Analysis: Where is it faster and more reliable to obtain a second passport in the EU—Belgium or Luxembourg?

Investment-based “golden passports” are becoming a thing of the past, while European countries are tightening their immigration rules one after another. Nevertheless, Belgium and Luxembourg still offer the opportunity to obtain citizenship after 5 years of residence. We examine the differences between these two paths, which carries fewer risks, and what pitfalls you may encounter.

In Brief

• Buying a passport no longer works: “Golden visas” and fast-track citizenship purchases in offshore jurisdictions are becoming increasingly risky for European banks and funds. Traditional naturalization remains the safest route.
• Time frame — 5 years: Unlike Spain or Italy, where you have to wait 10 years, Belgium and Luxembourg allow you to apply for a passport after 5 years of residence.
• Dual citizenship is permitted: Neither country requires you to renounce your original citizenship.
• Luxembourg — expensive but predictable: The high financial barrier, rigorous selection of specialists, and language exam are offset by capital tax benefits and stable rules.
• Belgium is more accessible, but comes with risks: It is easier to gain entry, but the country is facing a migration crisis, phasing out tax incentives, and discussing a possible extension of the qualifying period to 10 years.

1. Why is buying passports becoming a thing of the past, and what does naturalization have to do with it?

In the past, investors could acquire citizenship in European countries (Cyprus, for example) or obtain “golden visas” that led to a passport. Today, these programs have largely been shut down. Passports can still be purchased in certain offshore jurisdictions (Vanuatu, Botswana, etc.), but European banks and brokers are increasingly treating such documents with a high degree of caution.

Alternative options—citizenship by descent or for exceptional merit—are either limited to rare cases or entail enormous legal risks when questionable documents are used.

As a result, the most reliable route remains naturalization —legal relocation, moving one’s center of personal and economic interests, paying taxes, and integrating into society.

2. Belgium and Luxembourg still grant passports after 5 years. But will you have to renounce your original citizenship?

While countries such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal require 10 years of continuous residence before applying for citizenship, Belgium and Luxembourg retain a five-year requirement.

A key advantage of both countries is that there is no requirement to renounce one's original citizenship. This sets them apart from Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, which force applicants to choose just one passport.

In practice, the “cost” of a European passport through naturalization is measured not by a direct purchase price, but by the amount of taxes a resident pays into the country's budget over 5 years of residence.

3. Luxembourg: an elite “filter,” a language test, and tax stability

Luxembourg is a small country with a population of less than one million, with a strong focus on the financial and IT sectors.

• Entry barrier: The country has set a high bar for income and qualifications from the outset. Relocating here is easiest for highly paid professionals in Blue Card or financial sector employees whose salaries are significantly higher than the EU average.
• Language barrier: Citizenship requires passing a Luxembourgish language exam. At the same time, local society is multilingual, with French, German, and English used in everyday life and at work.
• Taxes and cost of living: The high cost of living in Luxembourg acts as a natural filter for migration flows. At the same time, an important tax benefit remains: exemption from capital gains tax (capital gains tax), provided the asset has been held for more than 6 months.
• Risk of changes to the rules: Since the country already strictly filters the influx of migrants and its social welfare system is not under widespread pressure, the likelihood that Luxembourg will extend the 5-year period to 10 years is minimal.

4. Belgium: an easy start, pressure on the welfare system, and the threat of reform

Belgium has historically attracted migrants with its more affordable cost of living and straightforward integration requirements.

• Entry barriers and language: Belgium attracts a significantly larger influx of people because it lacks strict financial screening requirements. For a long time, Belgian citizenship could be obtained without even passing a language test, but these requirements are now becoming stricter.
• Taxes: Due to its budget deficit and the heavy burden on its social welfare system, Belgium has already abolished the capital gains tax exemption.
• Risk of stricter rules: Amid the migration crisis, Belgian politicians are increasingly discussing increasing the required period of residence from 5 to 10 years to obtain citizenship. The likelihood of stricter rules being introduced in Belgium is significantly higher than in Luxembourg.

5. Is it possible to be officially registered as a resident in Belgium or Luxembourg while living in another EU country?

No, fictitious residency will not work. Legally, the applicant must actually reside in the country where the application is filed.

The authorities in both countries rigorously verify the applicant's center of vital interests:

• In Belgium special commissions conduct home visits (even checking the contents of the refrigerator and other signs that the applicant actually lives there).
• In Luxembourg due to the country's small size, the police interview neighbors and verify the applicant's actual presence.

Holding an EU Blue Card provides flexibility when moving between EU countries, but the extent to which periods of residence in other countries are credited is strictly limited (for example, France counts up to 3 years spent in other EU countries, while Belgium and Luxembourg generally require applicants to have resided in their own country).

6. So which option should you ultimately choose?

• Luxembourg is suitable for highly qualified professionals and high-income investors who are willing to learn Luxembourgish in exchange for predictable rules, tax advantages on capital, and stability.
• Belgium is attractive due to its lower initial financial threshold, but rising taxes, stricter language requirements, and the high risk of the residency requirement being extended to 10 years in the near future must be taken into account.

The window of opportunity to secure a 5-year pathway in these countries is estimated at approximately 5–7 years, after which the Europe-wide trend toward tightening immigration rules may affect them as well.

Important clarification. This material has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. The author is not a lawyer and does not provide professional immigration law consulting services. The information in this article reflects the situation at the time the material was prepared; however, laws, administrative practices, and citizenship requirements may change. Despite every effort to ensure accuracy, the editorial team does not guarantee that all information provided is entirely complete and up to date. Before making any decisions about relocation, obtaining a residence permit, or applying for citizenship, we recommend independently verifying the current requirements through official sources and consulting a qualified immigration lawyer in the relevant country. Decisions related to relocation, finances, or legal status should not be made solely on the basis of this article.