Nearly a dozen European countries allow relatively easy dual citizenship but with different legal guidelines, some requiring ancestry, others residency for a specific time.
Why It Matters
More Americans, due to economic uncertainties and political animosities, are looking at dual citizenship as a fallback. Young people are leading the charge. Sixty-three percent of Gen Zers and 52 percent of millennials are considering moving abroad, according to a recent survey by Harris Poll. It also found that four in ten U.S. adults (42 percent) have considered or plan to relocate outside the country to improve their quality of life or financial position.
What To Know
Dual citizenship across Europe mostly breaks down in one of two main categories: ancestry, and how long one has lived in a country.
The following countries offer relatively easy dual citizenship if you can prove ancestry:
Italy
- As of March 28, 2025, Italy tightened its citizenship laws and eligibility is now limited to individuals with a parent or grandparent born in Italy.
- Applicants must also demonstrate a genuine connection to Italy, such as language proficiency, residency, or active community engagement.
- This change excludes those claiming citizenship through great-grandparents or more distant ancestors.
Ireland
- You can claim citizenship if a parent or grandparent was born in Ireland.
- Straightforward registration with the Foreign Births Register.
- The Minister for Justice can waive some of the conditions of becoming an Irish citizen where the applicant is of Irish descent or association.
- No language or residency requirements.
- Dual citizenship fully allowed.
- Applications based on descent from an Irish citizen going further back than a great-grandparent are generally refused.
Poland
- Citizenship possible if you can trace lineage to Polish citizens (even pre-WWII), meaning that if you have a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Polish citizen, you may be eligible for Polish citizenship by descent—which also grants European Union (EU) citizenship.
- Documentation-heavy but no residency requirement.
- Dual citizenship is accepted.
Hungary
- If you have Hungarian ancestry, notably from the Austro-Hungarian Empire era.
- Requires basic Hungarian language skills.
- No need to live in Hungary.
For those without ancestry, the following nations offer quicker or simpler paths via residency.
Portugal
- Only five years of legal residency required.
- One of the fastest and most flexible paths in Western Europe.
- Allows dual citizenship.
- Offers options like the investment-based Golden Visa.
Spain
- Usually 10 years of residency, but only two years for people from Latin America, the Philippines, or with Sephardic Jewish heritage.
- Allows dual citizenship with these countries.
- Spanish language requirement.
France
- Citizenship possible after five years of residency (two years if you studied in France).
- Dual citizenship allowed.
- Resident requirements remain but France has introduced stricter language proficiency requirements. As of 2025, applicants must demonstrate a B2 level of French proficiency, up from the previous B1 level. Integration into French society continues to be assessed.
For those who can afford it, Austria offers “citizenship by investment.”
Austria
- Allows citizenship by investment under exceptional contribution.
- No formal program; typically €2—3 million.
- Dual citizenship granted in select cases with government approval.
Some countries only allow dual citizenship in certain circumstances:
Bulgaria
Bulgaria allows dual citizenship only for individuals born to Bulgarian parents, or to those who lost Bulgarian citizenship involuntarily.
Estonia
Exceptions apply for those who hold citizenship of a country that prohibits dual citizenship, or has not concluded a relevant agreement with Estonia.
Germany
As of May 28, 2025, Germany revised its citizenship laws. It abolished a previously expedited naturalization process that allowed citizenship after three years of residency, returning the minimum residency requirement to five years.
Additionally, stricter requirements have been introduced, including financial independence, stable employment, and strong language proficiency.
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