How Europe’s Changing Citizenship Rules Affect Foreign Residents in 2025

Key Takeaways

• In 2025, European countries adopt more flexible citizenship laws, allowing dual nationality and shorter residency for families.
• EU reduces irregular stay threshold from 50% to 30%, possibly tightening visas for groups like Israeli citizens.
• Germany now allows multiple citizenships and citizenship after 3 years for family members with language and financial proof.

Europe’s Changing Citizenship Rules: What Foreign Residents Need to Know in 2025

Europe is seeing important changes to its citizenship rules in 2025. These changes affect foreign residents living across the continent, as well as those planning to move to Europe. The new rules reflect shifting political priorities, new laws, and changing ideas about who should be able to become a citizen. This guide explains the latest developments, what they mean for foreign residents, and how people can take practical steps toward citizenship.

What Are Citizenship Rules in Europe?

Citizenship rules are the laws and policies that decide who can become a citizen of a country. In Europe, each country has its own rules for granting citizenship. There is no single process for the entire European Union (EU). However, if you become a citizen of any EU country, you also become an EU citizen. This gives you rights like living, working, and traveling freely in other EU countries.

Key points about citizenship rules in Europe:
– Each country sets its own requirements for citizenship.
– Some countries are making it easier for foreign residents to become citizens.
– Many countries now allow people to keep their original citizenship when they become citizens of a new country.

Recent Changes and News in 2025

New EU Visa and Travel Rules

On June 18, 2025, the EU announced a reform that changes how it looks at irregular stays (people staying longer than allowed). The threshold for concern has dropped from 50% to 30%. This means if 30% more people overstay their visas compared to before, the EU may tighten visa rules for that group. For example, this could affect Israeli citizens and other non-EU nationals.

Germany’s New Citizenship Law

Germany has made a big change by allowing multiple citizenships. Before, people often had to give up their old citizenship to become German. Now, many can keep both. Germany also made it easier for family members of German citizens to get citizenship after just 3 years of living in the country, as long as they meet language and financial requirements.

Ongoing Trends Across Europe

According to a February 2025 briefing from the European Parliament, countries are moving toward more flexible and inclusive citizenship policies. However, there are still big differences between countries in how easy or hard it is to become a citizen.

How Do Citizenship Rules Differ Across Europe?

Common Trends

While each country has its own rules, some common trends are emerging:
– More countries accept multiple citizenships.
– Residency requirements are getting shorter in some places.
– Easier citizenship for spouses and family members of citizens.
– Greater focus on integration, such as language skills and knowledge of local culture.

Country Examples

Let’s look at how some countries handle citizenship for foreign residents:

• Germany: Now allows multiple citizenships. Family members of German citizens can apply for citizenship after 3 years of residence if they meet language and financial requirements.
• Portugal: Foreign spouses of Portuguese citizens can get citizenship after 3 years of marriage or registered partnership, which is faster than the usual 5 years.
• Spain: Spouses of Spanish nationals can become citizens after just 1 year of living in Spain.
• Malta: Citizenship by marriage is called citizenship by registration, which follows a different process.
• Austria: Family reunification allows foreign residents to get a residence permit and, after 6 to 10 years, apply for citizenship.
• Greece: Family members can apply for citizenship after 3 to 7 years of legal residence.

EU-Wide Travel Authorization: ETIAS

The EU is rolling out the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This system requires travelers from visa-exempt countries to get travel authorization before entering 30 European countries. This affects many foreign residents and people planning to move to Europe. You can find more about ETIAS on the official ETIAS website.

Who Is Affected by These Changes?

Foreign Residents

Foreign residents are people living in a European country without citizenship. The new rules can make it easier for them to become citizens, especially if they are married to a citizen or have family ties. Shorter residency requirements and acceptance of multiple citizenships mean fewer barriers.

However, stricter visa rules and the new ETIAS system mean foreign residents must pay close attention to their legal status and travel permissions. The lower threshold for irregular stays means countries may tighten visa rules more quickly if they see a rise in overstays.

Families

Family reunification policies help spouses, children, and sometimes parents join their relatives in Europe. Many countries now offer clear pathways to citizenship for family members after a certain period of legal residence. Requirements often include:
– Proof of financial stability
– Adequate housing
– Language skills

These rules aim to help families stay together while encouraging integration into society.

Governments

Governments must balance being open to new citizens with concerns about security and integration. They also need to address labor shortages and demographic changes. Flexible citizenship rules can help attract skilled workers and support family unity, but stricter visa controls are used to manage irregular migration.

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Citizen in Europe

The process for becoming a citizen varies by country, but here’s a general outline, especially for those applying through family reunification or marriage:

1. Apply for a Residence Permit: The foreign spouse or family member applies for a permit to live in the country. This is often based on marriage or family ties.
2. Live in the Country: The applicant must live legally in the country for a set period (for example, 1 year in Spain, 3 years in Germany).
3. Meet Integration Requirements: The applicant must show they can speak the language, understand local customs, and support themselves financially.
4. Submit a Citizenship Application: After meeting the requirements, the applicant fills out and submits the official citizenship application. For example, Germany’s application form can be found on the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s website.
5. Approval and Naturalization: If approved, the applicant becomes a citizen and can get a passport. In many countries, they do not have to give up their original citizenship.

