If you have a criminal record, you cannot become a citizen of any of these five EU nations.

Your chances of being granted EU citizenship in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark can be significantly impacted by your criminal history.
After committing an offense, you must wait years before you can apply for citizenship in Sweden.
Germany has stringent laws, particularly for those who have committed antisemitic and terrorist offenses.

citizen of any of these five EU nations.

For example, Germany strongly opposes the concept of “dual citizenship”, and states that foreigners who wish to obtain German citizenship must renounce their previous citizenship. The German government will allow dual citizenship starting in 2023, as part of the country’s efforts to reform its immigration system, according to Schengen News. However, there is one requirement, and judging by current developments, it will be more stringent: “good behavior”. Many European countries do not grant citizenship to applicants with criminal records, especially those related to terrorism and anti-Semitism, which we will discuss below:

Austria

To obtain Austrian citizenship, several conditions must be met, including ten years of continuous residence in Austria, high income and language skills, and “good character” in Austria. Another requirement on the list is the absence of criminal records, which is indicative of Austria’s policy of zero tolerance for people with a criminal record. Applicants must provide evidence of a criminal record to support their claim and qualify as an applicant for Austrian citizenship.

Germany

The German government also imposes strict requirements on ex-prisoners, who are therefore unable to obtain citizenship. All German citizens are required not to have a criminal record or be subject to criminal proceedings or investigations. They must wait for the court’s decision before proceeding with the application. However, those who commit minor crimes can still obtain citizenship. These offenses include: Punished under the Jugendgerichtsgesetz (Jugendgerichtsgesetz). The daily rate is $90. If the applicant successfully completes his sentence, he can be sentenced for three months. However, not all three-month sentences are forgiven by the German government. Those who commit racist and anti-Semitic crimes do not get a second chance.

Denmark

Criminal offences can affect the chances of obtaining Danish citizenship. Defendants cannot obtain Danish citizenship until the charges are dropped. Offences that can lose the chance of obtaining Danish citizenship include unconditional or suspended prison sentences, outpatient treatment, crimes against the state, including terrorism, and permanent expulsion from Denmark. In addition, people convicted of gang crimes, violence against children, or sex crimes cannot obtain Danish citizenship.

Sweden

The laws on obtaining citizenship in Sweden are slightly different from those already mentioned in this article. According to the Swedish Ministry of Migration, information on applicants is collected from three different sources depending on the type of crime committed. For example, the Swedish Enforcement Agency publishes information on candidates’ outstanding debts, and the police have data on whether applicants have committed or are suspected of committing a crime. In addition, the Swedish Security Agency provides information on security checks. In Sweden, even those who have committed a crime have the opportunity to become Swedish citizens if they wait the required period. Applicants who are hit with fines of between 30 and 100 times their daily earnings will have to wait one to three years before they can apply for Swedish citizenship.

Netherlands

If the applicant has not committed a crime in the five years prior to submitting the application, he or she can obtain Dutch citizenship. These restrictions apply to all types of sentences imposed by criminal courts, prosecutors, and prosecutors. This means that applicants who have been arrested, fined, or convicted must wait five years before applying for citizenship. Earlier this year, four political parties in the Netherlands announced plans to tighten the citizenship laws, increasing the minimum residency requirement for citizenship from five to 10 years.