Obtaining citizenship in Europe: what requirements have been tightened for Ukrainians
European countries are increasingly strict about the naturalization of foreigners, so for Ukrainians who plan to stay abroad for a long time, the path to citizenship in 2026 requires much more thorough preparation than a few years ago. Simply residing in the country for a certain period of time is often no longer enough, since migration services assess not only documents, income, and legality of stay, but also how well a person speaks the language, understands the state system, knows the basic rights and obligations of citizens, and is able to navigate the rules of the society they want to become a part of.
What is a civic test and why is it important
After the full-scale war, many Ukrainians received temporary protection or other grounds for residence in European countries, but such status does not automatically lead to a passport. Naturalization remains a separate procedure with its own deadlines, requirements, exceptions, and checks. In 2026, language exams, integration courses, and civic tests—tests of knowledge about a country, its institutions, history, political system, and everyday rules—are of particular importance.
A civic test is a civics test that is designed to show whether an applicant understands the basics of the political system of the country where they want to obtain citizenship. Unlike a language test, which tests the ability to read, write, listen, and speak, a civic test focuses on the content of life in a particular country: how parliament works, what rights a citizen has, what responsibilities he or she assumes, what historical events are considered fundamental to national memory, and what rules determine the daily life of society.
Such tests can have different formats. In some countries, it is a separate written exam with a fixed number of questions, in others, it is part of a broader integration procedure. In some places, it is enough for the applicant to confirm the language and fulfill the standard migration conditions, but the general trend in 2026 is obvious: European countries want to see not only a person with the required period of residence, but an applicant who understands the rules of the country and can participate in its public life.
Germany: citizenship test and confirmation of integration
In Germany, naturalization is associated with the Einbürgerungstest – a standardized test that tests knowledge of the state, law, society, history and democratic principles. The applicant must show that he understands the basics of the German political system, knows the rights and obligations of citizens, is guided by the rules of life and accepts the constitutional order of the country.
In addition to the test, it is necessary to confirm knowledge of the German language, meet the requirements for the period of legal residence, financial independence and the absence of serious offenses. After the 2024 changes, Germany allowed dual citizenship, which became important for many foreigners, including Ukrainians, but this did not cancel the basic requirements for integration.
For Ukrainians in Germany, it is important not to confuse the different tests. Leben in Deutschland and Einbürgerungstest have similar content and are often perceived as close procedures, but before submitting, it is necessary to clarify which document the relevant authority accepts in a particular situation. An error at this stage can delay the submission or force the applicant to retake the required exam.
Czech Republic: Two exams and stricter preparation
The Czech Republic has one of the most structured naturalization procedures in Europe, as the applicant must take two separate exams: a language test and a test of knowledge about Czech society, the state and culture. This approach means that a person must not only communicate in Czech, but also understand how the country is structured, which institutions make decisions, which historical events are important for society, and which rules determine everyday life.
The language exam covers several skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. For many applicants, the difficulty lies not in the individual tasks, but in the combination of all parts, since the exam tests the real ability to use the language in different situations.
A separate civic component requires knowledge of the constitutional system, administrative division, government bodies, history, culture, traditions, and basic social rules. Ukrainians planning to apply for Czech citizenship in 2026 should consider not only the time for study, but also possible queues for registration, since the demand for exams remains high.
Poland: no separate civics test, but with a language barrier
Poland remains one of the countries where there is no separate civics test for naturalization on knowledge of history, political system or social order. For most applicants, the main test remains Polish at level B1, as well as meeting standard conditions regarding the period of legal residence, stable income, housing and the absence of problems with the law.
For Ukrainians, the Polish direction often seems more understandable due to linguistic proximity and a large Ukrainian community, but this does not mean that the procedure is simple. The B1 certificate must be official, and preparing for the exam takes time, especially if a person communicates mainly in Ukrainian or Russian in everyday life and does not use Polish every day at work or in school.
The standard path through the voivodeship usually requires a clearly assembled package of documents, confirmation of stable stay in the country and a language certificate. There is also the possibility of obtaining citizenship through a decision of the President of Poland, but this path is more difficult to predict, as it does not give the applicant the same level of predictability as the administrative procedure.
France: new civic exam and more expensive procedure
In 2026, France became one of the countries where integration requirements have become noticeably stricter. From January 1, 2026, a mandatory Examen civique was introduced for certain procedures, which applies not only to some applicants for naturalization, but also to those who apply for the first multi-year residence permit.
