An EU passport is the long game of relocation. It lets you live, work and study in all 27 member states, vote, and stop thinking about permits for good. The catch is time: most countries ask for years of residence first. This guide ranks all 27 EU countries by how quickly you can typically naturalize, and is honest about what the numbers leave out.
All 27 EU countries by time to citizenship
Here is the rough number of years of residence each country usually expects before you can apply to naturalize, shortest first (illustrative estimates only):
| Country | Years to citizenship* | Years to PR* |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 5 | 5 |
| France | 5 | 5 |
| Germany | 5 | 5 |
| Ireland | 5 | 5 |
| Luxembourg | 5 | 5 |
| Malta | 5 | 5 |
| Netherlands | 5 | 5 |
| Greece | 7 | 5 |
| Croatia | 8 | 5 |
| Cyprus | 8 | 5 |
| Estonia | 8 | 5 |
| Finland | 8 | 6 |
| Hungary | 8 | 5 |
| Poland | 8 | 5 |
| Romania | 8 | 5 |
| Sweden | 8 | 4 |
| Denmark | 9 | 8 |
| Austria | 10 | 5 |
| Bulgaria | 10 | 5 |
| Czechia | 10 | 5 |
| Italy | 10 | 5 |
| Latvia | 10 | 5 |
| Lithuania | 10 | 5 |
| Portugal | 10 | 5 |
| Slovakia | 10 | 5 |
| Slovenia | 10 | 5 |
| Spain | 10 | 5 |
This ranking is for an average person. Rank all 27 for your passport, budget and family.
Rank them for meThe fine print that years hide
Time is only the headline requirement. Before you count down the years, weigh up:
- Language and integration tests: often required, commonly around B1 level.
- Dual citizenship: some countries make you give up your current passport, others do not.
- The route: citizenship by descent or marriage can be far faster than by ordinary residence.
- Continuous, legal residence: long absences or the wrong permit can reset the clock.
Match it to your goal
If a second passport is the point of your move, the speed and conditions of naturalization should shape your shortlist. The MoveMap check weighs the citizenship timeline alongside your documents, language plans and lifestyle to rank all 27 EU countries for your case.