European Citizenship & Residency News
English briefings for the European citizenship and residency tracks hosted on Prep2Go.
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Spain Tax Refunds: Six-Month Deadline and Automatic Interest for Delays
The Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) is legally required to process tax refunds within six months. If this deadline is missed, interest will be automatically added to your refund. Applicants can check the status online using an electronic certificate, Cl@ve PIN, or NIE/DNI.
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Estonia's Population: 1.36 Million People from 224 Nationalities as of January 1st
Statistics Estonia reports the country's population was 1,360,745 as of January 1st, comprising 224 different ethnic nationalities. Estonians constitute 68.5%, Russians 20.2%, and other nationalities 10.8%, highlighting a diverse demographic landscape.
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Sweden Democrats Propose Retroactive Conversion of Permanent Residency to Temporary Status
The Sweden Democrats, led by Jimmie Åkesson, have announced plans to convert all permanent residency permits (PRP) into temporary ones if the party returns to power. This proposal would apply retroactively, meaning even those who currently hold permanent residency in Sweden could see their status changed, requiring per
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Spain Reintroduces Schengen Border Checks, Drawing Criticism from Italy
Spain has reinstated border controls at its Schengen Area frontiers, a move that has drawn criticism from Italy. This change means travelers and residents crossing Spanish land, sea, and air borders will now undergo document checks, potentially leading to increased travel times and delays.
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Estonia Detains 99 Individuals in Two Weeks, Detention Facilities Overwhelmed
Estonian police recently detained 99 individuals without legal grounds for stay, as confirmed by Indrek Aru of the PPA. This surge has led to overcrowding and reported conflicts within detention facilities, underscoring the importance of always carrying valid residency documents.
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Sweden: Swedish Democrats Announce Plans for Stricter Work Permit and Citizenship Rules
The Swedish Democrats party, through Ludwig Aspling, has announced plans to tighten requirements for work permits and citizenship in Sweden. While specific details are pending, the general trend indicates stricter conditions for foreign workers and residents, urging current applicants to check existing rules.
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Swedish Permanent Residency Denied to Citizen's Spouse, Despite Shared Child
Sweden's Migrationsverket denied permanent residency to the spouse of a Swedish citizen, even though the couple shares a child. This case, reported by The Local, highlights that family ties alone do not automatically guarantee permanent residence.
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Portugal's President Reiterates Call to Combat Illegal Immigration; Decree Under Constitutional Review
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has reiterated his call to "actively combat" illegal immigration. He declined to comment on a decree regarding the return of foreigners, which is now before the Constitutional Court. For legal residents, this is political background, not an immediate change to procedures.
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Monthly update on June 2026: Over 1,200 Golden Visa Investors Challenge New Nationality Law Amid AIMA Delays
In June 2026, a consortium of law firms filed a formal complaint on behalf of 1,260 Golden Visa investors against Portugal's new nationality law, arguing it unfairly penalizes them for multi-year administrative delays. The legal action comes as Portugal's immigration agency
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Monthly update on June 2026: Finland Approves Citizenship Test, Norway Reports Two-Year Waits for Permanent Residence
June 2026 saw major policy shifts across the Nordic region. Finland's parliament approved a new Citizenship Act introducing a mandatory test from 2027, while Norway's immigration agency reported processing times for permanent residence now exceed two years. Denmark also drafted
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Monthly update on June 2026: Spain's Regularization Program Closes with 1 Million+ Applicants, New Integration Plan Launched
Spain's mass regularization program concluded on June 30, drawing over one million applications—double the government's forecast. In response, the government launched a new €500 million Integration and Citizenship Plan, while the high volume of applicants is causing significant
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Weekly update on July 9, 2026: Quiet policy week — official Spanish residence rules still in force
No major headline immigration changes this week. Below are the official Spanish residence, extranjería, and nationality rules still in force. A quiet policy week for Spain immigration. No new laws or decrees were issued. Here is what remains in force: the real-estate Golden Visa
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Weekly update on July 6, 2026: 1,260 ARI investors challenge nationality law change; AIMA task force winds down with 30,000 cases left
A consortium of 1,260 Golden Visa investors has filed a formal complaint with Portugal's Ombudsman over a law that doubled the citizenship waiting period from 5 to 10 years. Separately, AIMA's emergency backlog task force is closing before August 2026 with 30,000 complex cases tr
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Weekly update on July 5, 2026: Sweden abolishes permanent residency for asylum holders, reporting duty, teen-deportation bill to parliament
Sweden's immigration overhaul takes effect from 12 July: permanent residency ends for asylum-based permit holders, six agencies must report suspected undocumented residents from 13 July, and a bill raising the dependent age to 21 goes to parliament on 13 August.
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Weekly update on June 30, 2026: Spain's regularization program closes with 1 million applications — double the forecast
Spain's extraordinary regularization scheme shut its registration window on June 30, 2026, drawing over 1 million applications against an official estimate of 500,000. The one-year renewable permit covers undocumented migrants who lived in Spain for at least five months before De
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Weekly update on June 29, 2026: Golden Visa Complaints & Fund Redemptions
Golden Visa investors filed a formal complaint with Portugal's Ombudsman over the new Nationality Law. Meanwhile, investment funds see massive redemptions, and the government declares immigration under control.
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Weekly update on June 28, 2026: Swedish five-year permits and Danish legislative proposals
Sweden grants five-year residence permits to long-term residents and outlines salary requirement exceptions. Denmark publishes information on a proposed legislative amendment for Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60.
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Weekly update on June 25, 2026: Spain's Visa Shifts and Processing Delays
Spain faces massive immigration processing delays amid 900,000 regularization applications. Meanwhile, Golden Visa real estate changes loom and the Digital Nomad Visa surges in popularity.