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.
Ok so how do you get a drawer 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.
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
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.
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?
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 meet 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 meet 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 meet 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 ‘meet 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?
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.
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.
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?
Special circumstances might be for example if you are Jewish and live in a country where you are persecuted for your religious believes, you could make an argument that you need asylum. Another example, is if you are an entrepreneur that is starting a business and creating long term jobs in a country, this will not get you citizenship but could fast track you. Or you make a great scientific contribution to a country, you can write the president. Another example that might help you get EU citizenship is that your mother was lets say French and because of some unusual political circumstance she could not transmit citizenship to you, this could also fast track you for a passport.
Marriage I can not advise you on as I believe marriage is for love and only love. It is highly illegal to marry for citizenship.
I am married to a EU citizen. I am married for love. My family is Polish (I am Polish blood). I made minor contributions to Poland and work legally and have lived here legally about six years. And I am still waiting for citizenship. I will get it not on my marriage, but on my blood and my length of living in the EU.
Everyone wants to go to the EU or USA. You have to live there legally for many years and be lucky. But if there is any easy way. I would be curious what you think it is.
Hi Mark
But I heard that in Italy after 6 months of marriage-staying there or 3 years abroad married they give you the citizenship. Also I heard something about France but I am not sure.
I agree that marriage is for love of course. But if I did not find my love yet why not to try to find my love from an EU country. You never know. Right?
John, what you wrote is very interesting. I guess I know that getting an EU citizenship from Poland is a long process, not such much as the law that is on the books but the bureaucracy, paper work and back long. My EU citizenship application is sitting in a black hole called Warsaw for years. Italy the law changed from 6 months to two years of living in Italy married to an Italian. I am pretty sure but you can check this. But it is interesting it is that fast. I EU citizenship in 6 months to 2 years. If you find out more, let me know. Thanks.
Here is my story to share. first of all, for people (esp. Asians, Middle-Easterners) who’re completed non-related to the whole EU thingy, even travelling to EU is already a big pain! I’m Asian, my girlfriend is caucasian Swiss. We are living together in asia in almost 2 years and we’ve just found out that my girlfriend is pregnant. we’ve not married yet. i’ve been already to Switzerland and those times i applied just to get the short visas for tourism purposes, they were really difficult like hell. I love European people, culture and all sorta thing. but i have goosebump whenever I step on one of those European embassies to apply a visa.
So now with my girlfriend’s pregnancy and she wanted both of us to go back Switzerland to get a better medical care, near her mum and stuffs. She and the baby will be all right. But i wonder what about me? i don’t want to get married yet (I know I may have something like the permanent resident if I do)! yes i love my girlfriend and the coming baby but marriage is something worth a big consideration and I’m not ready for that yet.
Assume that I don’t do the marriage process, my gf travels back to Europe, so the only way i can go there is under short-term tourist visa again (valid 90 days). and the after that, gotta get out and then re-enter again, that’s just too problematic and its unsure that i can get a visa! But besides it, I don’t see another way. apply for long-term visas? no way that can work itself out, I don’t even have a proper reason.
To be honest, it sounds sometimes cheap to mention the relation between marriage and getting a green card/PR/citizenship but sometimes not everyone of us can have a choice. my girlfriend wants (at least this time) us should head back to Europe (not sure if she wants to come back asia) so now it seems I don’t have a choice *sigh*
ps: I’ve never thought about living in Europe… until yesterday.
Dear Sir,
My mother is 85 years old. Her parents were both of Polish ancestry as were my father’s parents. If I submitted paperwork on her for citizenship wouldn’t it simply be seem as a subterfuge for me to obtain Polish citizenship?
Raymond, it depends, if your mother is a Polish citizen it will be easy. But I think if you have all your papers in order you can get a Polish green card then a citizenship latter. But it depends on a lot of factors. Were her parents citizens, if yes then maybe, but she would have to get confirmed as a citizen first then you. You need to go to the consulate to determine this.
I am an American citizen and my fiancee is from Greece…is it possible for me to obtain EU citizenship?
Hello, I am 16 years old and want to get EU citizenship so i may apply to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. I have a cousin who married a Spanish girl and now lives in Spain. I also had a great grandparent from England and one from Spain. I am not sure of the other six. Is there anyway to get an EU citizenship in the next five years?
Sara, just get a student visa, that is all you need. To get a EU citizenship you have to live there for about 5 years in most counties under a visa. I think your great grandparents are too far removed to get a citizenship from any country but I think you could get a green card for a few counties, check out your full family tree and get a complete list of your nationalities. But I still think it would be hard as you will have to prove with marriage and birth certificates they are your relatives.
So I would focus on getting a student visa rather than citizenship.
