The Cheapest EU Countries to Obtain Residency or Citizenship

Pure “citizenship for sale” is rare in the EU, but several countries offer low-cost residency routes or affordable ancestry pathways that lead to citizenship over time.

Cheapest Routes to a European Passport

1. Portugal

The D7 or digital nomad visa requires no major investment — just proof of income.

Citizenship is available after 5 years.

2. Cyprus

Cyprus offers some of the cheapest residency routes in Europe:

• Income-based residence permits

• Property ownership options

• No mandatory language exams

If you have Cypriot ancestry, citizenship is virtually free beyond documentation costs.

3. Malta (Investment Route)

Expensive, but still cheaper than many global CBI programs.

However, not a cheap option overall.

4. Greece

The Financially Independent Person (FIP) visa is accessible with €2,000 monthly income.

5. Spain

Non-Lucrative Visa requires around €2,400 per month in passive income.

What About Buying Citizenship?

The EU no longer offers cheap “citizenship by purchase.”

Cyprus ended its investment citizenship program in 2020.

Today, only residency-by-investment exists.

Bottom Line

For affordability:

• Cyprus (residency + ancestry)

• Portugal (residency → citizenship)

remain the most cost-efficient paths to the EU.

Use CitizenCY to streamline your application.

Download the CitizenCY app for residency tools, ancestry checks, and expert guidance.