Important: Always check the official immigration website of the country you are interested in for the latest forms and requirements.

Real-World Examples

Let’s look at how these rules work in practice:

• Maria from Brazil marries a Spanish citizen: Maria moves to Spain and gets a residence permit. After living in Spain for 1 year, she can apply for Spanish citizenship. She must show she speaks Spanish and can support herself.
• Ahmed from Egypt joins his wife in Germany: Ahmed gets a residence permit through family reunification. After 3 years, if he passes a German language test and meets financial requirements, he can apply for German citizenship. He can keep his Egyptian citizenship under the new rules.
• Sofia from the United States 🇺🇸 moves to Portugal: Sofia marries a Portuguese citizen. After 3 years of marriage, she can apply for Portuguese citizenship, provided she meets the country’s requirements.

Rights and Benefits of Citizenship

Becoming a citizen in a European country brings many benefits:
– Right to vote in national and local elections
– Access to social benefits like healthcare and education
– Freedom to live, work, and travel in other EU countries
– Ability to sponsor family members for residence
– Greater job opportunities and security

For foreign residents, these rights can mean a more stable and secure life.

Challenges and Practical Implications

While many countries are making it easier to become a citizen, there are still challenges:

• Stricter visa rules: The new EU policy means countries may tighten visa rules more quickly if they see a rise in overstays. This can make it harder for some foreign residents to travel or stay legally.
• Integration requirements: Language tests and cultural knowledge exams can be difficult for some applicants.
• Different rules in each country: There is no single process for all of Europe, so foreign residents must learn the rules for their specific country.

Practical tips for foreign residents:
– Stay informed: Check official government websites for the latest rules and forms.
– Keep records: Save documents showing your residence, marriage, language skills, and financial stability.
– Plan ahead: Some processes take time, so start early and make sure you meet all requirements.

Comparing Citizenship Rules Across Europe

Here’s a quick comparison of how long foreign residents must live in certain countries before applying for citizenship (especially through marriage or family):

Note: These are general guidelines. Always check the latest information from the country’s immigration authority.

Expert Perspectives

Experts say that allowing multiple citizenships helps people keep ties to their home country while becoming part of their new community. This can make it easier for immigrants to feel at home and contribute to society. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes reflect the reality that many people have connections to more than one country.

However, some experts warn that stricter visa rules and lower thresholds for irregular stays could make life harder for certain groups. For example, workers from countries with higher overstay rates may face more travel restrictions. Human rights groups also stress the need for fair and simple naturalization processes, so immigrants are not left out because of tough language or financial requirements.

Looking Back: How Have Citizenship Rules Changed?

In the past, most European countries had strict rules. People often had to give up their old citizenship and live in the country for many years before applying. Over the last 20 years, many countries have made their rules more flexible. This is partly because of more migration, aging populations, and the need for skilled workers.

The EU gives citizenship to people who are nationals of its member states, but each country decides how people can become nationals. This leads to different rules and practices across Europe.

What’s Next for Citizenship Rules in Europe?

Looking ahead, more changes are likely:
– The EU may try to make some rules more similar across countries.
– Systems like ETIAS will continue to develop, balancing security with the need for easy travel.
– Countries may adjust residency and integration requirements as migration patterns change.
– The impact of the new 30% threshold for irregular stays will be watched closely.

Where to Find Official Information

If you are a foreign resident or planning to move to Europe, use these resources:
– EU Immigration Portal – for guidance on residence, citizenship, and visas across the EU.
– ETIAS Official Website – for travel authorization details.
– National immigration authority websites (such as the German Federal Ministry of the Interior or Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service) – for country-specific rules and forms.

Key Takeaways for Foreign Residents

• Citizenship rules in Europe are changing, often making it easier for foreign residents to become citizens.
• Multiple citizenships are now widely accepted, reducing the need to give up your original nationality.
• Shorter residency requirements and special pathways for spouses and family members are common.
• Stricter visa and travel rules mean you must pay close attention to your legal status and permissions.
• Always use official government websites for the latest information and forms.

By staying informed and prepared, foreign residents can take advantage of new opportunities and avoid common pitfalls as Europe’s citizenship rules continue to evolve.

Learn Today

Citizenship → Legal status granting individuals rights and duties as members of a country or state.
Dual Citizenship → Ability to legally hold citizenship in two countries simultaneously without renouncing either.
Residency Requirement → Mandatory period a foreign resident must live legally in a country to apply for citizenship.
ETIAS → European Travel Information and Authorization System, requiring visa-exempt travelers to obtain travel authorization.
Irregular Stay → Period when a foreign resident remains in a country beyond the legally permitted time.

This Article in a Nutshell

Europe’s 2025 citizenship rule changes simplify naturalization, favor dual citizenship, and shorten residency. New EU visa policies introduce stricter controls, affecting foreign residents and families seeking citizenship across the continent.
— By VisaVerge.com