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Local France
5 days ago
- Politics
- Local France
How alarmed should we be about Europe's tightening citizenship rules?
In recent months, several countries in Europe have announced plans, or said they are at least considering, new rules on obtaining citizenship. In Sweden, an inquiry recently proposed extending the residency requirement to eight years from the current five, and since April 1st, the Migration Agency has toughened security checks on applicants, which led to a temporary freeze on the processing of applications . Sweden has also talked of introducing language and civics tests for citizenship applicants. Last year, Finland extended the required residency period for naturalisation from five to eight years and shortened the time limits for allowed absence. In Germany, the new government has passed a bill to scrap the fast-track path to citizenship, which requires only three years of residence for people considered "highly integrated". The bill, which still needs the approval of the Bundestag, reverses part of the citizenship reform adopted in 2024. In Italy, a referendum aiming to reduce the residency requirement to get citizenship didn't receive enough participation to be valid. Separately, the parliament recently adopted new rules that limit to two generations the possibility to obtain citizenship by ancestry . In Denmark authorities hiked the citizenship fee by 50 percent on May 1st. Months earlier the country's Immigration Ministry also appointed an expert panel to look into the possibility of screening applicants for views considered 'antidemocratic'. Elsewhere in the Nordics, Norway will hold a general election in September, and both the Conservative Party and Progress Party, which could form a right-wing coalition, said they want to tighten citizenship requirements. Advertisement In France, where the anti-immigration far-right has been growing in popularity in recent years, the country's Interior M inister Bruno Retailleau t alked of his plans to 'toughen up' the citizenship regime , including the possible addition of a history and civic test. Nationality reforms were also at the centre of the political agenda in the Netherlands, where the far-right government, which has recently collapsed, wanted to increase the residence requirement from five to ten years. A similar plan to lengthen the residency qualification period has been taken by the Labour government in the UK, as part of proposals to further tighten immigration rules. Why so many changes? Professor Maarten Vink, Chair of Citizenship Studies at the Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute in Florence, suggested citizens around Europe shouldn't be too alarmed at all the tightening and changing of the rules. 'It is quite common that countries change citizenship rules every couple of years," Vink said. 'We are in a democracy, so if in elections the political balance shifts, it is normal that this is reflected in legislation. When migration is a very important topic in politics, issues that are related to migration, such as citizenship, are also part of this dynamic,' he said. Professor Vink said that citizenship laws in Europe have recently been 'more dynamic than in other parts of the world', although 'changes go in different directions.' Advertisement Dual citizenship The most significant trend that has emerged, and is 'unidirectional', he argued, is the acceptance of dual citizenship. 'Back in the 1960s, most countries around the world restricted dual citizenship because this was seen as a problem of loyalty and allegiance, especially at times of more warfare and military conscription," said Vink. Although exceptions remain in Austria, the Netherlands, the Baltic countries and several Eastern European states, this is an area that has seen 'a very clear liberalisation trend globally and in Europe'. Vink said this was partly driven by migration as more people moved and built a life in another country and maintained family ties to the country where they came from, or where their parents and grandparents came from. Another factor was gender equality. Advertisement 'In the past, a woman marrying a man from another country would automatically become a citizen of that country, or lose hers, and the children would be only citizen of the father's country. Recognising a woman and a man as both independent in citizenship law, as it happened in all European countries, allowed for the creation of mixed citizenship families,' he explained. Vink points out that even the new German government, which has proposed a step back on the "modernisation'" of citizenship laws by removing a fast-track procedure , has agreed to maintain the main elements of the landmark 2024 reform – the acceptance of dual citizenship and the reduction of the residency requirement from eight to five years. Developments in family law also affect citizenship, for example with the right to transmit citizenship from the non-biological parent to a child in a same-sex family. 'Scandinavian countries have been very proactive in incorporating these family law elements in citizenship law, while in countries like Italy there are still restrictions,' Vink said. Crucially most governments in Europe can't just do anything they want when it comes to citizenship laws In most European countries the area is also regulated via the European Convention on Nationality , signed in 1997 under the Council of Europe (not an EU institution). Some 29 European countries signed the Convention, but 8 (Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Russia) have not ratified it. For example under the rules set by the convention, the residence requirement for citizenship cannot exceed 10 years, an upper limit that is met by all European countries, with the most common requirement set at 5 years.
