What's changed

Announced 19 Jun 2025

Announced Citizenship

Proposed Bill C-3 restores citizenship for "Lost Canadians"

The federal government introduced Bill C-3 in June 2025 to respond to the 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling that struck down the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. The bill proposes restoring citizenship to certain Canadians born abroad to Canadian parents who also were born abroad, subject to a "substantial connection" requirement for future generations. Parliamentary passage in progress through late 2025.

Who it affects: Canadians born abroad to Canadian parents who were also born abroad; their children.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · Government of Canada ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 28 May 2025

In force Citizenship

ITItaly

Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) restricted to two generations

Law Decree 36/2025 restricted the pathway to Italian citizenship by descent: applicants must now prove Italian ancestry within two generations (parent or grandparent born in Italy), closing the previously unlimited-generations route that had produced an estimated 60,000 annual citizenship grants. A contested reform: constitutional challenges are pending; existing applications filed before 28 May 2025 are processed under the prior rules.

Who it affects: Descendants of Italian emigrants (particularly in Argentina, Brazil, the US) seeking Italian citizenship.

Gazzetta Ufficiale (Italian Official Gazette) ↗ · Ministero dell'Interno ↗ · Governo Italiano ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

Announced 11 Apr 2025

Announced Citizenship

PTPortugal

Proposed citizenship residence-requirement increase

The Portuguese government announced in April 2025 a proposal to raise the residence requirement for naturalisation from five years to seven (and to ten for nationals of non-Portuguese-speaking countries), alongside stricter language and civic-knowledge assessment. The proposal is in parliamentary process; existing applications continue under the five-year rule.

Who it affects: Prospective naturalisation applicants arriving after adoption, if enacted.

Governo de Portugal ↗ · Ministério da Administração Interna ↗ · AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 28 Mar 2025

In force Citizenship

ITItaly

Iure sanguinis citizenship limited to two-generation ancestry

Decreto Legge 36/2025, published on 28 March 2025, restricted Italian citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis) to those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. Previously unlimited-generation descent-based citizenship, one of the longest-standing ancestry-citizenship regimes worldwide, was thereby sharply narrowed. Applications already pending on the enactment date continued under the prior rule.

Who it affects: Diaspora descendants of Italian ancestors further back than grandparents.

Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana ↗ · Ministero dell'Interno ↗ · Ministero degli Affari Esteri ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

Announced 20 Jan 2025

Delayed Citizenship

USUnited States

Executive order attempting to limit birthright citizenship enjoined

A Presidential executive order signed on 20 January 2025 purported to deny automatic US citizenship to children born on US soil to parents who were either unlawfully present or in the US on temporary visas. Federal courts in Washington, Maryland, and Massachusetts issued nationwide injunctions in late January and February 2025; the order has not taken effect. The Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause is the primary legal obstacle.

Who it affects: Children born in the US to non-permanent-resident parents; situation unresolved pending litigation.

The White House ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Citizenship

FRFrance

Naturalisation French-language requirement raised to B2

Applicants for French naturalisation by decree must now demonstrate B2 French proficiency (up from B1) from 1 January 2025. The civic-knowledge assessment was also strengthened. The change reduced the pool of eligible applicants materially in the first year.

Who it affects: Prospective French citizenship applicants, particularly those with functional but not advanced French.

Légifrance ↗ · Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

Announced 15 Oct 2024

Announced Citizenship

NLNetherlands

Proposal to raise naturalisation language requirement to B1

The Dutch government introduced a legislative proposal in October 2024 to raise the civic-integration (inburgering) language requirement for naturalisation from A2 to B1 and to extend the residence requirement from five to ten years. Parliamentary passage and implementation dates remain uncertain as of 2026.

Who it affects: Prospective naturalisation applicants if and when the proposal enters force.

Rijksoverheid ↗ · Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Oct 2024

In force Citizenship

EGEgypt

Citizenship-by-Investment programme reformed — clearer pricing tiers

Prime-ministerial decree in mid-2024 clarified and repriced the Egyptian Citizenship-by-Investment programme: non-refundable Treasury contribution US$250,000; real-estate investment US$350,000; direct business investment US$500,000 creating local employment; bank deposit US$500,000 (3-year lock). Processing target 6–9 months. Volumes expanded materially in 2024–2025 from Gulf and East Asian applicants.

Who it affects: High-net-worth applicants seeking Egyptian citizenship.

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones ↗ · Ministry of Finance (Egypt) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024

In force Citizenship

CACanada

Canadian citizenship process further digitalised

IRCC continued the multi-year modernisation of the citizenship application and test process through 2024 — online test booking, remote video citizenship-ceremony option, and streamlined document submission. Physical presence test (1,095 days in 5 years) and language/knowledge-test requirements unchanged.

Who it affects: Permanent residents applying for Canadian citizenship.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024

In force Citizenship

IEIreland

Citizenship ceremony and affirmation moved online

From July 2024, routine citizenship affirmations (post-ceremony) could be completed online for most applicants, and the standard in-person ceremony schedule was expanded to clear the historic backlog. Processing times for straightforward applications fell substantially from mid-2024 into 2025.

Who it affects: Applicants for Irish naturalisation; historic backlog beneficiaries.

Irish Immigration Service Delivery ↗ · Department of Foreign Affairs ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 27 Jun 2024

In force Citizenship

DEGermany

Three-year fast-track naturalisation for exceptional integration

As part of the Staatsangehörigkeitsmodernisierungsgesetz, a three-year residence path to naturalisation was created for applicants demonstrating "special integration achievements" — typically C1 German, professional achievement, and volunteer engagement — alongside economic self-sufficiency.

