RIF Trust Unveils 2025 Passport Index: Ranking EU Passports and Investment Pathways

RIF Trust’s 2025 Passport Index ranks EU passports, highlighting their benefits. CEO Mimoun Assraoui emphasises Residency by Investment as a key route to EU citizenship. Spain ranks first, while Malta offers the only direct citizenship-by-investment programme. Golden Visas in Greece, Portugal, and Spain provide pathways to EU passports through residency.

RIF Trust has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 Passport Index, showcasing the rankings of European Union (EU) passports and highlighting the significant advantages they offer. According to Mimoun Assraoui, CEO of RIF Trust, European Residency by Investment presents a strategic route to acquiring these coveted passports. Assraoui remarks, “Surprisingly, Residency by Investment offers more of a route to the leading European passports than Citizenship by Investment.”

The EU, comprising 27 member states, offers unparalleled benefits to passport holders. As Assraoui explains, “There are 29 countries that make up the EU Schengen Area and the 27 European Union countries. While there are overlaps, being in the Schengen Area doesn’t guarantee your EU status and vice versa. As an EU resident, you can travel freely through the Schengen Zone.”

The RIF Trust Passport Index serves as a valuable resource for individuals considering alternative citizenship. Assraoui elaborates, “This tool allows you to compare your birth passport with the one you want to acquire. With a European Union passport, you can live, study, and work anywhere across the EU.”

European Union Overview

The European Union (EU) started with six founding countries following the Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 and implemented in 1993. Over the years, it has expanded to include 27 member states, which are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

EU Passport Rankings: Positions 27 to 20

In the 2025 RIF Trust Passport Index, the Maltese and Cypriot passports rank equally in 8th place. The Maltese passport allows visa-free travel to 122 countries, 29 destinations through a visa on arrival, and 22 via an eVisa. The Cypriot passport offers access to 121 countries without a visa, 29 with a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa.

Three EU passports share the 7th position. The Latvian passport provides visa-free access to 117 destinations, 33 with a visa on arrival, and 27 via an eVisa. The Romanian passport offers the same access as Latvia. The Slovenian passport allows visa-free entry to 118 countries, 32 with a visa on arrival, and 27 through an eVisa.

The 6th position is shared by Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Estonia. The Lithuanian passport facilitates visa-free entry to 117 destinations, 33 through a visa on arrival, and 28 via an eVisa. Bulgaria offers visa-free access to 116 countries, 34 with a visa on arrival, and 28 via an eVisa. Estonia grants visa-free travel to 118 destinations, 33 via a visa on arrival, and 27 with an eVisa.

EU Passport Rankings: Positions 19 to 9

The 5th spot is occupied by two countries. Both the Slovak and Croatian passports allow visa-free travel to 118 destinations, 33 with a visa on arrival, and 28 with an eVisa.

In 4th place are the Czech and Hungarian passports. The Czech passport provides visa-free access to 121 destinations, 32 via a visa on arrival, and 27 through an eVisa. Hungary’s passport grants entry to 120 destinations without a visa, 33 through a visa on arrival, and 27 via an eVisa.

The 3rd position is shared by six EU passports. Denmark’s passport provides visa-free entry to 126 destinations, 30 through a visa on arrival, and 26 via an eVisa. Finland’s passport offers access to 126 countries without a visa, 29 with a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa. Luxembourg allows visa-free travel to 125 destinations, 30 via a visa on arrival, and 26 through an eVisa. Portugal’s passport grants entry to 124 countries without a visa, 30 with a visa on arrival, and 27 through an eVisa. Greece facilitates visa-free travel to 122 countries, 31 with a visa on arrival, and 28 through an eVisa. Poland allows access to 121 destinations without a visa, 32 via a visa on arrival, and 28 through an eVisa.

EU Passport Rankings: Positions 8 to 1

The 2nd position is shared by multiple countries. Sweden’s passport ensures visa-free travel to 127 destinations, 29 via a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa. Austria’s passport offers visa-free entry to 124 countries, 31 through a visa on arrival, and 27 via an eVisa. Belgium grants visa-free access to 126 countries, 29 with a visa on arrival, and 27 through an eVisa. France allows travel to 127 destinations without a visa, 29 through a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa. Germany provides visa-free entry to 126 destinations, 30 with a visa on arrival, and 26 through an eVisa. Ireland enables travel to 121 countries without a visa, 35 via a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa. Italy allows visa-free travel to 126 destinations, 30 through a visa on arrival, and 26 via an eVisa.

In 1st place is the Spanish passport. It allows visa-free travel to 126 destinations, 31 through a visa on arrival, and 26 via an eVisa.

Get a European Union Passport through residency and citizenship by investment

Four out of the 27 European Union (EU) passports can be acquired through investment, either by obtaining residency or second citizenship. According to the RIF Trust Passport Index, EU passports are among the most powerful travel documents available. While the visa-free access provided by these passports is broadly similar, the primary advantage lies in the ability to live, work, and study across the entire EU.

European Golden Visas: A Pathway to EU Citizenship: Golden Visa programmes offer one of the most effective routes to acquiring an EU passport through residency investment. For example:

• Greek Golden Visa: This programme enables individuals to gain citizenship and an EU passport after completing seven years of residency in Greece.
• Portuguese Golden Visa: Portugal provides one of the fastest naturalisation pathways, allowing applicants to become citizens after five years of residency.

Spanish Golden Visa: Spain offers a Golden Visa that makes applicants eligible for the EU’s top-ranking passport after ten years of residency. This period is reduced to just two years for individuals from Latin America or the Philippines due to historical ties. However, this residency-by-investment option is closing soon, with applications accepted only until the beginning of April 2025.

Direct citizenship through investment

For those seeking direct citizenship without a lengthy residency requirement, Malta offers the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) programme. It is the only European Citizenship by Investment option available. By meeting specific investment criteria, individuals can gain direct access to an EU passport through this initiative.

Investing in EU residency or citizenship opens doors to extensive benefits, including free movement, educational opportunities, and career prospects across all member states. These programmes provide a strategic solution for those seeking enhanced global mobility and a secure future in the European Union.

To successfully navigate the path to obtaining a European Union passport, consulting with a trusted Residency and Citizenship by Investment specialist is essential. Experts such as RIF Trust provide personalised guidance to ensure a smooth and efficient application process. Specialising in investment-based residency and citizenship solutions, firms like RIF Trust offer tailored advice to help applicants meet their goals effectively. Engaging with professionals ensures that every step of the application is handled with precision, maximising the chances of success while avoiding unnecessary delays.