of these countries.
Thanks for any information.
I’m brazilian, my great-grand parents from my mom’s family came from Poland, they’re gone now, and my grandparents were born in Brazil but they’re of Polish descent and they can speak Polish. Also my great-grand father from my father’s family was Italian, although he’s passed away already. Am i eligible to get Italian or Polish citizenship?? any chance at all?
I do not know about Italy but I think its the same as Poland in terms of EU citizenship. If you can prove that you have Polish blog, through a series of official legal documents, birth, marriage, etc, translated into Polish by an official translator, you might be able to get a green card. But its lots and lots of paper. But it can be done. But it might take a year or two of paper work, and go back to your great grandparents original documents and prove you are related. Then I think you can get a green card. After you have a green card, you can apply for citizenship which means if you are working and living with your green card in Poland legally (not Europe) for 5 years you can get citizen in 5 years, but count on more like 6 or maybe 7. But it can be done legally. Why do I know? I am doing this, but my grandparents were all from Poland and I have lived here in Poland and work in Poland and married in Poland. But if you think you can just pick up a citizenship at the embassy, dream on. I am doing it so if you are motivated you can too. But if not, Brazil is a warm sunny place, why not live there? But if you want a EU citizen, 7 years of paper work and living in your target EU country and a little luck.
I am reading your interesting answers to various people, and am interested in obtaining a Polish Passport.
My mother was born in Warsaw Poland in 1919, and my father was born in the U.S.
What are the proper steps to obtain a Polish Passport, and how long will it take?
Thank you
hi, i am a filipina. I am a student here in the UK..Me and my british b/f were planning to get married soon..What will be my status after marriage?
Thank you.
If my bf who is American gets married to Polish and we would like to go to the UK or Ireland, has he the right to work and live there with me since I am Polish and therefore EU national? Thanks
After he gets all his Polish visas – which could take 6 months plus then I think he can look into other EU visas but the process might be independent.
Wow, that’s so stupid, I mean the world! It upsets me because there should be no borders and people should live where they want… You said ALL his visas, how many does he need?! I thought ONE visa, are there more than that???
mark biernat, i have great aunts in france, so can i get EU citizenship? Dual, because i live in Canada? if so, will i lose my Canadian citizenship?
thanks
You will not lose your Canadian citizenship. However, you can not get French Citizenship based on your great aunts. You need to live in France or any EU country for five years legally. If you graduate from a French University its only two years then you can apply for citizenship.
Born in Holland. Blood line is Dutch. Lived in Holland for 5 years. Naturalized American citizen. Can I get Dutch citizenship while being an American Citizen and/or a Dutch/EU passpost. Thank you
Yes US and EU citizenships can be dual citizens, you just have to obey the laws of each country as a citizen while you are in there. So if you are in the US and do something you will be treated as a US citizen. If you are in the Netherlands you will be treated as a Dutch citizen.
Hey, Mark,
I’m curious if I can get dual citizenship based on ancestry. I heard that some countries will grant it based on great-grandparents, and mine were born in what was Czechoslovakia and then immigrated to America. Is it at all possible for me to get dual-citizenship? I don’t have documentation, but I’m sure I could get it together – I just want to see if it would be worth all the time I know it will take.
Thanks!
Frankie
You have to ask the embassy about visa before citizenship as you have to live there for 5 years. So if you can get a visa your all set. But, Czech has more restrictive dual citizenship laws.
But in theory their citizenship is based on blood so if you can show a clear line and write the president you have an argument for consideration, but I think you have to live and work there. I have lived in Poland for over 5 years, it is quite ok. So, yes you can. But if you are thinking you will live in the States and just pick up a citizenship to an EU country, no, unless your parents are Czech citizens.
Hi,
My grandmother was born in England but now lives in Canada, she still has British citizenship. My father and I were both born in Canada, and have Canadian citizenships. I still have family in England. If my father were to get British citizenship would I then be able to get it too? And if so, how long would it take? I’m almost 16.
I am an American and would like to obtain an EU passport can you direct me to easy to follow, understand and read website’s. What I have seen so far have been very confusing, convoluted and practically impossible for me at least to figure out.
Robert why do you want an EU passport? I am getting an EU citizenship as I have lived and worked in the EU and have family that is from Europe and I am married and have my own family in Europe. So there are many reason I would not mind having one. But to apply for one. 1) determine which country you would like to get an EU citizenship from. 2) Read about the laws of that country as there is really no EU citizenship as a whole.
Usually live and work legally for five years in the country that you want to be a citizen in. This is five years after you have a green card usually. If you are married and its usually three years but the citizenship paperwork is so complex it comes to five anyway. If your family is from Europe you have a chance to do it faster.
hi,
i have been working in a company where there are a lot of Polish,Slovakians,Slovenians,Latvians,Lithuanians and Estonian people.We are like a bunch of Indians who have been working in that firm for long.We all have girl friends from these countries.And some of us want to get married to them.But we all are afraid that we will have to spend at least 5-6 years in any of these countries before getting the passport for that country.So we are not sure what to do about that.Can you please let us know,is there any country which can give us EU citizenship a bit quicker like in 2 years?
