Europa Universalis 5 (EU5): How To Invite Settlers

Learn about how to invite settlers in Europa Universalis 5 (EU5) to bolster population growth and strengthen diplomacy.

Invite Settler guide (Image via Paradox Interactive)
Invite Settler guide (Image via Paradox Interactive)

Population growth is a vital part of creating a dominant empire in Europa Universalis 5. A larger population means a greater workforce, more tax revenue, prospering markets, and a potentially booming economy. Following the Black Death event, European countries see their populations plummet, making any and all methods of recovery important. 

Inviting Settlers is a diplomatic mechanic in EU5 that can help increase your country’s population while simultaneously improving relations with another country. However, the opportunity to call in settlers from other nations comes with certain prerequisites and has substantial limitations.

Also Read: Europa Universalis (EU5): How To Deal With Unemployment

How To Invite Settlers in Europa Universalis 5

invite settlers EU5
invite settlers EU5

(Images via Paradox Interactive)

To Invite Settlers in EU5, head to the Diplomacy tab of the nation you seek to welcome settlers from, open the Friendly Actions menu and press the Invite Settlers button. Then, select the province you’d like the settlers to become a part of. However, for the Invite Settlers button to be visible or work, certain conditions and costs apply.

Invite Settlers Requirements

  • Invite Settlers costs 5 Favor with the target country. If you don’t have the resource, use the Curry Favor button to put your diplomats to work on earning monthly Favor with the country. 
  • You can only invite settlers from countries whose primary culture groups match yours. Government reforms may alter this.
  • The target country must not be diplomatically hostile.
  • Government reforms should support the Invite Settlers option, and can even enhance it. For example, the Family Sagas reform available to Icelandic nations makes the Invite Settlers interaction possible, along with the Recruit Explorer. 
  • Only the Settled country type has the Invite Settlers interaction. Therefore, the feature isn’t available if your country is Extraterritorial or Army/Navy-based. 

Also Read: Europa Universalis 5 (EU5): How To Get Casus Belli

Invite Settlers Effects

Once you have successfully invited settlers, the target country will send a fixed number of Commoners every month, contributing to your population increase. However, the number of settlers sent is usually insignificant, especially in the early game. 

Nevertheless, in low-population countries like Greenland, the Invite Settlers mechanic can be an important source of Pops over the long term. For the most part, try to Invite Settlers from a country with the same religion, or have institutions that help convert them in the selected province. This can reduce instability caused by a major demographic shift.


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Europa Universalis 5 (Paradox Interactive)

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