Local Spain
6 days ago
- Politics
- Local Spain
How alarmed should we be about Europe's tightening citizenship rules?
In recent months, several countries in Europe have announced plans, or said they are at least considering, new rules on obtaining citizenship. In Sweden, an inquiry recently proposed extending the residency requirement to eight years from the current five, and since April 1st, the Migration Agency has toughened security checks on applicants, which led to a temporary freeze on the processing of applications. Sweden has also talked of introducing language and civics tests for citizenship applicants. Last year, Finland extended the required residency period for naturalisation from five to eight years and shortened the time limits for allowed absence. In Germany, the new government has passed a bill to scrap the fast-track path to citizenship, which requires only three years of residence for people considered "highly integrated'. The bill, which still needs the approval of the Bundestag, reverses part of the citizenship reform adopted in 2024. In Italy, a referendum aiming to reduce the residency requirement to get citizenship didn't receive enough participation to be valid. Separately, the parliament recently adopted new rules that limit to two generations the possibility to obtain citizenship by ancestry. In Denmark authorities hiked the citizenship fee by 50 percent on May 1st. Months earlier the country's Immigration Ministry also appointed an expert panel to look into the possibility of screening applicants for views considered 'antidemocratic'. Elsewhere in the Nordics, Norway will hold a general election in September, and both the Conservative Party and Progress Party, which could form a right-wing coalition, said they want to tighten citizenship requirements. In France, where the anti-immigration far-right has been growing in popularity in recent years, the country's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau t alked of his plans to 'toughen up' the citizenship regime, including the possible addition of a history and civic test. Nationality reforms were also at the centre of the political agenda in the Netherlands, where the far-right government, which has recently collapsed, wanted to increase the residence requirement from five to ten years. A similar plan to lengthen the residency qualification period has been taken by the Labour government in the UK, as part of proposals to further tighten immigration rules. Why so many changes? Professor Maarten Vink, Chair of Citizenship Studies at the Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute in Florence, suggested citizens around Europe shouldn't be too alarmed at all the tightening and changing of the rules. 'It is quite common that countries change citizenship rules every couple of years," Vink said. 'We are in a democracy, so if in elections the political balance shifts, it is normal that this is reflected in legislation. When migration is a very important topic in politics, issues that are related to migration, such as citizenship, are also part of this dynamic,' he said. Professor Vink said that citizenship laws in Europe have recently been 'more dynamic than in other parts of the world', although 'changes go in different directions.' Dual citizenship The most significant trend that has emerged, and is 'unidirectional', he argued, is the acceptance of dual citizenship. 'Back in the 1960s, most countries around the world restricted dual citizenship because this was seen as a problem of loyalty and allegiance, especially at times of more warfare and military conscription," said Vink. Although exceptions remain in Austria, the Netherlands, the Baltic countries and several Eastern European states, this is an area that has seen 'a very clear liberalisation trend globally and in Europe'. Vink said this was partly driven by migration as more people moved and built a life in another country and maintained family ties to the country where they came from, or where their parents and grandparents came from. Another factor was gender equality. 'In the past, a woman marrying a man from another country would automatically become a citizen of that country, or lose hers, and the children would be only citizen of the father's country. Recognising a woman and a man as both independent in citizenship law, as it happened in all European countries, allowed for the creation of mixed citizenship families,' he explained. Vink points out that even the new German government, which has proposed a step back on the "modernisation'" of citizenship laws by removing a fast-track procedure, has agreed to maintain the main elements of the landmark 2024 reform – the acceptance of dual citizenship and the reduction of the residency requirement from eight to five years. Developments in family law also affect citizenship, for example with the right to transmit citizenship from the non-biological parent to a child in a same-sex family. 'Scandinavian countries have been very proactive in incorporating these family law elements in citizenship law, while in countries like Italy there are still restrictions,' Vink said. Crucially most governments in Europe can't just do anything they want when it comes to citizenship laws In most European countries the area is also regulated via the European Convention on Nationality, signed in 1997 under the Council of Europe (not an EU institution). Some 29 European countries signed the Convention, but 8 (Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Russia) have not ratified it. For example under the rules set by the convention, the residence requirement for citizenship cannot exceed 10 years, an upper limit that is met by all European countries, with the most common requirement set at 5 years.
