What is European citizenship
The EU is an international organization that includes 28 European countries that are members of the union, and another 5 countries are in accession mode. Citizens of EU countries have two types of citizenship at once: the country in which they live and citizenship of the European Union. There are a number of states that are not part of the EU, but also provide visiting benefits to European citizens.
In fact, European citizenship is a designation on the passport of a citizen of a country that is part of the European Union. And this mark gives the right to a number of advantages when visiting other countries that are also members of the EU, or have some agreements with the EU.
Benefits of European citizenship
What does EU citizenship provide - a number of advantages:
Study and work in EU countries
An EU citizen has the opportunity to live and work in any EU country, as well as in a number of additional states. To do this, it is enough to obtain a foreign passport - no other documents or permits are required. Considering the economic stability of these countries, this point is an important advantage.
Tourism without a visa
To travel around the EU countries and a number of other countries, you do not need to spend time and money on obtaining visas and permits. This will allow you to visit a maximum of desired points in a short vacation period.
European education
European education is considered prestigious. In addition, it is easier to study in the EU than in the USA or Russia. An EU citizen has the right to free education in most EU countries. Diplomas from EU universities are accepted almost all over the world, even without confirmation.
Quality medicine
Of course, the quality of medicine depends on the country itself, but a citizen of the European Union has the right to choose the corner of Europe that he likes best and go there for treatment without any additional documents - he only needs a foreign passport. At the same time, the EU provides its citizens with insurance that guarantees quality medical care even for people with low incomes.
Doing Business
Doing business in Europe is not difficult, as the law provides equal rights for all entrepreneurs. Corruption is at a minimum level, conditions for businessmen are transparent, and the state is ready to provide support to budding entrepreneurs. Add here the absence of bureaucracy and a developed consumer market - this provides ideal conditions for doing business.
High level of social development
EU countries are focused on a decent standard of living. The quality of products, favorable prices in comparison with salaries, the safety of citizens in the legal field - these are priority factors for the EU countries.
What second passport and citizenship can a Ukrainian get for investing?
The information presented above speaks for itself. Yes, these 7 reasons to leave Ukraine can be called nothing more than a subjective judgment based on statistical data and observations. But they quite accurately reflect modern realities and will remain relevant for a long time, because those in power do not dare change the situation in the country and are only creating new schemes for “cutting up” foreign loans. Of course, we can say that everything is not so scary, that we need to fight for our bright future. But if you are not a revolutionary, then there is little point in this. In such a situation, instead of a bright future, a calm life in the present is much more important. In Ukraine this is problematic. Which leads to the outflow of the country's citizens abroad.
We especially emphasize that the situation in Ukraine is changing dramatically literally every day due to new laws and political instability. Therefore, Ukrainians who have a fairly substantial fortune need to act extremely quickly. Naturalization after many years of residence under a work residence permit or through marriage is no longer necessary - these procedures already take too much time.
It would be much wiser to choose the shorter option of a country with an economic citizenship program (CBI). You can now buy a passport using this scheme in the Caribbean (5 selling countries) and in the EU (2 countries). If you are willing to part with a sufficient amount of investment funds by investing them in the economy of your favorite Caribbean or European jurisdiction through the CBI mechanism, the government of that country will reward you with its citizenship.
Obviously, the price factor will be decisive for many citizens of Ukraine. In order to buy a valid and legal document that opens the borders of the EU and many doors in the Old World (the dream of millions of Ukrainian migrants), 100 thousand US dollars is enough. This is exactly how much you need to spend to buy a second citizenship of Dominica or Saint Lucia for money. This is the cheapest option in the Caribbean and in the world in general. You can also spend 200 thousand US dollars to purchase Grenada citizenship. Passports from Saint Kitts and Nevis or Antigua and Barbuda will cost 250 thousand US dollars.
If you are ready to part with an order of magnitude larger sum, pay attention to the European CBI programs. To obtain a second Maltese citizenship for money, you will have to spend at least 880 thousand euros, while for Cypriot economic citizenship you need to pay 2.5 million euros.
Yes, the amounts are decent, but such expenses are not completely meaningless. A second passport for investment will be an excellent purchase not only for Ukrainian multimillionaires who own super-yachts with helipads and football teams. It will also be useful to Ukrainian citizens with a more modest fortune. After all, this is not just a status symbol - such a document gives its owner the following bonuses:
- Freedom of movement. A second, third or nth citizenship will allow a Ukrainian to literally discover the whole world. For example, a passport issued in Malta allows you to visit all EU countries freely without visas and live there. With its help, you can cross the borders of the USA, Australia and Canada without unnecessary formalities. If you become a citizen of one of the Caribbean countries that have launched CBI programs, you will also be able to visit EU countries without a visa. At the same time, the Grenada program deserves special attention, which, in addition to the standard visa-free European Union, provides two important bonuses that competitors do not have: visa-free China and a simplified procedure for obtaining an investor visa in the United States. Yes, Ukrainians were given a visa-free regime with the EU. But it is still unknown what will happen in the future. If opportunities allow, it is better to play it safe. Moreover, you can get a second citizenship of Grenada for money in just 3-4 months.
- Asset protection . Caribbean and European passports provide wealthy Ukrainians with tangible benefits related to asset protection, minimizing tax burden and mitigating business risks. They will have new opportunities for simplified employment abroad and investing free funds in the economies of countries they like. Another advantage of second citizenship by investment in this case is that the authorities of the host country will not inform their Ukrainian colleagues that you have received a second citizenship. This will avoid many problems and further protect your assets.
- Security and a better future for the investor and his family . The modern world is extremely unstable. This is perfectly reflected by the recent history of Ukraine. A second passport and a new homeland will allow Ukrainians to forget the military conflict, as well as political and economic instability in their historical homeland, like a bad dream.
Who can obtain EU citizenship
EU countries independently put forward requirements for potential visitors to their territory. However, there are a number of basic requirements for those wishing to obtain EU citizenship, which are relevant throughout Europe:
Clean criminal history
If in the past a person has committed crimes against human life, as well as violations in the tax sphere, then it is very likely that he will be refused a European passport and the corresponding citizenship.
Financial well-being
Living in Europe is an expensive pleasure, and when moving it is important to have a reserve of finances for the first time. We are not talking about large fortunes; you just need to confirm the availability of finances for living and renting an apartment for a period of three months. The applicant must also confirm a source of income that will provide a decent standard of living for him and his family.
Knowledge of and respect for language, laws and culture
The reason for refusal to obtain European citizenship may be expressed disrespect for language, law or culture.
How to obtain EU citizenship: schemes
You can obtain EU citizenship in 3 ways, which are the main ones in immigration to most EU countries:
By right of birth or in case of adoption
A number of countries grant citizenship by birth, as well as in cases of adoption, provided that one of the parents is already a citizen of the country.
Repatriation
This option for obtaining EU citizenship is available to those whose ancestors lived in one of the countries in Europe. But the ancestors should not be too distant - at least great-grandparents. The most difficult thing in the repatriation procedure is to prove the fact of kinship and residence; if you can prove this, then after six months of consideration there is a real chance to receive a European-style passport. Some countries may require you to pass exams on knowledge of language and culture; you will have to prove your knowledge of the laws in any country. This method of obtaining EU citizenship is considered the simplest and cheapest.
Naturalization
The method is long, but does not require individual conditions. This option for obtaining an EU passport is popular among Russian citizens. The conditions are as follows: you need to legally live in the country for the specified period without leaving (some countries give minimum travel periods), and if you follow the rules, you can count on EU citizenship.
Investments
Obtaining EU citizenship through investment is considered the easiest, but at the same time financially expensive way. The EU for investment does not require long residence in the country, the presence of relatives or any grounds for obtaining a passport. It is necessary to invest a certain amount of funds as an investment and obtain citizenship. Some countries do not even require visiting the country; you can receive a passport by mail.
Some countries set investment retention periods, usually from one to 5 years, but this depends on the country - after which the finances can be returned.
It is worth noting that some countries do not provide for such citizenship, but it is possible to buy an EU passport in this way.
The procedure for changing citizenship of a Russian
The procedure for acquiring citizenship is determined by the legislation of each individual country. The only obligation that needs to be fulfilled before the Russian Federation is to notify the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs about the availability of a second passport or residence permit. How to do it:
- If a Russian permanently resides in the Russian Federation and has received citizenship (or the right to reside) of another state without traveling abroad, then a notification must be submitted within 60 days from the date of issue of the new document.
- If a person is abroad and returns to Russia within 2 months after acquiring new citizenship, a notification must be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the standard manner.
- If a Russian is abroad and does not plan to return to Russia within 60 days from the date of issue of a foreign passport, it is necessary to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 1 calendar month from the date of crossing the border of the Russian Federation.
In which EU country is it easier to obtain citizenship?
It is impossible to answer the question “Which country is the easiest to obtain EU citizenship”, since everywhere has its own difficulties and individual characteristics. But we can distinguish 2 most popular schemes for quickly and easily obtaining EU citizenship - the option of obtaining a special applicant status (repatriates, refugees, married people, etc.) and the option of business immigration (investment). Each scheme should be considered separately.
On repatriation
A fast way, with simplified requirements and shortened deadlines. You just need to prove your ethnicity; living in the status of residence permit and permanent residence is not required, nor is it necessary to renounce your first citizenship. It is considered a fairly simple option in cases where evidence can be provided.
Poland, Romania, Lithuania and a number of other countries provide this program for residents of the CIS countries.
By marriage
All EU countries imply a simplified procedure for obtaining a residence permit for the life partner of an EU citizen, and it also allows one to significantly reduce the time frame for submitting a request for citizenship. But marriage must be real. It is difficult to maintain a fiction at the level of reality; the lie will be revealed and after that you can forget about EU citizenship, and sometimes about entering the country’s territory, forever.
Ways to obtain citizenship
When considering which country in Europe or other part of the world to obtain citizenship, it is necessary to take into account the methods of granting citizenship. In practice, a passport is issued to a foreigner based on the following methods:
- granting citizenship to a refugee (you will need to prepare for the process in advance and obtain the appropriate status);
- naturalization (the longest process, which involves long-term residence in the country);
- repatriation (this method is available for those applicants whose close relatives were previously citizens of the selected country).
