血统是成本最低但门槛最特定的路径。以爱尔兰为例，若有爱尔兰祖父母，线上申请约 320 美元，加上护照费用不到 100 美元；但文件要求繁琐（如祖先原始出生证明、登记 Foreign Births Register）。义大利等国规则更严且收紧：部分情况需证明亲属「专属」义大利身分，且新规把范围限缩到父母或祖父母世代；业者估计约 98% 咨询者其实不符合血统选项。
没有血统者多走工作、公司派驻或投资／退休签证。数位游牧签证在 20 多个欧洲国家出现，常见要求是每月约 €2,000–€3,500 收入与医疗保险，通常效期 1–2 年、可续或转居留但少有直通入籍。荷兰 DAFT 需约 €4,500 存入商业帐户，居住 5 年可申请永久居留或入籍。黄金签证在 2010 年代初兴起但遭反弹：西班牙于 2025 年终止，欧盟最高法院在 2025 年初裁定马尔他「投资入籍」非法；葡萄牙仍受欢迎但不再收新房产案，主流改为至少 €200,000 文化捐款或至少 €500,000 核准基金。退休族可考虑葡萄牙 D7（2007 推出）：2026 年个人约需每月 €920 被动收入，年住超过 183 天成为税务居民，居留先给 2 年、再续 3 年，之后可申请永久居留。
Americans are increasingly drawn to Europe for perceived stability and social benefits, but higher taxes, tighter residency rules, and shifting immigration politics make relocation harder. Advisers report a sharp demand shift: US nationals were about 4% of Henley & Partners’ global business in 2018 and are now above 40%, suggesting a surge in second-passport and residency planning driven by predictability and mobility.
Ancestry can be the cheapest route, but it is highly specific and document-heavy. For someone with an Irish grandparent, an online application costs about $320, plus under $100 for a passport, yet requires original civil records and registration on the Foreign Births Register. Rules vary and have tightened elsewhere: Italy has narrowed eligibility and may require proof of an “exclusively” Italian line, while many countries limit descent to one generation; one adviser estimates 98% of clients lack this option.
Work and investment routes are broader but come with thresholds and time horizons. Digital nomad visas exist in 20+ European countries, often requiring roughly €2,000–€3,500 in monthly income plus health insurance; they typically last 1–2 years and may renew, but rarely lead directly to citizenship. The Netherlands’ DAFT requires about €4,500 and can lead to permanent status after 5 years. Golden visas rose in the early 2010s but faced backlash: Spain ended its program in 2025, and an EU court ruled Malta’s investment citizenship illegal in early 2025; Portugal now steers newcomers toward a €200,000 cultural donation or a €500,000 fund. Retirees may use Portugal’s D7 (2007): about €920/month in 2026, tax residency after 183 days/year, a 2-year permit renewable for 3 years, then eligibility for permanent residency.
