International living – European Living and ““European Living: The Complete Manual for Americans Over 55” – “How Almost Any U.S. Citizen Can Get an Irish Passport Today…“
Dear Reader,
Today, almost any U.S. citizen can qualify for an Irish passport…
…in fact, 1 in 10 Americans are owed one…
…yet most don’t even realize it.
Yes, you could be one of them!
Because right now, if you’re eligible, you could secure your own Irish passport by mail… in as little as 9 months…
…all without leaving the U.S.!
The advertising that appears on Facebook, from International Living, implies that any American can readily obtain residency – or citizenship – in the EU. This is not true as detailed below.
Furthermore, the photos they show on their web page of “satisfied customer testimonials” are iStock photo images – there is no indication these are real customers.
Here’s a snapshot of their web page:
Here ae the iStock stock photos they bought to use for these fake testimonials:
Unless you have close international connections (about 40% of Americans have close international connections), have money to buy an investment visa, are an educated, young, American woman who marries a foreigner [1], or are, generally, young and have the right in-demand work skills that may qualify for a long term work visa and a year’s long path to residency and a potential citizenship option – if you don’t fall into those categories, obtaining an EU passport / citizenship is highly unlikely, and even long term residency options may be limited.
The people promoting “you can easily move abroad and get citizenship” are describing two kinds of Americans:
- 1st class citizens with immigration privileges, usually due to birthright/ancestry, who can move globally due to recent personal or family immigration status
- 2nd class citizens – everyone else in the U.S. who does not have the above options.
[1] Based on a review of nearly 400 “I moved abroad stories” from 2024 to 2025, 32% were highly educated, attractive young American women who married a foreigner to obtain a residency visa, 1% were males who married a foreigner, about 1/3d were persons with prior dual citizenship or a right of descent ancestry privilege, and of the remaining 1/3, perhaps 20% had a work visa, perhaps 20% were military related, and the remainder were “unknown” or did not have a residency visa but were commuting back and forth to the U.S. with a tourist visa, or a temporary digital nomad visa.
Only about 1% of American retirees have retired abroad – but half of those had prior dual citizenship or close family ties, including right of descent ancestry privileges, or already had a permanent residency visa for the destination country. About 1/2% of retirees deciding to move abroad is very close to zero percent of US retirees moving abroad.
There are perhaps about 20-25 countries where it is straight forward for Americans, such as retirees, to obtain residency status. These are typically countries in Central and South America or Caribbean islands. It is also possible for Americans to retire to countries such as France, with certain visa programs. Americans can also purchase a citizenship in a few, small nations, that sell citizenships for fundraising, such as St Kitts and Nevis Islands. Note that residency is not the same as citizenship – and Americans that retire to other countries lose access to Medicare benefits and may end up paying a large penalty on each month’s Part B premiums if they choose to return to the U.S. later. There are also tax complications, including for income, capital gains and estate taxes and how you may be taxed by multiple jurisdictions.
Additional
I may buy a used copy of their book to see, specifically, what it says – in their online advertising, they claim most any American can qualify for EU citizenship. However, when I asked an AI to summarize the book, this is what the AI said about that. (I will not be buying a used copy of their book – after seeing their false customer testimonials using iStock photos, I do not regard this as an honest business and will not engage with their products. They are misleading – and in the case of the stock photos – misrepresenting key information in their marketing ad claims, at best.)
The book “European Living: The Complete Manual for Americans Over 55” outlines several pathways for U.S. citizens to obtain EU citizenship, emphasizing long-term strategies like ancestry, naturalization, and residency-based progression.
The list of methods, per the AI summary, are those I have described on this blog:
- Right of Descent
- Working/living in the country for 5-10 years and applying for citizenship. (Work visas generally require that you have in demand skills, and typically go to younger adults who qualify.)
- Be wealthy and make a large investment in the country ( the last country in the EU that provided this has suspended the program, per EU direction)
- Marriage
- Win a Nobel Prize, be a famous celebrity
In other words, if you do not already have an immigration privilege, International Living‘s sales promo appears to be highly misleading. Emigration to Europe from the U.S. is available, primarily, only to those who have an immigration privilege.
Here’s a summary of the methods it describes:
🛂 1. Citizenship by Descent
- If you have parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents from an EU country, you may qualify for citizenship through ancestry.
- Countries with generous descent laws include Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Hungary.
- Requires documentation like birth certificates, marriage records, and proof of lineage.
🏡 2. Citizenship by Naturalization
- After legally residing in an EU country for a set number of years (typically 5 to 10 years), you may apply for citizenship.
- Requirements vary by country but often include:
- Language proficiency
- Cultural integration
- Clean legal record
- Financial self-sufficiency
💼 3. Citizenship by Investment (Rare for U.S. Citizens)
- Some countries (e.g., Malta, Austria) offer citizenship through substantial financial investment.
- These programs are expensive (often €1 million+) and typically target high-net-worth individuals.
📆 4. Residency-to-Citizenship Path
- Start with a long-term residency visa (e.g., retirement visa, digital nomad visa, or golden visa).
- Maintain residency, renew permits, and eventually apply for permanent residency and then citizenship.
- Popular countries for this route include Portugal, Spain, and Greece.
📚 5. Special Routes
- Marriage to an EU citizen can shorten the naturalization timeline.
- Refugee or humanitarian status may apply in rare cases.
- Citizenship by merit (e.g., for exceptional contributions) exists in countries like Malta.
🇪🇺 Key Considerations
- EU citizenship is granted by individual countries, not by the EU itself.
- Once granted, it allows free movement, work, and residence across all 27 EU member states.
- The book stresses patience and documentation, especially for descent and naturalization routes.
Second AI Summary – From Grok
The book largely aligns with the “usual” pathways —ancestry (citizenship by descent), marriage, investment-based residency (Golden Visas, which haven’t been fully discontinued across the EU), and residency leading to naturalization—but it tailors them specifically for Americans over 55, emphasizing retirement-friendly options with low barriers like passive income visas.
Here’s a summary of the key recommendations, drawn from the book’s content previews, marketing (heavily from publisher International Living), and excerpts:
1. Citizenship by Descent (Fastest & Easiest for Eligible Americans)
- Why recommended: Up to 128 million Americans (1 in 10) qualify via Irish, Italian, Polish, Hungarian, German, or other ancestors—no residency required. Immediate EU passport, live/work anywhere in Europe.
- Key countries:
Country Ancestor Generation Timeline Cost
Ireland Grandparent 9–12 months $1,000–$5,000 (DNA/docs)
Italy Any (no limit) 2–3 years $2,000–$10,000
Poland/Hungary Grandparent/parent 1–2 years Under $1,000 Tip for 55+: Book highlights real stories like “I can’t believe I’m a citizen of Ireland!”—perfect for retirement freedom. - 2. Marriage to an EU Citizen
- Standard path: Spouse visa → residency → citizenship (3–5 years in most countries).
- Recommended: Portugal/Spain (fast tracks). Requires genuine marriage proof; leads to family reunification.
- Over-55 angle: Minimal income tests if married; book notes it’s viable but less emphasized than descent.
- Not discontinued: Portugal shifted to €250k+ funds (no real estate); Greece (€250k–€800k property); Spain raising thresholds but ongoing.
- Path: Residency on arrival → PR (5 years) → citizenship (10 years, or less w/language).
Country Min. Investment Timeline to Residency Path to Citizenship
Portugal €250k (funds) Immediate 5 years PR
Greece €250k (property) 1–2 months 7 years
Spain €500k+ (property/funds) 20–60 days 10 years - For 55+: Passive; no work required. Book calls it “Europe’s best-kept golden visa secret.”
- 4. Retirement/Passive Income Visas (D7 & Similar) – Ideal for 55+
- Core focus: Prove pension/Social Security/investments; no job needed. Leads to PR/citizenship.
- Top picks:
Visa/Country Min. Income (couple) Validity To Citizenship
Portugal D7 €1,640/mo 2 years (renewable) 5–6 years
Spain Non-Lucrative €4,800/mo 1 year 10 years
Italy Elective €38k/yr 1–2 years 10 years
France Long-Stay €1,800/mo 1 year 5 years - “Loophole” highlight: Croatia Apartment Visa—prepay 1-year rent (€5k–€10k) + €3k/mo funds. 360 days/year in EU/Schengen; renewable, path to PR.
- 5. Naturalization After Residency
- After 5–10 years on above visas: Citizenship w/language/civics test (waived/reduced in Portugal/Spain for seniors).Bonus for 55+: Bulgaria (€300 residency, 10% tax, fast PR).
Malta’s Investment-Based Pathways in 2025
As of November 1, 2025, Malta’s immigration programs have undergone significant changes due to an April 2025 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling declaring the previous citizenship-by-investment scheme illegal under EU law for lacking a “genuine link” to the country. This ended direct citizenship sales but left residency options intact. Below is a breakdown:
Citizenship via Investment
- Status: No longer available in its traditional form.
- Details: The Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) or Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES) program was suspended effective April 29, 2025, and fully replaced in July 2025 by the Citizenship by Merit pathway under amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act (Act XXI of 2025).
- Why it ended: The ECJ ruled that granting EU citizenship primarily for financial contributions (e.g., €600,000–€750,000 donation, plus property and residency) commodified citizenship and violated EU principles of solidarity and mutual trust.
- New Merit-Based Option: Focuses on “exceptional contributions” to Malta or humanity in areas like science, innovation, arts, culture, entrepreneurship, or philanthropy—not financial investment alone. No fixed minimum investment; eligibility is discretionary via ministerial approval. It requires a genuine connection (e.g., sustained impact) and can include family members, but it’s not a “buy-in” program.
- Path to Citizenship: Merit applicants may need 1–5 years of residency first, plus due diligence. Traditional naturalization (after 5+ years residency) remains open but requires language/integration tests.
Residency via Investment
- Status: Yes, fully active and updated for 2025.
- Details: The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)—often called Malta’s Golden Visa—grants indefinite residency to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals through qualifying investments. It’s regulated by Legal Notice 310/2024 (amended by 146/2025) and overseen by the Residency Malta Agency. Applications before January 1, 2025, follow old rules; new ones reflect updates for economic alignment.
- Key Requirements:
Component Minimum Investment/Details
Government Contribution €37,500–€58,000 (based on family size) to the National Development and Social Fund.
Charity Donation €2,000 to a registered Maltese NGO.
Real Estate Purchase: €375,000+ (or €350,000 in Gozo/south Malta).
Rental: €14,000/year (or €10,000 in Gozo/south). Hold for 5 years minimum.
Financial Assets €500,000+ (e.g., securities, bonds) held for 5 years; €150,000 liquid cash minimum.
Other Health insurance (€30,000+ EU coverage); clean criminal record; admin fees (€60,000+). Process & Timeline: 4–6 months for approval; initial temporary residency card issued quickly upon €15,000 fee payment. No minimum stay required, but annual compliance checks for first 5 years. Benefits: Lifetime residency (renewable every 5 years, inheritable); visa-free Schengen travel (90/180 days); live/work/study in Malta; path to citizenship via naturalization after 5 years (with integration). Family inclusion (spouse, kids under 29, dependent parents/grandparents). 2025 Updates: Higher thresholds for property/assets to match inflation; more flexible for families; enhanced due diligence. Key Considerations- Taxes: Non-domiciled residents pay 15% on remitted foreign income (no tax on unremitted); no wealth/inheritance tax.Who It’s For: Ideal for retirees, families, or investors seeking EU access without relocation. Not a direct citizenship route—citizenship requires separate naturalization.Caveats: Rules evolve; consult licensed agents or lawyers (e.g., via Residency Malta Agency). This isn’t legal advice—verify with official sources like residency-malta.com.
- In summary, no direct citizenship via investment, but robust residency options persist, making Malta attractive for EU footholds.