Europe’s Right-Wing Crackdown on Citizenship Mirrors Trump’s Approach

Key Takeaways

• Right-wing parties in Europe have tightened citizenship laws and restricted Golden Visa programs in 2025.
• Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria ended investment citizenship; Malta costly and under EU pressure; Hungary raised requirements.
• New EU Entry/Exit System (EES) launches October 2025, recording biometrics of all non-EU travelers.

Europe’s Changing Citizenship Landscape: How Right-Wing Parties and New Laws Are Reshaping Access

Across Europe, the rules for becoming a citizen are changing fast. Right-wing parties are gaining power in many countries, and they’re making it harder for immigrants and investors to get citizenship. At the same time, the European Union (EU) is pushing for stricter controls to prevent abuse and protect security. This means that people hoping to become citizens, invest for residency, or even travel to Europe will face new challenges and higher barriers.

This guide explains what’s happening, why it matters, and what you need to know if you’re thinking about citizenship, Golden Visa programs, or moving to Europe. We’ll look at who can apply, what’s changing, and what the future might hold.

What Is Citizenship and Why Does It Matter?

Citizenship is the legal status that gives a person full rights and responsibilities in a country. Citizens can vote, work, live, and travel freely in their country and, in the case of EU citizenship, across most of Europe. They also get protection from their government and can pass citizenship to their children.

Getting citizenship is a big step. For many, it means safety, new opportunities, and a sense of belonging. But for governments, it’s about deciding who can join their national community. That’s why citizenship laws are often at the center of political debates, especially when it comes to immigration.

The Rise of Right-Wing Parties and Stricter Citizenship Laws

In 2025, right-wing parties have become much stronger in Europe. These parties often promise to protect national identity and security by making it harder for foreigners to become citizens. They argue that stricter rules will keep out people who don’t “fit in” or who might pose risks.

As a result, many countries are:

• Raising the bar for naturalization (the process of becoming a citizen after living in a country for several years)
• Closing or restricting Golden Visa and citizenship-by-investment programs
• Making it harder to hold dual citizenship
• Adding new border controls and entry requirements

Let’s break down what these changes mean in practice.

Golden Visa and Citizenship-by-Investment: Fewer Options, Higher Costs

Golden Visa programs let people get residency or citizenship by investing money in a country. These programs became popular after the financial crisis in the 2010s, as countries looked for ways to attract wealthy investors. But now, they’re under fire.

What’s Changing in 2025?

• Spain 🇪🇸, Cyprus 🇨🇾, and Bulgaria 🇧🇬 have ended their citizenship-by-investment programs.
• Portugal 🇵🇹 has closed its popular real estate investment route.
• Malta 🇲🇹 is the only EU country still offering direct citizenship by investment, but it’s expensive and under heavy EU pressure.
• Hungary 🇭🇺 relaunched its Golden Visa in 2024, but with higher investment requirements and stricter checks.

Investment Thresholds

• Hungary: Minimum €250,000 in approved funds or a €1 million donation for a 10-year residency permit.
• Malta: Over €600,000 for direct citizenship, plus extra costs for property and donations.

Why Are These Programs Being Restricted?

The European Commission and many politicians worry that Golden Visa and citizenship-by-investment schemes can be abused for money laundering or security risks. They call these programs “passports for sale” and want them stopped or tightly controlled.

For investors, this means:

• Fewer countries offer these programs
• Costs are much higher
• Background checks are stricter
• Approval is not guaranteed

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the EU’s pushback against investment migration is making it much harder for wealthy foreigners to buy their way into European citizenship.

Naturalization: Longer Waits and Tougher Tests

Naturalization is the process where someone becomes a citizen after living in a country for a certain number of years. In 2025, many countries are making this process more demanding.

Typical Steps to Naturalization

1. Legal Residency:
   Live in the country legally for a set number of years (usually 5–10).
2. Language and Integration:
   Pass language tests and show you understand the country’s culture and laws.
3. Application Submission:
   Provide proof of residency, language skills, integration, and a clean criminal record.
4. Review and Interview:
   Attend an interview and give more documents if asked.
5. Decision:
   Wait for a decision. If approved, take an oath of allegiance.
6. Dual Citizenship:
   In some countries, you must give up your old citizenship before becoming a new citizen.

How Long Does It Take?

• Portugal 🇵🇹, Belgium 🇧🇪, Malta 🇲🇹, France 🇫🇷: 5 years
• Hungary 🇭🇺: 8 years
• Italy 🇮🇹: 10 years (with stricter language and integration rules)

What’s Getting Harder?

• Longer residency requirements in some countries
• Higher language and integration standards
• More paperwork and interviews
• Some countries now require you to give up your old citizenship

For example, Italy 🇮🇹 used to have generous rules for people with Italian ancestors, but now it’s much harder to qualify. Other countries are also making it tougher for descendants of emigrants to claim citizenship.

Dual Citizenship: More Bans, Some New Openings

Dual citizenship means you can be a citizen of two countries at the same time. This is important for people who want to keep ties to their home country while becoming part of a new one.

Where Is Dual Citizenship Allowed or Banned?

