IMMIGRANT CITIZENS SURVEY How immigrants experience integration in 15 European cities

PARTNERS Belgium King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) France Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (Science Po) France Terre d’Asile Germany Research Unit of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration (SVR, Germany) Hungary MTAKI (MTA Etnikai-nemzeti Kisebbségkutató Intézet) Menedék Hungarian Association for Migrants Managing Partners King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) Migration Policy Group (MPG) Co-funders: European Commission King Baudouin Foundation Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Oak Foundation Italy Fondazione Ismu – Initiatives and Studies on Multiethnicity Portugal High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue (ACIDI) Spain University of Leicester Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas Fundacion CIDOB Branding and Design:

EMPLOYMENT LANGUAGES CIVIC AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION FAMILY REUNION LONG - TERM RESIDENCE CITIZENSHIP

HIGHLIGHTS  Have you ever applied to become a citizen?  When did you apply?  Which procedure did you use?  What happened to your application?  What problems did you have applying?  How has becoming a citizen helped you personally?  Do you want to become a citizen? Why not?  How might becoming a citizen help you personally?

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A CITIZEN? Most temporary residents are not only interested in becoming long-term residents in the countries where they live. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A CITIZEN? Around 3 out of 4 immigrants are or want to become citizens

WHY DO YOU NOT WANT TO BECOME A CITIZEN? The few temporary residents who do not want to naturalise often do not see the value of citizenship or have other reasons that are specific to their country. In all other countries, one major reason (42- 57%) is that the foreigners who do want to naturalise, especially long-term residents, do not see the difference between their current status and citizenship. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

WHY DO YOU NOT WANT TO BECOME A CITIZEN? Major reasons not to naturalise are difficult procedures in France and restrictions on dual nationality in Germany. The few uninterested in citizenship often either do not see the difference with their current status or face specific policy obstacles.

MOST IMMIGRANTS ARE OR WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS Overall, around three out of four non-EU immigrants in most ICS cities said that they are or want to become citizens. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

MOST IMMIGRANTS ARE OR WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS Naturalisation is more common among established immigration countries and among facilitated groups in Hungary and Spain.

AFTER HOW MANY YEARS LIVING IN THE COUNTRYDID YOU APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP? In several cases, immigrants who are eligible for naturalisation take years to apply. Applicants who meet the residence requirement must not only be interested in applying, but also fulfil all the other legal requirements. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

AFTER HOW MANY YEARS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY DID YOU APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP? Immigrants who are eligible for naturalisation often take years to apply.

AFTER 20+ YEARS IN THE COUNTRY, HAVE YOU BECOME A CITIZEN? The ICS results raise concerns over the full long-term inclusion of foreign residents in several countries. Immigrants who are not citizens of their country of residence or other EU countries are mostly absent from national politics, possibly exposed to the threat of expulsion, and, in several EU countries, excluded from public sector jobs, some professions, and full social rights. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

AFTER 20+ YEARS IN THE COUNTRY, HAVE YOU BECOME A CITIZEN?

DID YOU HAVE PROBLEMS APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP? When surveyed immigrants did apply for citizenship, they reported the most problems with the policy or implementation in cities in France, Portugal, Italy and Belgium, especially Antwerp. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

DID YOU HAVE PROBLEMS APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP?

HOW HAS CITIZENSHIP HELPED YOU? Once immigrants naturalise, they feel the effects of citizenship in their own lives, their jobs, and often their local communities. CITIZENSHIP Key Findings

HOW HAS CITIZENSHIP HELPED YOU? Citizenship helps immigrants feel more settled, get better jobs, and even get more educated and involved.

IMMIGRANT CITIZENS SURVEY How immigrants experience integration in 15 European cities Branding and Design: