Europe tightens citizenship rules amid shifting political tides

Across Europe, governments are revising citizenship laws, imposing stricter requirements for foreign residents seeking naturalization. This trend reflects a broader political shift as immigration remains a contentious issue, with changes varying between tightening residency terms, increasing fees, and introducing new tests.

Growing restrictions across Europe

In Sweden, a proposal to extend the residency requirement from five to eight years has been put forward, accompanied by tougher security checks since April. The Migration Agency has temporarily frozen applications as a result. Discussions about introducing language and civics tests for citizenship have also gained momentum.

Neighboring Finland raised its residency requirement for naturalization to eight years last year, while Germany’s new government has moved to eliminate a fast-track option for highly integrated residents, which previously allowed citizenship after three years. Italy, meanwhile, upheld its existing rules after a referendum to reduce residency requirements failed due to low voter turnout. However, Italy recently capped the ability to claim citizenship by ancestry at two generations.

Denmark increased the citizenship application fee by 50% in May and is exploring ways to screen applicants for antidemocratic views. In Norway, upcoming elections may see a right-wing coalition pursuing stricter citizenship laws.

France's Interior Minister has proposed adding history and civics tests to the naturalization process. In the Netherlands and the UK, governments are considering raising residency requirements to ten years, part of broader immigration reforms.

Impact on foreign residents

Professor Maarten Vink, Chair of Citizenship Studies at the European University Institute, warns that these changes could hinder foreign residents' ability to naturalize, particularly among marginalized groups. "Such measures slow down citizenship acquisition rates, despite evidence showing clear benefits for both migrants and host societies when pathways to citizenship are expedited," he said.

Vink notes that European citizenship laws are particularly dynamic, reflecting shifting political landscapes. “When migration is a hot political topic, citizenship laws often become part of the debate,” he explained. While some European countries are tightening restrictions, others are liberalizing rules, particularly regarding dual citizenship.

The rise of dual citizenship

Dual citizenship has seen widespread acceptance across Europe in recent decades. Once viewed as a loyalty issue, the concept has evolved, driven by migration trends and changing societal norms. Vink points out that gender equality reforms have also played a role, allowing both parents in mixed-nationality families to pass on citizenship to their children.

Germany’s recent citizenship reforms maintained key elements from a 2024 overhaul, preserving dual citizenship and reducing residency requirements to five years, despite proposals to remove fast-track procedures. Scandinavian countries have also been leaders in incorporating family law developments, such as granting citizenship rights to non-biological parents in same-sex families.

Legal limits and the European Convention

Efforts to overhaul citizenship laws face legal boundaries set by the European Convention on Nationality, signed in 1997. The convention caps residency requirements for naturalization at ten years, with most European countries adhering to this limit. While 29 nations have signed the convention, several, including France, Italy, and Poland, have yet to ratify it.

As Europe grapples with the intersection of migration and citizenship, the continent's shifting approach reflects both domestic political priorities and broader societal trends.