The most common option for immigration to a foreign country is naturalization. Of course, this method is time-consuming, but it is the most accessible for most citizens of the Russian Federation.
Immigration to Europe through work
If you have a high level of knowledge of a foreign language, as well as a profession in demand, immigration is possible by getting a job.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately predict the conditions and timing of immigration, since this depends on a number of unstable factors - the demand for the profession in the labor market, communications, personal qualities.
To choose a country, you need to study the economic characteristics of the country and the market for in-demand professions on its territory. For example, moving to Eastern Europe to get a job will not work - there are too many unemployed people there and they hire citizens directly for positions. And in Western Europe, a foreigner can only get a job if he is a specialist in a narrow or in-demand field.
In addition, it is important to analyze the country for immigration, living standards and wages. The expected salary should not be at the subsistence level, in which case the relocation will be denied. The best countries for employment immigration are Germany, Sweden and Denmark. However, life in these countries is characterized by an extremely high standard, and therefore high prices - this should not be forgotten.
List of countries best suited for citizenship
Some countries have the opportunity to simplify the process of obtaining citizenship through marriage and the purchase of real estate. The best option would be the list of states below.
Portugal
To obtain a residence permit in Portugal, you must purchase real estate for a total amount of 500 thousand euros. The final cost can be one residential property or several cheap ones. After five years, a residence permit can be easily converted into permanent residence, and after a year, you can receive the long-awaited citizenship. In addition to purchasing real estate, a future citizen can deposit 1 million euros into a Portuguese bank account, open his own business and provide jobs for 10 Portuguese citizens.
Latvia
The purchase of residential properties worth 250 thousand euros gives the right to a residence permit, which is issued for a period of 5 years. After the expiration of time, the residence permit can be changed to permanent residence. A residence permit in Latvia is granted to all family members of the property owner. The Republic of Latvia does not provide for the possibility of dual citizenship.
Spain
The amount required to obtain a residence permit is increasing again - now 500 thousand euros are required. After five years of residence, permanent residence is issued, with which you have to live in the country for five additional years. After 10 years of stay in the country, a person has the right to apply for citizenship. An easier option is registration through marriage - a year of marriage is enough to obtain citizenship. The marriage must be legal and valid.
Canada
Becoming a Canadian citizen is easier than it seems. Marriage, investing, and obtaining a residence permit (when applying for a job) can help. After each point, you must live in Canada for three years and feel free to submit an application. You will have to stay in the country almost continuously for three years.
Czech
It is possible to obtain a residence permit in the Czech Republic after the expiration of a long-term visa. Students or people who come to work can obtain a visa. This means that to begin your stay in the country, you should move there in search of study or work. You need to live with a residence permit for 10 years, or change to permanent residence and live for another 5. After 10 total years, a Czech passport is issued.
Greece
The mentality of Greece is similar to Russian, the country is excellent for immigration. The duration of residence in the country's possessions before the issuance of a passport depends on the method of obtaining a residence permit. For a Russian who has received a residence permit after a visa, the stay will last 12 years, for an investor or owner of real estate in the amount of 250 thousand - 7 years. Living married to a Greek guarantees citizenship after 3 years; at the time of filing the application, the marriage must be valid.
Cyprus
The process of natural naturalization takes a total of 7 years, 5 of which the resident has a residence permit, the remaining 2 years - permanent residence. Purchasing real estate starting from 300 thousand euros will help speed up the process of obtaining permanent residence. Permanent residence issued to the owner does not require renewal and is for life.
Malta
Obtaining Maltese citizenship is beneficial for wealthy investors: the costs are high, but the time frame for obtaining citizenship is quick - within a year the investor will have the right to request citizenship. You will have to invest 650 thousand euros, which go to the country's development fund, spend 350 thousand on the purchase of real estate, and become the owner of local securities for 150 thousand.
Studies
By entering university or taking long-term language courses, you can come to the country and settle in it. The option of learning a language is common, because it does not require much effort and investment.
Many EU countries allow foreigners to study either for free or for a fee. The only condition is that you need to study and take exams in the official state language of the country.
When studying, a residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year, which is extended when moving from course to course. After graduation, time is provided for employment.
For students, a residence permit is issued for 1 year with further extension. Graduates after graduation have a grace period to find a job. For example, in Germany, a student who receives a diploma is given a year to find a job. Afterwards you can apply for permanent residence and citizenship.
EU citizenship for Russians and residents of CIS countries
The easiest way for Russians to obtain EU citizenship is through long-term repatriation. To do this, you need to prove the presence of “roots”, then submit documents and wait about 24 months. A number of countries may have additional requirements, so it is better to familiarize yourself with the conditions in advance.
In 2021, the fastest way for a citizen of the Russian Federation to obtain EU citizenship is in Romania. The deadline for obtaining is 24 months, the conditions are to prove Romanian roots. A big plus is the possibility of obtaining dual citizenship.