I am a U.S. citizen, but have been living in Europe for 5 years (Spain-2, Italy-3). Since I have no desire to live in the U.S. after I get out of college, I would really like to obtain European citizenship. I turned 18 four months ago, and my family has been stationed here because my father works for the government. I am also fluent in both Spanish and Italian. I have no recent relatives that immigrated to the US, from Europe (my great grandmother came from Germany during WWII), so I don’t think I have any blood rights. Does any of this qualify me for EU citizenship?
Ashley, I think for you there will be no problem getting an EU citizenship. Why? Because you learn languages and you are willing to live in Europe. Many people that write me just want to meet a citizenship without even living in Europe for a long time. Take me for example I have been living in Europe for over five years and I am waiting patiently for my approval. If it takes time it takes time.
The first thing you need to do is decide which country you will get your citizenship from.
I do not think you can obtain citizenship based on jus sanguinis or you are from a country related to these countries, just as Peru for Spain or Argentina for Italy for example, so you will have to live in the country and apply.
Spain and Italy have like a 10 year wait to get it through nationalization.
There are countries which have a shorter wait, but you will have to live there. For example in Sweden it is 5 years of residence and you can get your citizenship. So this is the first question, what country you want to reside to become nationalized.
You will not give up your US citizenship and you can certainly travel to the US on vacation. You just have to live legally in a country for x amount of years. This is the big question. Choose it right as this will most likely determine who you will marry.
If you live in Sweden you might marry a Swed, in Italy you might marry an Italian. No not but you know how life is you might fall in love.
To live in a country legally it is usually connected with work. You can teach languages (English) go to school etc. But if you teach languages many places will sponsor you. The key thing is you need a visa to live in your target country legally for a number of years..
I do not know if this helps in your quest for EU citizenship.
Hello! I am a Russian citizen, my husband ( we got married 2 months ago) is Swedish citizen. I m planning on studying in Italy( last year) and my husband is planning to move there with me. In this case, shall i apply for residence permit in Sweden? or shall I get a Swedish visa and with this visa go to Italy?
We are also going to have a baby at the end of February, and we think that the baby is going to be born in Italy, in this case is the baby going to be a Swedish or Italian citizen?
Once I m finished with my studies ( in one year) what kind of documents should i apply for?
Thank you.
Kristina, your child will be Swedish and Russian depending on what paper work you do. Basically in Europe the citizenship is passed by jus sanguinis. This means it does not matter where the baby is born, it matters what passport the parents have.
So your baby will be a Swedish citizen. I personally think Swedish citizenship is one of the best ones to have in all the world. They are a very peaceful developed society. You get a lot of benefits and even give you material for your first house for free. They really take care of their citizens, I do not think all countries really do this. If you are Swedish, home or abroad you will be respect and you are a full EU member. But I am also a but of a Slavophile so having dual citizen is the best I think.
I think you should get a visa for Sweden and once you have this it will apply to the EU. My Ukrainian friends with Polish visa can work and live anywhere in the EU. But I am not a lawyer so I do not know everything.
I think you should focus on Sweden for all your paperwork. Italy you will be just a guest, but with Sweden you are married to a Swed and have a Swedish baby. Also the process in Italy is much longer than Sweden, either way you will have an EU citizenship.
I am a South African citizen married with one child . Presently employed as a Police Officer since 1997 and completed my education at the University of South Africa . My great grandfather on my fathers side was born in Scotland and grandmother born in New Zealand. Soon adopted by a SA family . My mothers grandparent was British which allows here to obtain an ancestry visa. Am i able to obtain any visa of sort into one of these countries ?
Heath I think parents are the key not grandparents unless it is a very special situation for citizenship or visa.
Hello, I just got an basic offer from a football club in England,However they are requiring that i have a EU citizenship. My only option is through my step-grandfather who is 100% and born in Portugal am I eligible?
Hi Fellipe, no you can not get it through him, he is not a blood relation (Jus sanguinis) and citizenship pass based this way, and it is too far removed I think. EU citizenship is like US citizenship they just do not hand them out. Maybe your football club can help you, but I think for the UK you have to live there legally for 7 years before you can reply.
Hi Mark,
I’m an Australian Citizen looking to get dual nationality with Poland. My grandmother is polish however she gave up citizenship when she married my grandfather (who was born in Seyshells) and they moved to Australia. Does this now mean I cannot apply? Or does it just mean my grandmother would have to re-apply, then my mother apply, then myself?
Thanks in advance!
Carly, I had something similar and I am now a dual citizen. The question is how much do you want to work for it. If you want to live in Poland like I do and do the paperwork I think you will get citizenship with time for sure. But if you are applying from Australia I think you can get permanent visa maybe. It all comes under repatriation. I think a key element of me getting citizenship was I have been living and working in the EU for many years.
