If your goal is an EU passport for the whole family, the route matters as much as the destination. This page sets out the lawful pathways, the recent limits on buying citizenship directly and the practical questions a family should weigh before committing.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
There is no single EU passport that you apply for centrally. EU citizenship follows automatically from being a national of a member state, and each member state sets its own nationality law. A family planning for an EU passport is really planning to become a citizen of one specific country, then enjoying EU wide rights through that nationality.
This matters because the rules, timelines and family provisions differ by country. A route that suits one family may not suit another, depending on nationality, budget, where you can live and how long you are willing to wait.
Families often start by asking which country sells a passport fastest. That framing has narrowed. In 2025 the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that a member state cannot grant its citizenship, and through it EU citizenship, in exchange for investment alone, finding that such schemes treat citizenship as a commercial transaction. The practical effect is that direct citizenship by investment inside the EU is no longer a reliable plan.
What remains lawful and well established is the residence route. You obtain a residence permit through a qualifying programme or another legal basis, you build genuine ties over a number of years, and you then apply for citizenship through ordinary naturalisation. This is slower, but it is the durable path and it is far less likely to be unwound.
A typical family plan picks an EU country with a residence programme, establishes residence, keeps that residence valid through the required renewals, and meets the naturalisation conditions over time. Those conditions usually include a minimum period of legal residence, a language test, a clean record and evidence of integration. Some countries also expect a period of physical presence.
Timelines have moved. Portugal, for example, brought a new nationality law into force in 2026 that lengthened the general naturalisation period and added language and civic requirements, with transitional rules for applications already filed. Greece offers a residence permit through investment with citizenship reachable only later through naturalisation. Always confirm the current residence period and the family rules with the national authority, since these change.
Family coverage is one of the most important and most variable details. Programmes differ on whether a spouse, children, adult children in education and dependent parents can be included, and on the proof required for each. Children who gain residence or citizenship young may face their own confirmation steps later, so plan for the long horizon, not just the first approval.
Think about where the family will actually live, school and pay tax, because genuine ties are often what naturalisation tests look for. A plan that looks good on a spreadsheet can fail if no one spends real time in the country.
Choose the country first, based on the residence period to citizenship, the family rules, the cost and where you are willing to live, and only then choose the specific programme. Read the official authority source for each rule rather than a marketing page, and write down the as of date for every figure, because these programmes change often.
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| Question to settle first | Why it matters | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Which country | Sets the residence period, language test and family rules | The national nationality and migration authority |
| Residence or direct citizenship | Direct citizenship by investment inside the EU is no longer a reliable route | Court of Justice of the European Union and national law |
| Family coverage | Spouse, children and dependants are treated differently by programme | The official programme authority |
| Physical presence | Naturalisation often tests genuine ties, not just a permit | The national authority and current law |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. EU citizenship flows from the nationality of a member state, set by each country under the EU Treaties. Confirm national rules with the relevant authority, for example Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) or Greece's Ministry of Migration and Asylum publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Direct citizenship by investment inside the EU is no longer a reliable route. In 2025 the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that a member state cannot grant citizenship for investment alone. The durable path is residence followed by naturalisation. Confirm the current position with the national authority.
Residence is granted first and citizenship comes later through naturalisation, after a qualifying period that varies by country and that some countries have lengthened. Treat any short timeline with caution and verify it with the official authority.
Not automatically. Each programme sets its own rules on including a spouse, children and dependants, and children may face their own confirmation steps as adults. Confirm the family provisions with the official programme authority before applying.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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