Because,after the economic slump,things seem unsure everywhere.So we are not sure,if we will get a good job in any of the above mentioned countries.However,it can be beneficial,if we get the EU passport,since then we can work anywhere in EU. But,the jobs for at this firm are quite good for us at the same time,but after the economic crash,no one I knows what gonna happen next.
So,to be honest, we don’t want to marry just to get citizenship.However,if someone does get married,he will like to know,how much at the maximum it can take for getting the EU passport for any of the above countries.Also,one of my friends has a baby now with his girl friend from Slovenia,which nationality he can have?
Thanks for the right info.
Sop misinforming people. Getting European citizenship is not easy, neither is getting a work permit. You are not telling these people that in order for an American to be hired in Europe, the employer has to prove they can’t find any suitable employee in the European union. I also don’t know what you’re on about with the British green card, as there is no such thing. There is growing anti foreigner sentiment going on throughout Europe, and many countries are changing their immigration laws quickly. Denmark, and Netherlands are a few examples. many danish couples have been forced to move to Sweden because they cant get visas for their spouse. this is spreading fast. one other thing you forgot to mention is that in many European countries, for example Spain, and Italy, you have to live there 10yrs for you to get citizenship.
I am trying to get some info as to how to obtain an ancestry stamp or visa. I am planning on going to Europe for the next semester of school into probably May of 2010. I will also be playing hockey on a team that travels throughout the country. It is my understanding that if you have one or both of the above mentioned it is easier to get around. I have a grandfather( my fathers Dad) that was born in Poland. I am not sure what or how to get any additional information on what procedure to follow or what is needed to get these. If anyone has any info or suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks Dan.
EU tojo, I am getting an EU citizenship, in Poland. My brother is getting one in the UK. I guess it depends if you skills are in demand. But if you do not want to live in the EU why get the citizenship? My brother has lived in the UK for 20 years, myself in Poland over 5 years. It depends on many factors but if you are willing to live and work legally and go through a lot of paper work, and obey the laws with good intentions and make a contribution to the country, I think citizenship is not hard. If you want to just show up and in a year get it it is impossible to get an EU citizenship.
Dan you are in luck. The Polish constitution will give you a green card for Poland because you are Polish in blood. You need to go to the Polish embassy and they have the paperwork for you to prove it. Or go their their website. I did it so can you. Of course you can stay in the EU for 3 months anyway as an American visa free, but if you want to live in the EU get a green card like I did. You just have to prove this ancestry and the embassy is where you start.
hi there,
i’m a student from malaysia and now curently studying in romania…how can i obtain my permanent resident (PR) of romania? how many year i need to live in romania to get my PR?…..after getting my PR can i work in other EU countries?
thanks
Mark, that is great news. I just have another question, once I gather all my paperwork and go to the consulate. what am i appling for a passport or a green card or what do i say to them. Or what do I look online for which papers do I have to fill out to recieve the green card. Pretty much I have all my papers but do not know what which papers I need to be filling out the passport or what.
Hey, thanks for all the information! I have an interest in getting an EU passport…my grandparents were born in and lived in Poland and left in the early 1900′s; I have all their documentation. I had heard that Poland and Ireland both will consider applications for people who have gparents from their countries. I have spent a good deal of time in Europe and Poland over the years.
I would like to move to Poland (I can speak a little Polish that my mother taught me) or nearby; I am a special education teacher and a jazz pianist. I sent all my documentation to an online lawyer, he is all over the net, and the documents were all fine, but he said that though my gparents were born, raised and married in Konin, there was no official Poland at the time, and that my application would at this time not be accepted. Do you know if this is true, or how I might pursue this; any good links?
I thought I saw an article on the Polish Embassy site addressing this, but it came and went, like a lot of things do on that site!
Thanks for any help you can give me…
Robert
Yes if you can prove your grandparents came from Poland you can get a greencard. Citizenship is harder but possible. You need to show continuous line of citizenship. But green card is almost as good as citizen. First step is go to the Polish embassy. I am in Poland so it was easier, I just wen to the office that handles this.
Dan, Tell them exactly what your objective is. Tell them you want to get a Polish Karta Pobytu or citizenship. You can even print out the part of the Polish constitution that talks about repatriotization. They will know. It is all about paper. They have to give you the right forms to fill out. I guess the biggest question is are you going to live in the EU or Poland or you just want to the citizenship for honorific reasons. If you are not going to live in the EU then it might be harder. But try.
hi there,
I’m Canadian and would like to eventually get an EU passport and work in the UK. I’m Asian so I have no ancestry relations in Europe. I have a girlfriend who is from Poland for 2 years and am gonna marry her. Will that make me eligible to get a EU passport in a couple of years?