Hello Mark! I am an Ukrainian citizen. My wife is a Greek, ( got married three month ago ). I used to live in Greece for more than 7 years before my marriage, with studying at first and then working residence and after, I left back to Ukraine. In Ukraine I got married, then obtained a Schengen visa type c with one entry, for 90 days and left back to Greece. In Greece I have applied for Greek residence, they’ve already given me a certificate of waiting, i was told that the process will take from 1 to 3 months. I speak Greek fluently and have the language certificate from Greek national university. What I want to ask you is, is this possible for me to get Greek citizenship and do I have to wait again for 5-10 years period to apply for it or i can do it as soon as I get residence ( I was told it would be a 5 year residence )? Thanks!
The good news is European EU countries like Ukrainians because Ukraine is destined to be in the EU. Ukraine is a European country that will become EU sometime, and countries like Poland are very kind their Ukrainians because of similar culture and European history. However, the problem is Greece has very strict citizenship laws. The Greeks will like you living there, but to get a citizenship it takes a lot of years. You need to declare your intentions of citizenship formally. Then since you are not an ethnic Greek you must have lived in Greece for ten of the last twelve years before the declaration. Alternatively you can live in Greece for five years after the declaration. When you get your Citizenship, Ukraine will want you to give up your Ukrainian citizenship. But you do not have to tell them anything of course. Marriage does not affect your citizenship status in Greece.
This is what I know. Maybe some smart Greek lawyer knows an easier path to Greek or EU citizenship.
Hi Mark!
I am an Indian citizen and I recently received an European Union Doctoral scholarship for 4 years in Belgium. Do I have any chances to get Belgian citizenship after 4 years stay there? I have no any other connections like grandparents or like wise in Europe.
Thanks!
Actually Belgium is pretty easy to get a Citizenship, compared to other EU countries. There is only a three year residency requirement prior to the application. But the application should be pretty convincing also. So if you line things up I think you do have a possibility to get an EU citizenship especially since you are highly educated and can make a case for contributing to the country in a unique way, this will make your case for citizenship stronger.
Hi Mark. Thanks for the info on the website, and thanks more for replying to all the questions people ask. I have one question. I am graduating with my teaching credentials that will allow me to teach in Europe. I fully intend to remain in the EU, and will have no problem in meeting the live in and work in the EU requirements. I intend to learn the languages of where I reside, and can already pass in a few. My problem, is that while I will reside in the EU for the next 25 years or more, it likely will not be consecutively in one country. So, I may start in Germany for a year or two, then have to relocate to another, and maybe find my way back to Germany, or maybe elsewhere. So my problem is that an EU passport would make travel between the countries much easier, and help much in my career, but I’m not sure I will meet the requirement in just one country, but the EU as a whole. Are there any ways to become an EU national as a whole, apart from citizenship of one single country?
That is a good question. You know in the USA you can be a citizen of a State rather than a citizen of the USA. There are a number of people who do this for various reasons. However, in the EU at this juncture, you can only be a citizen of a member country but not the EU as a whole. My Polish passport says European Union at the top and under it Republic of Poland. However, there is really not such thing as an EU citizenship. I am a Polish citizen and I have right to work and live in the EU as stated in the Lisbon treaty. I think the EU is like the US under the Articles of confederation a little bit. But there is not EU citizenship as a whole. If you find this out the contrary please let me know.
Hi Mark.
I’m and USA citizen and my boyfriend is a Polish citizen. We are both in the UK. He is working here and I’m here for 6-mos on a visit visa. We would like to get married here. Is that possible and our marriage be recognized in Poland and the USA? Do I have to go to the Poland or can i go to the Polish embassy for my papers and can he get papers for the USA? What do we have to do to legally get married here and what is the time line to plan for that? How long does it take for me to get Polish papers after I’m married and how long will it be before I can work. Can he now come to the USA and work as well or does he still have to file for a visa to even go there? His tried to get a tourist visa to meet my family half a year ago and got denied.
Thanks for you help!
The good news is, once you are married in one place you are married all around the world. You could get married in a ten minute ceremony in Vegas and shabaam, you are married all over the USA and the EU and basically every country in the world. EU countries only require you jump through hoops, like get legal official translations for your marriage certificate.
However, once you are married means only the first step. Really. I am married to a Polish citizen and I am both a Polish and American citizen and my wife still has to apply like normal to get a tourist visa for the USA. I feel this is unfair.
For her to work in the USA she has to go through a process of getting an immigrant visa.
Once you are marred, he would have to get all this from the Embassy. Lots of forms and paper. I think from A to Z the process might take six months, I am just guesstimating. Similarly do not think that if you are married to a European Union citizen you can get a citizenship. In Poland I would expect about five plus years maybe seven if you are living here in Poland legally. Me it took about 6 years even though, I had a green card, my family was from Poland, Polish marriage, lived here and worked legally, etc. Marriage is not the ticket for easy work and citizenship. You need to live in the country, do the paperwork and wait. Sorry for that.
