how hard is it to get citizenship in europe?

i am considering moving from the US and taking a job teaching english in europe. if i did this, i would want to be able to stay at that job for as long as i wished. it is not necessary that i gain citizenship immediately, but what are the terms of getting access to an EU country? will i be allowed to work and live there on a long-term basis?

[Impenitent]

europe is not a country... each nation has different rules

[Pooeypants]

He actually asked for "access to an EU country".

[Impenitent]

an EU country is not A specific EU country... each nation has different rules

[Paavo]

Yeah, that's true. I have no clue either, not even how it's in my own country. Heheheh.... *runs away from thread*

[Suburbanite]

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/ New Zealand
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/ Canada
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ the UK
http://www.workpermit.com/germany/employer.htm A Whole Buncha other places

[Write Winger]

I intend to sneak into "an EU country" deamnd they change their government documents to also be in English , enroll my kids in school, taught in English, demand to vote, demand a drivers license and ask for subsidized housing, medical care and food and call them all racists if they refuse to comply.

i assume that is satire of my intentions. i plan to teach english as a foreign language, and learn their language myself. i expect to contribute to their society and industry, and in turn to get back from their system the things that any member would, such as right to vote, licenses, subsidies, et cetera.

[argonak]

I intend to sneak into "an EU country" deamnd they change their government documents to also be in English , enroll my kids in school, taught in English, demand to vote, demand a drivers license and ask for subsidized housing, medical care and food and call them all racists if they refuse to comply.

i believe this was a satire of what some immigrants do in the US. And i found it quite humerous.

[Suburbanite]

Except they are all taught English in America, some just fail to learn it or don't go to school. They teach other subjects in spanish so that when the student learns english they aren't behind in everything else.

[G. Adams]

Once you have citizenship to a European country, you have European citizenship too, which means you can live and work anywhere in the EU. You might consider working in some of the new accession states, as I'm sure they would welcome well educated foreigners into their country, more so than the western counterparts. The pay obviously won't be as good as in the western countries, but the living costs will be lower at least. In spite of misconceptions of the central European states as poor, they are developing fast, and like Spain and Portugal, will be great in a few years. They also have the benefits of preserving a lot of their old culture, so if history is your thing they'd be a good choice too.

But no clue how to get citizenship either.

[commonsense]

Mozart, I'll take up a collection for your airfare, ONE-WAY if you stay there!

common, are you blind to the shortcomings of america? they exist, i assure you. do not be so surely convinced that america is the disneyland of the world.

[Nono]

Bob-Dobbs: a job teaching english in europe

Commonsense: airfare, ONE-WAY

As somebody who kicked the North American habit 27 years ago, now a naturalized citizen and never looked back, I have to warn you that there are probably more qualified English teachers than the market can bear at the moment. (Got any other saleable skills?) If you have any recent ancestors born in any of these countries, you could look into what citizenship miracles that might just bring about. Yes, every country has its own rules on this.

Immigration is a political hot potato at the moment in Western Europe. So is unemployment. G. Adams' suggestion that you try some of the up-and-coming Eastern countries is a good one. Most have big-time economic problems since the fall of you-know-what, but again, if you have something to offer that's in demand, it may be easier to get papers there.

[SVMc]

Short answer: very very difficult.

Longer answer:
Federal Union EU citizenship

Of course you have to become a citizen of a particular country.

The Following countries are the original member states, however they want VERY qualified people, they have the highest immigration criteria I have attached thier main government pages that link to foreign affairs though central EU sites and other english resources.

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

The following are new member states and may have slightly easier methods to obtain citizenship. Remember many people in Europe are multi-lingual and many want to get into the primary member states.

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithunania

Malta

Poland

Slovakia

Slovenia

The following are applicant countries

Bulgaria

Romania

Turkey

Here are other European countries, some of them are very poor and conflict ridden, so they are not close to being able to apply for citizenship, others are quite wealthy and simply did not join the EU for various reasons.

Albania

Andorra

Belarus

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Iceland

Liechtenstein

Moldova

Monaco

Norway

Russia

San Marino

Serbia and Montenegro

Switzerland

Ukraine

Vatican City

Edit: link (Sp)

holland would be the ideal destination as i hope to become a cafe entrepreneur there someday, but i could be equally as successful teaching language in any modern european country. i also favor europe because of their ideals and their generous social programs.

i am considering teaching in japan as well, for they offer an advanced society and economy and have strong demand for english teachers there. in addition i would be a very handsome and well respected man if i moved to japan. the asian market is also coming into bloom and could give me other benefits and advantages.

[commonsense]

You might even be considered well-hung there, too, but not likely.

[castille]

Bob are you sure you want to be an entrepreneur in Holland? Most Dutch entrepreneurs I know are always complaining about how much restrictions/taxes there is. Then I tell them about Australian laws and they start saving up to move their business to the US.

[dotcoma]

Originally posted by Impenitent, an EU country is not A specific EU country... each nation has different rules

They actually differ very little at this point. Stop being just a nay sayer and answer the f#cking question...

[dotcoma]

Originally posted by Bob_Dobbs, i am considering moving from the US and taking a job teaching english in europe. if i did this, i would want to be able to stay at that job for as long as i wished. it is not necessary that i gain citizenship immediately, but what are the terms of getting access to an EU country? will i be allowed to work and live there on a long-term basis?

I think unless you have family, money, or some skill, it's virtually impossible.