Published: May 2026 · Prep2Go
Quick Answer
Germany: five years of residence is the minimum for standard naturalisation (the three-year fast track was abolished on 30 October 2025), and dual citizenship has been allowed since 2024. Portugal is no longer a five-year path: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026) sets 10 years (7 for EU/CPLP nationals); applications pending on that date follow the old law. Sweden requires 8 years from 6 June 2026, plus self-support and Swedish language and society knowledge. France stays at five years but now requires B2 French and a civic exam. Spain can be two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and people of Sephardic origin. Which clock applies depends on your nationality and route — requirements can change, so verify with the authority.
Prep funnel: visa guides → language prep on Prep2Go
Use this hub to pick a country, read the full visa-to-passport guide, then open the matching Prep2Go exam hub for structured practice.
- Germany — EU Blue Card → citizenship (2026) · then DTZ B1 hub (integration-style German B1).
- Portugal — D8 visa → citizenship (2026) · then CIPLE A2 hub.
- Spain — Digital Nomad Visa → citizenship (2026) · then DELE A2 hub.
- France — five-year naturalisation with B2 French from Jan 2026 · DELF B2 hub · detail DELF B2 for French citizenship (2026).
- Italy — ten-year residency route · CELI 2 / B1 hub · companion guide How to pass CELI 2 for Italian citizenship.
Exam-only comparison (no visa math): Four citizenship exams compared · EU language rules overview.
Master comparison table
| Country | Standard residence period | Language level | Dual citizenship | Typical language proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 5 years | B1 | Yes (since 2024) | DTZ / Goethe B1 / telc B1 |
| France | 5 years | B2 + civic QCM | Yes | DELF B2 / TCF B2 + examen civique |
| Netherlands | 5 years | A2 | Usually no | Inburgering |
| Belgium | 5 years | A2–B1 (region) | Yes | NT2 / region-specific |
| Portugal | 10 years standard (7 EU/CPLP) | A2 + civic knowledge | Yes | CIPLE A2 (one accepted proof) |
| Spain | 10 years (5 refugees; 2 Ibero-American, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Sephardic) | A2 + CCSE | Usually no | DELE A2 + CCSE |
| Italy | 10 years | B1 | Limited cases | CELI 2 B1 |
| Sweden | 8 years (from 6 June 2026) | Swedish language + society knowledge (ages 16–66) | Yes | Approved Swedish qualification or test; society test from Aug 2026 |
Figures describe standard naturalisation by legal residency. Marriage, descent, and discretionary routes follow different clocks — confirm eligibility with a lawyer.
What changed in 2026 — why search interest spiked
Portugal: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (published 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026) set standard naturalisation at 10 years (7 for EU and CPLP nationals), counted from the first residence permit, and added a knowledge requirement on culture, history, national symbols, rights and duties and political organisation. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the old law — read the D8 → citizenship guide for how this interacts with remote-worker visas and CIPLE A2.
France: citizenship language proof moved to B2 level from January 2026 — DELF B2 / TCF B2 territory — while the calendar can still be five years.
Sweden: from 6 June 2026 the general rule is 8 years of residence (2 for Nordic and former Swedish citizens, 5 if stateless, 7 for refugees, applicants under 21, and spouses or cohabitants who have lived with a Swedish citizen for five years). The rules also add a self-support requirement and Swedish language and society knowledge for ages 16–66; the society test starts in August 2026 and the language test no earlier than autumn 2027. The new rules also apply to applications pending on 6 June 2026 (Migrationsverket).
Germany: 5-year standard route
Five years of residence is the minimum for standard naturalisation; the three-year fast track was abolished on 30 October 2025. EU Blue Card holders may qualify for a settlement permit after the applicable qualifying period — shorter with B1 German — if the other requirements are met (see make-it-in-germany.com). A settlement permit is not citizenship: the naturalisation clock and its requirements (B1 German, the Leben in Deutschland test, self-support) are separate.
Blue Card → citizenship walkthrough · Which B1 certificate counts? · practice: DTZ B1 hub.
France: five years, hardest language bar
B2 French is a full level above the A2 exams used in Portugal and Spain. Budget months of structured prep, not weeks — then pair it with the civic-knowledge requirements that apply to your case.
DELF B2 hub · DELF B2 citizenship rule stack (2026).
Netherlands & Belgium: five years, different trade-offs
Netherlands: low A2 integration exam, but dual nationality is often unavailable — check loss-of-nationality rules before committing.
Belgium: federal pathway with heavy regional variation; timelines slip in administration more often than in Germany.
Portugal & Spain: longer clocks, easier A2 exams
Portugal D8 guide · CIPLE hub. EU and CPLP nationals need 7 years instead of 10 under the 2026 law — see your lawyer's eligibility memo.
Spain DNV guide · DELE A2 hub. Ibero-American nationality clauses can collapse the wait — confirm consulate guidance.
Italy: ten years and B1
CELI hub · CELI 2 guide article. Descent cases (*jure sanguinis*) are unrelated — different funnel entirely.
Which path fits your situation?
- Skilled worker optimising for dual citizenship + predictable employment immigration: start with Germany's Blue Card narrative, then DTZ B1.
- Already embedded in France: five-year route stays attractive only if you commit early to B2.
- Brazilian / CPLP: compare Portugal flexibility vs Spain speed for eligible nationalities.
- Dual passport non-negotiable: eliminate Netherlands / most Spain routes before deep planning.
Language exams you can prep inside Prep2Go
| Country | Exam | Level | Illustrative prep window (varies widely) | EU hub link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | DTZ / Goethe / telc | B1 | 8–16 weeks from solid A2 | /dtz-b1 |
| France | DELF / TCF + examen civique | B2 + civic MC | 3–6 months from B1 | /delf-a2 |
| Portugal | CIPLE | A2 | 4–10 weeks | /ciple-a2 |
| Spain | DELE A2 + CCSE | Language A2 + civic MC | 4–12 weeks both tests | /dele-a2 |
| Italy | CELI 2 | B1 | 8–16 weeks from A2 | /celi-a2 |
Spain: naturalisation normally requires both DELE A2 (unless you qualify for a language exemption) and the CCSE civic knowledge exam — plan preparation time for vocabulary and syllabus facts, not only DELE. Our DELE + CCSE Anki bundle covers DELE A2 exam vocabulary with Castilian audio — review sample cards on the shop before buying.
France: naturalisation by decree requires both B2 French (DELF/TCF/TEF) and a passed examen civique (40 questions, 32 correct to pass). Declaration through marriage needs B2 French but not the civic exam. First multi-year cards need A2 plus the civic exam and first resident cards B1 plus the civic exam; renewals are exempt. Prep2Go covers the language track; civic syllabus: DELF + examen civique guide.
Sources & further reading: Europarl citizenship overview; Germany Make-it-in-Germany naturalisation; Fragomen on France language/civic tests; Portugal nationality commentary (verify amendments); Sweden reform summaries; Netherlands naturalisation explainers.
Information reflects mid-2026 drafting for exam-prep readers — citizenship law changes weekly. Confirm facts with a regulated immigration lawyer before booking moves or exams.