Moving to Europe With Kids in 2026: Every New Rule That Changes Your Family's Plans

Last checked: September 2026. Immigration rules across Europe have changed fast in the last 18 months, and more changes are planned, especially in the UK. Treat figures as a starting point for your own research.

If you started planning a move to Europe a year or two ago, some of what you read then is now out of date. In the space of about 12 months, several countries made it slower to become a citizen, harder to bring family members over, or more demanding on language skills. Portugal, Sweden, Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have all changed something important. The UK is preparing a bigger change for later this year.

None of this means Europe is closed to families. Work permits, family visas and remote-work visas still work. What has changed is mostly how many years it takes to settle for good, what you need to prove along the way, and how quickly your partner and children can join you. This guide puts the changes in one place, with what each means for a family and what to do now.

What changed in Europe in 2025–26? The quick overview

Country	What changed	From when	Families most affected
Portugal	Citizenship after 10 years for most non-EU nationals, up from 5. New rules for babies born there and for bringing a partner.	19 May 2026 (citizenship); 23 Oct 2025 (family rule)	Non-EU families on D7, D8 or work visas
Sweden	Citizenship after 8 years, up from 5. New income test and civics and language tests.	6 June 2026	Non-EU families planning to settle long term
Finland	Citizenship after 8 years, up from 5.	1 Oct 2024	Non-EU families planning to settle long term
United Kingdom	"Earned settlement" planned: 10 years as the starting point for permanent residence, up from 5.	Details due before end of 2026	Families on Skilled Worker and similar visas
Ireland	Higher income needed for an Irish citizen to bring a non-EU spouse and children.	12 June 2026	Mixed-nationality families; General Employment Permit holders
Spain	Golden Visa closed. Digital nomad visa income levels rose.	3 Apr 2025 (Golden Visa); Feb 2026 (income levels)	Investor families; remote-working families
France	Higher French levels (A2, B1, B2) and a new civics exam for longer residence cards and citizenship.	1 Jan 2026	Non-EU families planning to stay beyond the first years
Germany	3-year fast track to citizenship removed. 5 years is now the minimum.	30 Oct 2025	Highly integrated families hoping for early citizenship
Italy	Citizenship by descent limited, mostly to people with an Italian-born parent or grandparent.	28 Mar 2025	Families with Italian ancestry further back
Netherlands	30% tax-free allowance for skilled migrants drops to 27%.	1 Jan 2027	Families moving for a skilled job
EU / Schengen	Digital border checks (EES); travel authorisation (ETIAS) coming.	EES fully running since 10 Apr 2026; ETIAS expected late 2026	Families visiting before a move, or travelling on a non-EU passport

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What changed in each country, and what should families do now?

Portugal: longer road to citizenship, new rules for babies and partners

What changed: Under the new nationality law (Lei Orgânica 1/2026), most non-EU nationals now need 10 years of legal residence before they can apply for Portuguese citizenship. Nationals of EU countries and Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries need 7. Before, it was 5 years for everyone. The clock now starts on the date your first residence permit is issued, not the date you applied. Long processing delays therefore no longer count in your favour.

Two other changes hit families directly. A child born in Portugal to foreign parents now only gets Portuguese citizenship at birth if one parent has lived there legally for at least 5 years. Separately, since a law change in October 2025, holders of a D7 (passive income) or D8 (remote work) permit usually have to hold their permit for 2 years before they can bring a partner through family reunification in Portugal. This drops to 15 months for couples who can prove they lived together before the move. Minor children are exempt from the wait.

When: Citizenship changes from 19 May 2026. Applications filed before that date are assessed under the old rules. The 2-year family rule applies to requests started after 22 April 2026.

Who it affects: Non-EU families planning to make Portugal home for the long term, couples where one partner planned to follow later, and parents expecting a baby in the first years after the move.

