Permanent residence in the EU: where is it easiest to obtain in 2025

Permanent residence in European Union countries opens the way to a stable life, access to social benefits, and, in the future, citizenship. However, the procedure for obtaining permanent residence varies from country to country. Below, we will look at five destinations where it is easiest to obtain permanent residence in terms of time, conditions, and program flexibility.

Hungary — permanent residence through business in 3 years

Hungary offers one of the most accessible routes to permanent residence in the EU. Foreigners can register a company (for example, in the form of a Kft — the Hungarian equivalent of an LLC) with a registered capital of €3,000 and immediately apply for a temporary residence permit as a director or business owner. After three years of continuous residence and renewal of the residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence (állandó tartózkodási engedély).

Advantages:

• no job creation requirements;
• low investment threshold;
• comfortable standard of living with moderate expenses.

Important: the company's profitability increases the chances of approval when applying for permanent residence.

Germany — permanent residence through work or Blue Card

Germany offers a well-structured and stable path to permanent residence. There are several scenarios for qualified specialists:

1. Regular employment: after 5 years of living and working on a work visa, you can apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis);
2. EU Blue Card: after 33 months, or after 21 months if you have a B1 level of German.

Conditions:

• stable income (usually above the national average);
• insurance (medical and pension);
• language skills and integration (completion of a course).

Advantages:

• high level of healthcare, education, and legal protection;
• the ability to bring your family over under a simplified procedure.

France — permanent residence through the French Tech startup visa

France is betting on attracting innovative capital. The French Tech Visa program allows entrepreneurs who plan to create a startup with a technological or scientific focus to apply for a long-term visa for 4 years with the possibility of extension and transition to a carte de résident (permanent residence) after 5 years of residence.

What`s important:

• You must collaborate with an officially recognized incubator.
• You must provide a business plan, proof of funding, and confirmation of the project's potential value to France.
• Language skills are welcome but not always critical.

Advantages:

• Legal status for your family.
• High standard of living, access to French healthcare and education.

Cyprus — permanent residency through investment without mandatory residence

Cyprus remains one of the most affordable options for permanent residency in the EU through investment. The program requires:

• an investment of €300,000 in new real estate;
• an income of at least €30,000 per year + €5,000 for each family member.

The procedure takes 2-3 months and leads to unconditional permanent residence (Category F Permanent Residency). The main advantage is no requirement to reside permanently on the island: it is sufficient to visit it once every two years.

Advantages:

• tax attractiveness;
• flexibility of residence;
• comfortable climate and safety.

Serbia — fast permanent residency outside the EU with prospects

Although Serbia is not yet a member of the EU, it is considered a favorable “entry point” into Europe for migration. Foreigners can start a business (for example, sole proprietorship or LLC), obtain an annual residence permit on this basis, and then after 3 years of legal residence apply for permanent residence (stalni boravak).

Advantages:

• simple business registration process
• low taxes
• opportunity to move towards European residency when Serbia joins the EU in the future

Permanent residence in Serbia can also be a ground for accelerated naturalization after five years.

If your goal is to obtain permanent residence in Europe quickly and with minimal barriers, it is worth considering Hungary and Serbia — here, business immigration offers simple and straightforward mechanisms. France is an excellent choice for tech entrepreneurs, Germany for skilled professionals, and Cyprus for investors who value flexibility and simplicity.