Policy
Editorial reactions to EU-level and national legal changes that affect young third-country nationals — neutral, source-linked, dated. Not legal advice.
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EU-level In force
GEAS — what the EU asylum reform means for regular migration
The Common European Asylum System (GEAS) is phasing in from 2026. At first glance it concerns people seeking asylum or international protection — not vamosa's audience. There are, however, three places where GEAS can spill over into the lives of people with regular residence titles, visa applicants and students. This entry names those places briefly and points to the original texts.
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National Adopted
Sweden — Labour migration reform tightens wage floor, mandates health insurance (in force 1 June 2026)
On 18 March 2026 the Swedish Parliament approved a labour-migration reform that takes effect on 1 June 2026. It raises the wage requirement for non-EU work permits, makes comprehensive health insurance mandatory for the duration of the permit, and broadens the grounds on which Migrationsverket can refuse a work permit when employers fail to meet regulatory obligations. The reform continues a multi-year tightening cycle and is the most consequential change since the 2023 wage-threshold reform.
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National In force
Italy — Constitutional Court confirms restrictive citizenship-by-descent rules
On 12 March 2026 the Italian Constitutional Court rejected challenges against the 2024–2025 reform of citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis). The rules stand and apply retroactively: people born abroad who also hold another nationality are treated as never having acquired Italian citizenship — unless one of three narrow exceptions applies. This affects mainly descendants of Italian emigrants in Latin America and elsewhere who had been preparing applications under the previous regime.
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National In force
France — French-language and civic-exam requirements raised for residence permits
From 1 January 2026, third-country nationals applying for a first multi-year residence permit in France must demonstrate A2 French and pass a civic examination. The first carte de résident now requires B1 French — up from A2 under the previous regime. Several long-standing exceptions remain. The changes apply across study, work and family-reunification routes that fall under the Republican Integration Contract (CIR).