In addition, I’ll be graduating for a masters program in London. Please advice.
If you are married to a EU citizen you can apply for citizenship in the EU (depending on the country in about 3 to 7 years) if you live in that country legally. Therefore, you can not live in Canada and just pick up a citizenship. You have to go and live there under a visa for about 5 years. I have lived in Poland for over 5 years almost 6 years actually, I am Polish ancestry and married here and speak Polish and work here legally and still do not have citizenship. But if you are motivated and want to live in the EU you can get it with time.
Which European country offer citizenships by birth similar to the United States?
I think the closest country in the EU which has laws of citizenship is England
Hi i was born in Poland but moved to Australia at the age of 2
I have been living in Australia for 20 years now an became an Australian citizen 4 years ago
Would i still be a citizen in Poland or what will i need to do to become one?
Hi Zuzia, you already are a Polish citizen. Poland has unique citizenship laws because of its history. You are of Polish blood and birth and you are a citizen. If you want a passport you just need to go to the Polish embassy but you will need a copy of your akt urodzenia or birth certificate. Get this as the uząd miasta or town hall where you were born. You can write, them call them or I think the Polish embassy in your country might do this also. So you are free to live and work in the EU if you like.
I am inquiring for my boss who does a lot of work in Europe. He was interested in getting a EU citizenship. He has grandparents that were born in Poland, Hungry and Romania. His parents did not have citizenship in the above mentioned countries. I read your site and replies. Would he be able to apply even though his parents did not obtain citizenship in any of those countries listed.
Yes. But it is work to get a citizenship. If his parents were not citizen then 1) they would have to apply then 2) He would have to apply. Or he could get a green card like I did in Poland and live there for 5 years. There is a chance that he is an Automatic citizen even if his parents did not apply as citizenship is carried though blood but birthplace in Europe. That we would have to check with the embassy of each country. The EU is a great place to live and have citizenship for but many people just want to ‘pick up citizenship’, while in reality it is a lot of work. If you are willing to work on all of this there is a chance.
I am a first generation American. My father was born in Germany, as well as everyone above him. we have 2nd cousins, and such, but we do not stay in contact with them. My father has no brothers or cousins to speak of.
The only remaining family members I know of are my great aunt (mentally unstable, but still a German citizen), grandmother who now resides in Florida and an American citizen, a half uncle who is a German citizen, and finally my father who is an American citizen. They were all born in Germany.
Now I was born an American citizen, and I would like to obtain a dual-citizenship with at the European Union, if not at least a German citizen. Is there anything I can do? I’ve tried tracing my family line, but it’s very hard because a lot of our family records were burned during World War II.
There is a lot you can do. Citizenship is based on blood in Europe – and most EU countries including Germany. Go to the German embassy consulate and explain the situation and you would be surprised what documents they will find. I am Polish and the consulate could find my grandparents records from 100 years ago in Warsaw and Warsaw was 90% destroyed. So my advice is if you want EU citizenship you want get it, I think technically you are German citizen and you just need confirmation from the consulate. Good luck because Germany and the EU is a nice place.
I am a professional football player from an ex soviet union country-19 years. As I would like to extend my opportunities in E.U. I need to have an E.U. Passport-not only Visa-because FIFA rules speak about Passport-Nationality. If I do not have EU passport I have less chances for a contract as there is restriction in Foreigners. But there is more chances for me if I am from EU.
What is the best and fastest way to gain E.U. Citizenship? I could consider even Marriage.
And from which country?
Hello I am wanting to live in Germany in Leipzig and play semi pro football. Like the guy mentioned before its much easier to get on teams and stuff if you have a EU passport. I heard it would be hard for me to get a work permit as I would first have to get a residence permit plus the whole visas thing. I was told that you can get citizenship if your parents or grandparents were citizens or born their which is called the maternal line. I have been told in some countries your claim for ancestral citizenship can be reclaimed based on the the family name’s line mine being Milliken. My great great (yea i know its a long stretch) grandmother was born in Sweden and her last name was Milliken. I was wondering if u knew anything about this? and what do you think my best way going about obtaining a work permit and stuff if that’s what I have to do.
Best way is to apply based on some special circumstance. You will have to be very clever if you want to get a citizenship as soon as possible as this is what ever person wants. Even if you get married the wait is usually three years at least to get an EU citizenship.
Brandon, to get citizenship you can apply on grounds based on blood. I did this with my grandparents but could not do it, but was able to get a green card and now five years of living in EU I am hoping for citizenship. So yes applying based on Jus sanguinis is possible but you have to talk to the Consulate.
Mark Biernat thank you for your answer.
What kind of special circumstances would do?
And on the other hand which country gives faster and easier citizenship when married?
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