Further, my bother lived in the UK years for 19 years and it was easy to get a UK citizenship, however, after he got his citizenship it took him 2 years to get his passport for some reason.
My friend is Polish and married to a Tunisian man. He is having a hard time to join his wife in Poland, on a simple marriage visa.
The UK, USA, Poland do not mess around with visas, there is a lot of paperwork and waiting involved. Marriage helps but you still have to do a lot. Too much to explain other than going to the consulate. I am sorry again about that, I want to just set your expectations low, so once you do it, you will say, wow that was easy.
For example, I have been married to my wife, who is an EU citizen, but she can not get a citizenship from the US unless she has lived there many years. I do not want to scare you, its they do not just hand these things out.
Basically, you have to 1. Go to the embassy and get a bunch of papers and fill them out. You can check the embassy websites also. 2. Live in the country for a while. 3. Get approved. Then you can work after a while in either the EU or USA depending where you live. Again, for me I am very happy living in either Poland or the USA. It does not matter as long as I am with my sweet heart.
One thing you should also consider, if he does apply for a this USA visa, for the rest of his life he must file USA taxes even if he moves back to Poland and is not a US citizen. For the rest of his life he is required to report all world wide income to the US government. They do not mess around. You have to report all his bank accounts etc, even if it is only a Polish bank account. Once you are in the system in the USA, there is no way back.
But again not to scare you, I am in the same boat I file US and Polish taxes both. It is the law. Even my pittance of teaching money I make in Poland I have to pay Polish taxes on and report this to the US government also. I spend a lot of time on this. So just make sure you get all your ducks in order before you just start filing paper about where you guys want to live for the long term.
But it all can be done, it is easy and not that scary if you set you expectations that is not a cake walk.
Hi Mark!
thanks for your responses to everybody first of all.
I have already read all the posts here and could’nt really find a situation matching my case.
I am a Turkish guy (26) working already in italy as an engineer since two years. I speak fluently Italian, English, German and Turkish.
my question is.
-if I marry a Lithuanian girl who is living in France. May I be eligible to work in France in a short time (like 1 month) and how long would be the validity of this permit at the beginning.
-after working there 3-5 years and being married to a Lituanian do I became eligible for any citizenship of these countries. if yes which one?
-if I marry her here in Italy and settle down here.
may I apply to renew my residence permit to work here.and again how long would be the coverage of this permit. and after how many years living here may i became eligible for Italy or Lithuanian citizenship?
-if something goes wrong about marriage and we start living apart and this is discovered by police or we just divorce, dose become my residence permit invalid immediately or can i use it until the date of validity anyway?
I know i asked too many question but really really each scenario is very important for me to know as i am going to take a very important decision soon.
thanks in advance.
The good news is you are Turkish, and Turkey is a European but not EU country yet. But it will be. The bad news is Lithuania does not allow dual citizenship, nor does it all for citizenship very easy. You need to take a test to prove you are fluent in the Lithuanian language. It is a very hard language with many cases, nothing like English or French which are easy languages. I will not comment on the rest as if you marry someone it should be for love and you will stay with them forever, or you disrespect all the people who marry for love.
I have a question. I’m a gey man in the US and my partner just got his Greek passport. I’m interested in getting an EU passport in any country that would allow me to do it the easiest. Is there any country that would grant me EU citizenship because I’m married to my male partner? If not, what would I have to do so I could earn an EU passport so we could both have one?
I think countries like the Nertherlands and Denmark Sweden, Belgium, Spain all to various degrees. I knew a guy who married a women so he could be with his partners also, but I do not recommend this. There are many countries that allow this in the EU. Greek citizenship laws are very difficult. Maybe you could get a job in the EU and have a company sponsor you, that might be easier. Because to do the whole marriage thing, then live legally in the country, say the Netherlands for many years it is not practical. See just because you are married in one country does not mean Greece will recognizes this. So you both wold have to permanently settle in another country in Europe. If you guys both want to be together there has to be an easier way.
I am an Indian woman , I was married to a Swedish man we got married in Swedish court ,I was on invitation visa that time so I had to come back to India after 5 days as my visa was expiring ,iIhad to apply for residence permit but just after 6 days of my coming back to India unfortunately my Swedish husband dies .that time i was pregnant ,and now I have a son 1 yr old ,my question is ? the Swedish embassy says he is a Swedish citizen so he can have Swedish passport and i should also apply for PIO that is person originally from India , I want him to grow in Sweden so my question is can I also have residence permit as my son is Swedish citizen ? also what kind a benefits my son can have being a Swedish citizen ?
You have to be with your son. I would try to be with him and apply. I do not know if they will grant you this as visas are based on marriage and you are not married, it does not flow from child to parent but only the the other way around. He could also live with his father in Sweden if that is your priority, I have no idea why you are not with the father, a child needs parents more than benefits from any state.