Global Pathways to Citizenship on the Decline
Across the globe, immigration remains one of the most influential—and divisive—issues in politics, increasingly shaping voter preferences and national policy agendas. This is especially evident in today’s landscape, where many governments have adopted more restrictive approaches not only to immigration but also to the acquisition of citizenship. A key area of focus is the tightening of eligibility requirements for naturalization—the legal process through which non-citizens acquire citizenship after fulfilling conditions such as long-term residency, language proficiency, and civic knowledge. However, some countries have also moved to limit birthright citizenship (jus soli), which grants citizenship based on place of birth, while others have curtailed citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis), which is based on lineage. These shifts have significant implications for who is permitted to belong, ultimately reshaping national identity, social inclusion, and the meaning of citizenship itself.
Recommended Citation: Alexandria Virginski, Global Pathways to Citizenship on the Decline, 49 Fordham Int'l L.J. 33 (2026).