Local Germany
6 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
How alarmed should we be about Europe's tightening citizenship rules?
In recent months, several countries in Europe have announced plans, or said they are at least considering, new rules on obtaining citizenship. In Sweden, an inquiry recently proposed extending the residency requirement to eight years from the current five, and since April 1st, the Migration Agency has toughened security checks on applicants, which led to a temporary freeze on the processing of applications . Sweden has also talked of introducing language and civics tests for citizenship applicants. Last year, Finland extended the required residency period for naturalisation from five to eight years and shortened the time limits for allowed absence. In Germany, the new government has passed a bill to scrap the fast-track path to citizenship, which requires only three years of residence for people considered "highly integrated'. The bill, which still needs the approval of the Bundestag, reverses part of the citizenship reform adopted in 2024. In Italy, a referendum aiming to reduce the residency requirement to get citizenship didn't receive enough participation to be valid. Separately, the parliament recently adopted new rules that limit to two generations the possibility to obtain citizenship by ancestry . In Denmark authorities hiked the citizenship fee by 50 percent on May 1st. Months earlier the country's Immigration Ministry also appointed an expert panel to look into the possibility of screening applicants for views considered 'antidemocratic'. Elsewhere in the Nordics, Norway will hold a general election in September, and both the Conservative Party and Progress Party, which could form a right-wing coalition, said they want to tighten citizenship requirements. Advertisement In France, where the anti-immigration far-right has been growing in popularity in recent years, the country's Interior M inister Bruno Retailleau t alked of his plans to 'toughen up' the citizenship regime , including the possible addition of a history and civic test. Nationality reforms were also at the centre of the political agenda in the Netherlands, where the far-right government, which has recently collapsed, wanted to increase the residence requirement from five to ten years. A similar plan to lengthen the residency qualification period has been taken by the Labour government in the UK, as part of proposals to further tighten immigration rules. Why so many changes? Professor Maarten Vink, Chair of Citizenship Studies at the Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute in Florence, suggested citizens around Europe shouldn't be too alarmed at all the tightening and changing of the rules. 'It is quite common that countries change citizenship rules every couple of years," Vink said. 'We are in a democracy, so if in elections the political balance shifts, it is normal that this is reflected in legislation. When migration is a very important topic in politics, issues that are related to migration, such as citizenship, are also part of this dynamic,' he said. Professor Vink said that citizenship laws in Europe have recently been 'more dynamic than in other parts of the world', although 'changes go in different directions.' Advertisement Dual citizenship The most significant trend that has emerged, and is 'unidirectional', he argued, is the acceptance of dual citizenship. 'Back in the 1960s, most countries around the world restricted dual citizenship because this was seen as a problem of loyalty and allegiance, especially at times of more warfare and military conscription," said Vink. Although exceptions remain in Austria, the Netherlands, the Baltic countries and several Eastern European states, this is an area that has seen 'a very clear liberalisation trend globally and in Europe'. Vink said this was partly driven by migration as more people moved and built a life in another country and maintained family ties to the country where they came from, or where their parents and grandparents came from. Another factor was gender equality. Advertisement 'In the past, a woman marrying a man from another country would automatically become a citizen of that country, or lose hers, and the children would be only citizen of the father's country. Recognising a woman and a man as both independent in citizenship law, as it happened in all European countries, allowed for the creation of mixed citizenship families,' he explained. Vink points out that even the new German government, which has proposed a step back on the "modernisation'" of citizenship laws by removing a fast-track procedure , has agreed to maintain the main elements of the landmark 2024 reform – the acceptance of dual citizenship and the reduction of the residency requirement from eight to five years. Developments in family law also affect citizenship, for example with the right to transmit citizenship from the non-biological parent to a child in a same-sex family. 'Scandinavian countries have been very proactive in incorporating these family law elements in citizenship law, while in countries like Italy there are still restrictions,' Vink said. Crucially most governments in Europe can't just do anything they want when it comes to citizenship laws In most European countries the area is also regulated via the European Convention on Nationality , signed in 1997 under the Council of Europe (not an EU institution). Some 29 European countries signed the Convention, but 8 (Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Russia) have not ratified it. For example under the rules set by the convention, the residence requirement for citizenship cannot exceed 10 years, an upper limit that is met by all European countries, with the most common requirement set at 5 years.
