The Portuguese Parliament has once again approved a revision of the citizenship law, which tightens naturalization rules; however, the new provisions have not yet taken effect and must still undergo further procedural steps. This was reported by Portuguese media and international publications covering the repeat vote following previous remarks by the Constitutional Court.
According to published reports, the new text of the law was approved on April 1, 2026. It is a revised version of the reform that Parliament had already approved in October 2025, but some of its provisions were subsequently challenged through constitutional proceedings. As a result, lawmakers revisited the document and voted in favor of the amended version.
According to specialized legal reviews and publications on the reform, the key idea behind the changes is to increase the residency period required to obtain citizenship from five to ten years for most foreigners. For citizens of CPLP countries—the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries—a more lenient requirement of seven years was discussed. The reform also includes stricter integration requirements and changes to the rules governing the loss of citizenship in certain cases.
It is important to note, however, that even after this new parliamentary approval, the law is not yet in effect. As before, the bill must go through the remaining formal stages, including presidential review and publication in the Diário da República. Until then, the current rules remain in effect in Portugal, under which the standard path to naturalization for most applicants remains five years.
Thus, the information that the Portuguese Parliament has approved a new citizenship law is generally confirmed. However, it is more accurate to speak not of the new rules coming into force, but of the re-approval by Parliament of a reform that remains in the final stages of formalization.
Starting April 1, 2026, Japan will tighten the rules for obtaining citizenship through naturalization: the minimum residency requirement for foreigners will be increased from 5 to 10 years. This was announced on March 27 by Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi.
In addition to doubling the residency requirement, the government is also extending the period for verifying applicants’ compliance with civic obligations. According to Japanese media reports, the period for verifying tax payments will be increased to 5 years, and for social insurance contributions—to 2 years instead of the previous 1 year. The new requirements will also apply to applications already submitted.
Until now, the basic rule for naturalization in Japan has been continuous residence in the country for at least 5 years. The Japanese government explains the tightening of requirements by the need to better verify the integration of foreigners and their compatibility with Japanese society. This news is particularly notable given the high international status of the Japanese passport. In the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, Japan ranks among the world leaders in passport power, sharing 2nd place with access to 190 destinations visa-free or with simplified entry.
According to a report by Relocation.com.ua, Sweden has established a timeline for gradually tightening its citizenship rules: most of the new requirements are proposed to take effect on June 6, 2026; mandatory language and social studies tests—in October 2027; and the mechanism for revoking citizenship in certain cases—on January 1, 2028. This is outlined in a report by KPMG Sweden, prepared based on government initiatives and investigative materials submitted to the Swedish Ministry of Justice.
Under the proposed changes, the standard residency requirement in Sweden before applying for citizenship will increase to eight years from the current five. For spouses of Swedish citizens, the period of cohabitation required to qualify for application will rise to seven years instead of three, provided that the Swedish spouse has held citizenship for at least five years.
At the same time, a requirement for financial self-sufficiency is being introduced for the first time. Applicants will be required to demonstrate a stable income from employment or business, and prolonged receipt of unemployment benefits may serve as grounds for denial. Exceptions are proposed for retirees and students with good academic standing.
Starting in October 2027, a mandatory state test is planned to be introduced, which will assess not only knowledge of the Swedish language but also understanding of the structure of Swedish society. As an alternative, high scores on the Swedish for Immigrants program may be accepted.
Another area of tightening concerns the so-called “good conduct.” Citizenship may be denied to individuals convicted of or suspected of serious crimes, as well as repeat offenders. Separately, the commission proposed allowing the revocation of citizenship for individuals with dual citizenship starting January 1, 2028, in cases of particularly serious crimes or the submission of knowingly false information when applying for a passport.
It is important to note that this currently refers specifically to the government’s package of proposals and the timeline for their anticipated implementation, rather than a fully completed legislative reform. As early as January 2025, the Swedish government stated that it wanted to make the process of obtaining citizenship more stringent and link it to deeper integration into society.
https://relocation.com.ua/sweden-tightens-citizenship-rules/
Turkey is streamlining certain administrative procedures for foreign investors participating in the citizenship-by-investment program, while the basic eligibility requirements for the program remain unchanged. The most popular option still involves purchasing real estate worth at least $400,000 with a commitment not to sell the property for three years; alternative routes include a bank deposit, the purchase of government bonds, stock market investments, or fixed capital investments starting at $500,000.
According to industry consultants, in 2026 the program continues to operate without requiring long-term residence in the country or a language exam, and the total processing time for citizenship is typically about six months after investment confirmation. Market participants cite clearer and more centralized coordination of procedures through investment and immigration authorities as one of the practical simplifications, which reduces some of the bureaucratic burden on applicants.
Interest in the Turkish program remains steady amid overall foreign demand for local real estate, although the market itself cooled significantly in 2025. According to Daily Sabah, citing official statistics, foreigners purchased 21,534 residential properties in Turkey in 2025—the lowest figure in nine years.
Russian citizens led the list of buyers, followed by Iran, Ukraine, Germany, and Iraq. The top 10 also included Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan.
The Romanian authorities have extended the transition period for submitting applications to regain Romanian citizenship without the mandatory B1-level Romanian language certificate by one more year.
The transition period itself has been moved from March 15, 2026, to March 15, 2027. Thus, over the next 12 months, applicants under this procedure will still be able to begin the process without providing a language certificate at the application stage.
The requirement to demonstrate proficiency in Romanian at the B1 level was introduced by Law No. 14 of March 12, 2025, and the agency’s leadership initiated steps to postpone its practical implementation.
This does not mean the cancellation of the language requirement itself, but rather an extension of the transition period for another year.
Source: https://relocation.com.ua
From May 1, 2026, France will increase a number of immigration fees and introduce new payments for foreigners, which will increase the cost of moving and legalizing in the country. The changes are provided for in the French budget law for 2026, and the increase in stamp duty on citizenship applications is already reflected on the official Service-Public portal.
According to the updated rules, the cost of the first residence permit will increase from €200 to €300, the preferential rate for certain categories will increase from €50 to €100, and the cost of obtaining a duplicate or making changes to a residence permit card will increase from €25 to €50. At the same time, the renewal of most residence permits will remain at €200, and €50 for preferential categories.
One of the most notable changes will be the increase in the stamp duty for applying for French citizenship to €255 from €55. In addition, a new fee of €100 will be introduced for an autorisation provisoire de séjour (temporary residence permit), as well as a €40 fee for exchanging a foreign driver’s license for a French one.
The increase in fees comes against the backdrop of broader budget consolidation in France. The country’s budget for 2026 is designed to reduce the deficit to 5% of GDP from an estimated 5.4% a year earlier. Against this backdrop, part of the administrative costs are being passed on to applicants.
