Civio investigations
citizenship
Obtaining the nationality of a country is a long, drawn-out, costly and obstacle-laden process for hundreds of thousands of people every year across Europe. We reveal the numerous hurdles they encounter along the way.
An Olympian transfer market
At least 25 athletes representing European countries at the Paris Olympics have been granted citizenship through expedited processes based on sporting merit.
People of no nation: how being stateless means living without rights
At least 381,000 people in the European Union have no official nationality, depriving them of fundamental rights.
Stranger in a native land
One third of the people Spain and Italy naturalised in 2022 were born there to foreign parents. In these countries, as in most of the European Union, such children must apply for citizenship after several years of residence. Other countries, such as Germany, recognise them as citizens at birth if the child鈥檚 parents are legal residents.
One small step for a few, one giant leap for the rest: how to become a European citizen
European Union countries naturalised just 2.64% of their non-national population in 2022. The process is full of obstacles and often takes years.