RNZ News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Foreigners overstaying visas 'a significant concern'
Fiji Immigration. Nadi International Airport. Photo: Fiji Immigration The Fijian Immigration Ministry is concerned about foreign nationals overstaying their visa permits. In a statement on Tuesday, the acting permanent secretary for immigration Lesikimauata Korovavala said Fiji has seen a rise in the number of foreigners seeking employment opportunities in the country. According to Fiji's immigration laws, foreigners who do not have proper authorisation are not permitted to be employed. Korovavala said that, while the Immigration Office acknowledges the need to attract skilled professionals, "compliance with immigration laws remains a key priority to ensure a well-regulated system." The Fijian government has identified the outbound exodus of Fijians as a major challenge to meeting the nation's labour demand. The government is considering revising laws to allow more overseas workers as a solution to address the outward migration and skills shortages. However, Korovavala said the number of foreign nationals without proper documentation "is of significant concern". "In light of this, all individuals currently residing in Fiji without a valid permit are strongly encouraged to take immediate steps to regularise their immigration status." Korovavala said this would prevent complications related to their departure from and re-entry into the country. The Immigration Ministry warns it will take action against those who are staying in the country unlawfully. He also urged Fijian employers to comply with immigration regulations. Last month, Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto told parliament that the Immigration Department issued over 7500 work permits between August 2023 and January 2025. In November 2024, eight Bangladeshi workers absconded from their employers . Pio Tikoduadua, the immigration minister at the time, appealed to the migrant workers to "declare themselves to police", while the Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh they would be deported. Between January and July 2024, Bangladeshi nationals received 700 out of 1300 work permits.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Quebec announces cap on international post-secondary students
The Quebec government is reducing the number of international students that can enrol in Quebec's post-secondary institutions in the fall by 20 per cent. The Immigration Ministry published the maximum number of applications it will process this year from new international students in Wednesday's edition of the province's Official Gazette. The quotas, which are broken down by institution and degree type, significantly reduce the number of international students that will be admitted into the province's collegiate network this fall. The government also stabilizes enrolment of international students into Quebec's universities according to 2024 levels. Student visas are issued by the federal government, however, in Quebec, students from abroad must also obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate, known as a CAQ, from the provincial government. Prospective students need to obtain their CAQ before applying for a study permit. In 2024, the Education Ministry processed 48,748 CAQ applications by international students entering the collegiate network, according to data from the ministry obtained by Radio-Canada. That number is now capped at 29,200. The quota for universities stands at 63,299 applications. Including vocational colleges, Quebec will process a maximum of 124,760 applications between Feb. 26, 2025 and 2026 — 20 per cent less than last year. The Quebec government adopted a bill in December 2024, giving the Education Ministry the power to restrict enrolment of international students, in an effort to reduce overall immigration to the province. The number of international students in Quebec jumped by 140 per cent — from 50,000 to nearly 120,000 — between 2014 and 2023, according to a news release published Wednesday by the Immigration Ministry. Parti Québécois MNA Joël Arseneau told reporters Wednesday morning that he welcomes the new quotas but wish they had come sooner. "It is in the direction of what we proposed last fall, but it's too little too late because [it's] more than doubled, they want to reduce it a bit," he said referring to the number of international students in the province. The interim leader of Quebec's Liberal Party Marc Tanguay, for his part, says that something has to be done about people who take advantage of Quebec's education system to immigrate into Canada, without closing the door on skilled labour. Many of the new quotas target Quebec's private colleges which have been used in the past as a pathway to immigration into the province. "Those who are not respecting the rules, they have to be stopped. That being said, to say that we will not continue our race to have people who are very skilled, talented, want to learn here, learn French and to live here in Quebec, I think we have to be careful and to be able to welcome them," said Tanguay. According to Université de Montréal rector Daniel Jutras, the quotas send the wrong message, he told Radio-Canada's Tout un matin. "International students have been placed in the same basket as those who maybe abuse the system and we're treating those people in the same way as someone who maybe is coming to Quebec to pursue a PhD in IT or a masters in social work," he said.