Who it affects: Longer-term residents with strong language and integration track record.

Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 27 Jun 2024

In force Citizenship

DEGermany

Citizenship Modernisation Act — dual citizenship allowed, residency requirement cut

The Staatsangehörigkeitsmodernisierungsgesetz came into force on 27 June 2024. Multiple citizenship is now permitted (previously, most non-EU applicants had to renounce their prior nationality). The standard residency requirement for naturalisation was reduced from eight years to five, and to three years for applicants demonstrating exceptional integration. Children born in Germany to non-German parents acquire citizenship at birth if one parent has been lawfully and habitually resident for at least five years.

Who it affects: Non-German residents seeking naturalisation; children of foreign residents born in Germany.

BMI — New law on nationality takes effect (27 June 2024) ↗ · Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette) ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 20 Jun 2024

In force Citizenship

ZASouth Africa

Constitutional Court ruling — dual citizenship by birth not lost through naturalisation in another country

The Constitutional Court ruled in DA v Minister of Home Affairs (June 2024) that SA citizens do not lose their SA citizenship by acquiring another country's citizenship — striking down the statutory provision that had automatically terminated SA citizenship on foreign naturalisation. Material for the SA diaspora and their children; application/re-registration processes developed through 2024–2025.

Who it affects: SA citizens who have naturalised in another country; broader citizenship pathway clarity.

South African Government ↗ · Department of Home Affairs (South Africa) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

Announced 16 May 2024

Announced Citizenship

NLNetherlands

Naturalisation residency requirement proposed to increase from 5 to 10 years

The Hoofdlijnenakkoord included a proposal to double the standard residency requirement for Dutch naturalisation from five to ten years, and to require applicants to renounce any other nationality "where possible". The proposal remains in the parliamentary pipeline and has not yet been enacted as of 2026; the current five-year requirement continues to apply.

Who it affects: Future applicants for Dutch citizenship — monitoring only; not yet in force.

Hoofdlijnenakkoord — Coalition Agreement (May 2024) ↗ · Government of the Netherlands ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024

In force Citizenship

KRSouth Korea

Dual-citizenship rules softened for foreign-Korean ancestry

Dual-citizenship eligibility was modestly broadened in April 2024 for applicants with verifiable Korean ancestry — particularly Korean-Americans and second-generation diaspora seeking dual nationality without renouncing their existing citizenship. Implementation administered through Hi Korea's Citizenship office.

Who it affects: Korean-American and other Korean-ancestry foreign nationals seeking naturalisation.

Korea Ministry of Justice ↗ · Hi Korea — Korea Immigration Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

Announced 14 Mar 2024

Announced Citizenship

BRBrazil

Proposed constitutional amendment to tighten citizenship rules — no movement

A proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) to tighten Brazilian citizenship rules — longer residency requirements, stricter Portuguese-language testing — was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies in March 2024 but has not progressed through committees. Current citizenship rules (4 years residence for non-Lusophones; 1 year for Portuguese-speakers with Brazilian ties) remain in force.

Who it affects: Current and future naturalisation applicants.

Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública — Migrações ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 26 Jan 2024

In force Citizenship

FRFrance

Carte de résident residency requirement raised from 5 to 7 years

The continuous legal residence required to obtain the long-term "carte de résident" (10-year renewable permit) rose from five to seven years under Law 2024-42. Applicants must also demonstrate B1-level French (up from A2), and sign the Republican Engagement Contract committing to respecting French Republican principles. Does not affect naturalisation timelines, which remain five years of residence.

Who it affects: Non-EU long-term residents seeking the carte de résident — now a longer wait.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024

In force Citizenship

MAMorocco

Citizenship by marriage confirmed — 5 years post-marriage for foreign spouses

The long-standing citizenship-by-marriage pathway continues to operate. Foreign spouses of Moroccan citizens can apply for Moroccan citizenship after 5 years of continuous marriage. Dual citizenship is permitted for those acquiring Moroccan citizenship by naturalisation or marriage — a contrast with many peer countries.

Who it affects: Foreign spouses of Moroccan citizens.

Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024

In force Citizenship

NZNew Zealand

Citizenship pathways unchanged — 5 years residence continues

New Zealand citizenship requirements remain 5 years of residence (at least 240 days per year physically present), character and language requirements, and knowledge of NZ and responsibilities of citizenship. No structural changes under the National-led coalition. Dual citizenship is permitted. Citizenship by descent for children born overseas is restricted to one generation outside NZ.

Who it affects: Permanent residents seeking NZ citizenship.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024

In force Citizenship

BRBrazil

One-year naturalisation path for Portuguese-speaking CPLP nationals confirmed

The accelerated naturalisation path for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, CPLP) — 1 year of continuous legal residence vs 4 years for non-Lusophones — continues to operate. Material for Portuguese, Angolan, Mozambican, Cape Verdean, and East Timorese nationals considering Brazilian citizenship.

Who it affects: Portuguese-language-country nationals (Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, etc.).

Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública — Migrações ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Oct 2019

In force Citizenship

ESSpain

Sephardic citizenship law closed; ongoing appeals backlog

The 2015 law allowing descendants of Sephardic Jews to claim Spanish citizenship closed to new applicants on 1 October 2019, with applications lodged before that date having a long appeal tail still being processed through 2024-2025. Included here for movers assessing ancestral citizenship routes to Spain.

Who it affects: Diaspora descendants of Sephardic Jews; no current ancestral route under this law.

Boletín Oficial del Estado ↗ · Gobierno de España — La Moncloa ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

What's changed.