As of late 2024:

• Nine EU countries ban dual citizenship for naturalized immigrants:
  Austria 🇦🇹, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Croatia 🇭🇷, Estonia 🇪🇪, Latvia 🇱🇻, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Slovenia 🇸🇮, and Spain 🇪🇸.
• Germany 🇩🇪, Denmark 🇩🇰, and Czechia 🇨🇿 have recently started allowing dual citizenship.

If you want to become a citizen in a country that bans dual citizenship, you’ll have to give up your old passport. This can be a hard choice, especially for people with family or business ties in their home country.

New Border Controls: The Entry/Exit System (EES)

Starting in October 2025, the EU will launch the Entry/Exit System (EES). This new system will:

• Require all non-EU nationals to register their fingerprints and a facial photo when entering the Schengen Area
• Track entry and exit dates to spot overstays
• Make it harder to enter or stay in Europe without proper permission

The EES will be phased in over six months and will affect millions of travelers, students, and businesspeople. Officials say it’s needed for security, but critics worry it will mean more delays and possible discrimination.

For more information about the EES and other border controls, you can visit the European Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs page.

Who Is Affected by These Changes?

Investors

• Fewer countries offer Golden Visa or citizenship-by-investment programs
• Costs are higher and approval is harder
• Must pass strict background checks

Immigrants and Long-Term Residents

• Longer waits for citizenship
• Tougher language and integration tests
• May have to give up previous citizenship

Diaspora and Descendants

• Citizenship by descent is still possible in some countries (like Ireland 🇮🇪, Poland 🇵🇱, Slovakia 🇸🇰)
• Italy 🇮🇹 has made it harder for descendants to qualify

Travelers

• Non-EU nationals will need to register biometrics at the border
• Stricter entry and exit checks

Real-World Examples

Maria, a Brazilian investor, hoped to get Portuguese citizenship by buying property. In 2025, Portugal closed this route, so she now faces higher costs and more paperwork if she wants to try in Malta or Hungary.

Ahmed, a Moroccan engineer, has lived in Italy 🇮🇹 for 9 years. He’s studying for a tough Italian language test and must show he’s integrated into society. He also has to decide if he’s willing to give up his Moroccan passport, since Italy may not allow dual citizenship for all applicants.

Anna, an American student, plans to study in France 🇫🇷. From October 2025, she’ll need to register her fingerprints and facial photo at the border, and her movements will be tracked by the EES.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

Right-Wing Parties’ Arguments

• Protect national identity and culture
• Prevent abuse of citizenship for financial gain
• Increase security and control over who enters the country

EU Institutions’ Concerns

• Stop “passport for sale” schemes
• Harmonize standards across member states
• Prevent money laundering and security risks

Critics’ Warnings

• Harder rules may hurt integration and social cohesion
• Could harm economies that benefit from investment and skilled immigrants
• May go against EU values of openness and inclusion

How Do the New Rules Compare Across Countries?

What Should Applicants Do Now?

• Check the latest rules in your country of interest. Laws are changing quickly, so official government websites are the best source.
• Prepare for longer waits and tougher tests. Start language and integration courses early.
• If considering investment, be ready for higher costs and more paperwork. Only use trusted advisors and official channels.
• If dual citizenship is important, check if it’s allowed. Some countries require you to give up your old passport.
• For travel, be ready for new biometric checks from October 2025. Make sure your documents are in order.

The Future: More Restrictions or New Openings?

Experts believe the trend toward stricter citizenship and immigration rules will continue, especially as right-wing parties gain more power. However, some countries may still open up, as seen in Germany’s recent move to allow dual citizenship.

The debate over who should be allowed to become a citizen is likely to stay at the center of European politics. Investment programs may become even rarer, and naturalization will likely remain a long and demanding process.

Key Takeaways

• Right-wing parties are making it harder to get citizenship in many European countries.
• Golden Visa and citizenship-by-investment programs are closing or getting stricter.
• Naturalization now takes longer and requires more proof of language and integration.
• Dual citizenship is banned in some countries, but allowed in others.
• New border controls will affect all non-EU travelers from late 2025.

If you’re thinking about moving to Europe, applying for citizenship, or investing for residency, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and plan ahead. Always check official sources for the latest updates, and be prepared for a more selective and demanding process.

For more details on EU migration and citizenship policy, visit the European Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs website.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that as Europe’s political climate shifts, the path to citizenship will remain a key issue, with new rules and debates shaping the future for immigrants, investors, and travelers alike.

Learn Today

Citizenship → Legal status granting full rights and responsibilities within a country and the EU, including voting and travel.
Naturalization → Process of becoming a citizen after legally residing in a country for several years meeting specific requirements.
Golden Visa → Program offering residency or citizenship in exchange for significant investment, now restricted in many EU countries.
Dual Citizenship → Holding citizenship in two countries simultaneously, allowed in some countries but banned in others for naturalized citizens.
Entry/Exit System (EES) → EU biometric registration system starting October 2025 to track non-EU nationals entering and leaving the Schengen Area.

This Article in a Nutshell

Europe’s citizenship laws are changing fast due to right-wing influence, tightening naturalization, restricting investment visas, and adding biometric border controls in 2025.
— By VisaVerge.com