In 2016, 28 EU member states granted close to 1 million EU citizenships.
Malta and Cyprus have the only official citizenship by investment schemes in the EU member states and applicants are subjected to thorough vetting process.
In 2017, Cyprus and Malta combined process a low volume of around 700 to 1000 CIP applications every year. In 2017, Malta approved 422 and Cyprus 503, which less than 1000 citizenships that year under CIP.
This means only 0.1% acquired EU citizenship through CBI schemes.
All in all, less than 1% acquired EU citizenship through CBI schemes compared to total EU citizenship granted by 28 member states in 2016.
Malta
According to Malta IIP Annual report
- 566 successful main applicants up till the end of June 2017 since the launch.
- Family members received citizenship 1188 (2017), 962 (2016), 166 (2015)
- Malta received only 377 IIP applications between 2016-2017
- Malta IIP applications are capped to 1800 families.
- 1200 families applied for Malta IIP (recent data)
Malta approved 0.2% citizenships (investor and family) through IIP investment compared to EU member states granting citizenship every year.
Cyprus
According to cyprus statistics
- 1497 main applications and 1499 family members received citizenship under investment scheme
- Cyprus CIP applications capped to only 700 per year.
- In 2017 Cyprus processed and approved 503 applications
Cyprus also approved 0.2% citizenships for investment compared to EU member states granting citizenships every year.
Bulgaria
16 people have gained citizenship using Bulgarian immigrant investor program until the end of 2017.
| FY | Approvals under Citizenship by Investment (Main Investors) | |
| Malta | Cyprus | |
| 2015 | 75 | 337 |
| 2016 | 241 | 443 |
| 2017 | 422 | 503 |
In 2016, 28 EU member states granted 995,000 citizenships
Most new citizenships in 2016 were granted by Italy (201 600 or 20 % of the EU-28 total), Spain (150 900 or 15 %), the United Kingdom (149 400 or 15 %), France (119 200 or 12 %) and Germany (112 800 or 11 %).
About 87 % of those who acquired citizenship of an EU-28 Member State in 2016 were previously citizens of a non-EU country.
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