Access to Nationality

Facilitating access to nationality can significantly increase naturalisation rates and boost integration outcomes.

POLICY INDICATORS

How easily can immigrants become citizens?

Nationality policies qualify as only halfway favourable for promoting naturalisation of immigrants (44). Nationality policies are a major area of weakness in most European and non-European countries, especially Austria, Bulgaria, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The highly discretionary, expensive path to citizenship often discourages rather than encourages migrants to apply. A few countries (12/56) still have not caught up with international reform trends on dual nationality and citizenship entitlements for children. By contrast, immigrants have favourable opportunities to become citizens in many countries, e.g., Sweden and the traditional destination countries (Canada, New Zealand and US).

Between 2014 and 2019, the MIPEX 56 average remained the same. Nationality policies have become more restrictive in Argentina, Denmark, Greece and Italy. In 2015, though, Greece did introduce more favourable conditions for Greek-born children of immigrants.

Immigrants’ access to nationality has improved significantly in Brazil and Luxembourg and, to lesser extent, in China, Greece, Latvia, Moldova, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.
For example, in Luxembourg, the wait for the first-generation was lowered from 7-to-5 years and their efforts are rewarded for learning Luxembourgish, while the right to citizenship was regained by spouses and extended from the third- to the second-generation.

Key Findings

Eligibility

  • Ordinary first-generation immigrants face a wait of five years in half the MIPEX countries (23).
  • Citizenship entitlements exist in half of the countries for children born or educated in the country to foreign parents (27/56). Among these, unconditional birthright citizenship for the second generation exist in only six countries (the North and South American countries included in MIPEX). In the other countires, these children must undergo a naturalisation procedure (29/56).

Conditions and security of status

  • Language requirements differ significantly across countries. Ten countries require only A1 proficiency or carry out no assessment; 19 require A2 proficiency and 27 require B1 proficiency or apply discretionary procedures.
  • Immigrants do not have to undergo an integration requirement in nearly half of the MIPEX countries (28/56). In the other half, they must pass a test as part of the process (26/56). Only Belgium and Luxembourg allow ordinary applicants to complete a specific course.
  • Proof of income or employment is required for citizenship in the majority of countries (37/56). Among these, 14 countries require that applicants demonstrate a minimum income, while the remaining 23 countries impose more demanding requirements.
  • Criminal record requirements are demanding in the majority of countries (34/56). Applicants are ineligible if convicted of a crime, sentenced to imprisonment for more than five years, or charged with other offences (e.g. misdemeanours or minor offenses).

Dual nationality

  • Dual nationality is fully embraced by the majority of countries (31 countries, including most recently Brazil, Moldova, Norway and Turkey), while 13 other countries only allow dual nationality based on exceptions.

EVIDENCE BASE

Policies and integration outcomes: What do we learn from robust studies?

Removing the obstacles to citizenship that immigrants face around the world is helping immigrants not only to become national citizens, but also to feel more like equal members of society. Nationality policies are one of the best studied areas of integration policy, with over 30 independent studies linking MIPEX with key integration outcomes.

Immigrants’ chances to naturalise as citizens are strongly influenced by the policies in place, especially on dual nationality, birthright citizenship and the legal and procedural requirements. Inclusive policies can also boost some immigrants’ acceptance, socio-economic status, political participation, sense of belonging and trust.

LOADING

New results of MIPEX
(2014-2020)

We are pleased to announce that the new results of MIPEX (2014-2020) will be published by the end of 2020. MIPEX 2020 will include 52 European and non-European countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU28, India, Japan, Mexico, US and much more. Stay tuned!