The civic exam consists of 40 questions and lasts 45 minutes. Its content covers the history of France, the values of the Republic, the rights and obligations of citizens, the country’s place in the European Union, as well as practical situations that a person may encounter in everyday life. This format shows that France is shifting the emphasis from simple residence to a deeper understanding of the social order.
It is important for applicants to note that requirements may vary depending on the procedure. A person applying for a long-term residence permit, residence card or citizenship may have a different list of mandatory actions, so preparation should start by checking your own category, and not by consulting friends.
An additional factor is higher administrative fees. From May 1, 2026, the first issuance of a carte de séjour or carte de résident costs 350 euros, and the naturalization fee is 255 euros. For families where several people apply for documents, the financial burden can be significant.
Great Britain: Life in the UK Test remains mandatory
In the United Kingdom, the Life in the UK Test is retained for naturalization – a standardized exam that tests knowledge of British history, society, state institutions, traditions and civic principles. This test is one of the most famous examples of civics, as it has long been part of the citizenship procedure.
In addition to the Life in the UK Test, applicants must prove their English language skills, meet residency requirements, comply with rules on the number of days they have been abroad and meet a good faith test. The British system closely monitors residence history, so frequent or prolonged absences can affect the result.
In 2026, it is important for applicants to separate the current rules from political statements or possible future reforms. Only the requirements that are already in force at the time of application are relevant for application.
The Netherlands: an integration system instead of a single exam
In the Netherlands, naturalisation is closely linked to the inburgering procedure, which is not reduced to a single test. The system includes language modules, a test of knowledge of Dutch society and, depending on the situation, additional elements related to work, study or participation in public life.
One of the key components is the KNM, i.e. a test of knowledge of Dutch society. This block covers state institutions, rules of conduct, social norms, everyday situations and a basic understanding of how a person should interact with the country’s administrative system.
For Ukrainians, the complexity of the Dutch approach lies in the fact that the integration procedure has several parts and can change depending on the status of the applicant. Therefore, it is worth using only up-to-date materials, since old textbooks, forums or instructions may not meet current requirements.
Ireland: an exception without a language and civics exam
Ireland remains one of the few European exceptions where there is no separate language exam or civics test for naturalization. For applicants, the main conditions remain a sufficient period of legal residence, continuity of stay before applying, good reputation and intention to maintain contact with Ireland after obtaining citizenship.
This model looks simpler compared to countries where you need to take several exams, but this does not mean automatic receipt of a passport. The Irish authorities still check the documents, migration history, legality of stay and behavior of the applicant.
For Ukrainians, the advantage of Ireland is the predictability of the procedure, since the absence of a separate test removes some of the burden from preparation. At the same time, the main importance is the correctly calculated period of residence and a complete package of documents.
Belgium: high cost and regional differences
In 2026, Belgium became more expensive for applicants for citizenship due to an increase in the registration fee to 1,000 euros. However, the complexity of the Belgian system lies not only in the cost, but also in the combination of federal rules with regional features.
The country has a complex administrative structure, so issues of integration, language training and confirmation of participation in public life may depend on the region of residence. The applicant needs to check not only the general conditions for acquiring citizenship, but also local requirements, which may concern integration courses, language level or documents confirming actual life in the country.
For Ukrainians in Belgium, it is especially important to find out in advance what evidence of integration is accepted in a particular region. This can be education, work, taking courses, knowledge of one of the official languages, or other documents confirming a real connection with the country.
What Ukrainians should check before submitting documents for citizenship
Preparation for citizenship in 2026 should begin not with general tables on the Internet, but with checking the requirements of a specific country and your own status. The same period of residence can provide different opportunities depending on the type of permit, marital status, reasons for stay, work history, and local rules.
Before submitting documents for citizenship, you need to clarify the current language level, civic test format, income requirements, period of legal residence, rules for traveling outside the country, the amount of state fees, and the list of documents for your category. France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany require special attention, where integration checks are of significant importance or have changed in recent years.
European citizenship in 2026 no longer looks like a technical procedure after a few years of residence. For Ukrainians planning to apply for a passport, it is key not only to collect documents, but also to prepare in advance for language and integration requirements so that the procedure is not stopped due to a test, certificate or incorrectly assessed status.
