Easiest EU country to get citizenship

You work in English and want to avoid a second language exam

MTMalta

BecauseMalta asks for 12 months of residence immediately before applying plus 4 years in the preceding 6, with adequate Maltese or English.5 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forMeeting the 5-year residence rule does not oblige the minister to approve: the grant in Malta is discretionary.

Also compareIreland

Residence routes to an EU passportSee every country in the table

You can keep trips abroad under 70 days in the final year and hold a reckonable permission

IEIreland

BecauseIreland counts 1 year of continuous reckonable residence before applying plus 4 years in the preceding 8, with up to 70 days abroad in the final year.5 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forTime on some permissions, student permission among them, is not reckonable and does not count towards the 5 years.

Also compareMalta

Irish naturalisation step by stepSee every country in the table

You are ready to reach B1 German and want to keep your current passport

DEGermany

BecauseGermany cut the period from 8 to 5 years on 27 June 2024 and has generally allowed dual citizenship since the same date.5 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forThe 3-year fast track for special integration was abolished from 30 October 2025, and pending 3-year applications are assessed under the 5-year rule.

Also compareLuxembourg

Start with a German work permitSee every country in the table

A parent or grandparent was an Italian citizen by birth

ITItaly

BecauseThe standard residence period is 10 years, but descendants of Italian citizens by birth up to the second degree need 2 years of legal residence, with B1 Italian.10 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forCitizenship by descent without residence was restricted by D.L. 36/2025: claims filed after 27 March 2025 by people born abroad with another citizenship qualify only in narrow cases.

Italian citizenship after the 2025 decreeSee every country in the table

You hold the nationality of an Ibero-American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal

ESSpain

BecauseSpain reduces its 10-year rule to 2 years of legal, continuous residence for these nationalities.10 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forThe 2 years must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application; a gap resets the count.

Also comparePortugal

Compare the descent and nationality routesSee every country in the table

You would relocate as a key employee of a Cyprus company

CYCyprus

BecauseHighly qualified employees of companies under the 2021 strategy can apply after 12 months plus 4 years with Greek at A2, or plus 3 years with Greek at B1, against 8 years on the standard route.8 yearsChecked on25 September 2026source

Watch forYou must have been employed for at least 2 years in a qualifying role, and Cyprus treats you as tax resident after more than 183 days in a calendar year, or under the 60-day rule.

Also compareMalta

Company formation in CyprusSee every country in the table

You want an Irish passport, then plan to move your tax residence out of Ireland

IEIreland

BecauseIrish tax residence follows presence, 183 days in the tax year or 280 days over two years, not nationality, so the passport alone does not keep you in the Irish tax net.Resident if present 183+ days in the tax year, or 280+ days over the current and previous tax year combined (at least 31 days in each; 30 or fewer days in a year are ignored).Checked on25 September 2026source

Watch forDuring the 5 qualifying years you will almost certainly pass the day test, so Irish income tax, with a top rate of 40%, applies for that period.

Also compareNetherlands

Plan the Irish residence yearsSee every country in the table