What to do now: If you are moving as a couple on a D7 or D8, ask a Portuguese immigration lawyer whether your partner can apply at the consulate at the same time as you, rather than following later. Sources disagree on how this works in practice. Permanent residence is still possible after 5 years, so check whether that is enough for your family's plans. Our guide to Portugal's 2026 changes for families goes into detail, and the main Portugal family guide covers schools, healthcare and daily life.

Sweden: 8 years, an income test and new exams

What changed: Swedish citizenship now usually needs 8 years of residence, up from 5. Adults must show they can support themselves. That means an income of roughly SEK 20,000 a month before tax (three "income base amounts" a year), from work or a business, with limits on how much benefit support you received recently. Tests of Swedish and of knowledge about Swedish society are being introduced for people aged 16 to 66. The civics test started first; the language test follows later.

When: 6 June 2026. There was no transition period: applications not decided by that date are judged under the new rules.

Who it affects: Non-EU families who saw Sweden as a long-term home. The income test does not apply to children.

What to do now: Start Swedish early; free Swedish for immigrants (SFI) courses can count towards the language requirement. Keep records of residence and income from the start. Our Nordics family guide compares Sweden with Denmark, Norway and Finland. Finland already moved to 8 years for citizenship in October 2024, so the Nordic region as a whole now asks for a longer commitment.

United Kingdom: "earned settlement" is coming

What changed: The UK government plans to replace the current 5-year route to permanent residence (called indefinite leave to remain) with "earned settlement". Under the proposals, 10 years would be the starting point. People could reduce that time through things like a higher income or volunteering, and could face longer waits in other situations. The detailed policy has been delayed and is now due before the end of 2026. Separately, from 26 March 2027 settlement applicants, including partners and children aged 18 or over, will need English at B2 level (upper intermediate).

When: The 5-year route still applies for now. How people already on the path will be treated has not been decided.

Who it affects: Families on Skilled Worker, Global Talent and similar visas, and families planning to move to the UK in the next year or two.

What to do now: If you are close to 5 years in the UK, speak to an immigration adviser about timing. If you are still deciding, budget as if settlement could take 10 years: visa fees and the yearly Immigration Health Surcharge add up over a decade for a family of four.

Ireland: higher income needed to bring family

What changed: An Irish citizen who wants to bring a non-EU spouse and children to live in Ireland now needs a gross income of €75,000 over the previous 3 years (about €25,000 a year). Before, it was €40,000 over 3 years. General Employment Permit holders must now show they have suitable housing for the family members joining them.

When: 12 June 2026.

Who it affects: Mixed-nationality families, including families where one parent recently claimed Irish citizenship by descent. Also workers on a General Employment Permit.

What to do now: Check the current family reunification policy on the Irish Immigration Service website before you apply. Gather 3 years of income evidence early. If you are moving for work, ask whether your job qualifies for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, which has historically allowed family to join straight away and spouses to work.

Spain: Golden Visa gone, digital nomad visa still open

What changed: Spain closed its Golden Visa (residence through property investment) to new applicants on 3 April 2025. The digital nomad visa remains open. Its income level is linked to Spain's minimum wage, which rose in February 2026. The main applicant now needs roughly €2,850 a month, with extra for each family member: roughly €900 more for the first dependant and about €300 for each one after that.

When: Golden Visa closed 3 April 2025. New income levels from February 2026.

Who it affects: Investor families and remote-working families.

What to do now: If you work remotely, the digital nomad visa is now the main route for non-EU families without a Spanish employer. Our guides to moving to Spain with kids and digital nomad visas for families set out the income needed for a family of three, four or five.

France: tougher language rules and a civics exam

What changed: Since 1 January 2026, France expects a higher level of French at each stage. A2 (basic) for a first multi-year residence card, B1 (intermediate) for the 10-year resident card, and B2 (upper intermediate) for citizenship, up from B1. A new 40-question civics exam also applies, with a pass mark of 80%.

When: 1 January 2026.

Who it affects: Non-EU adults planning to stay beyond the first few years. Some groups are exempt from the tests for residence cards, including holders of the "talent passport" (common for skilled workers and their families), students and visitors. EU citizens are not affected. Children under 18 do not usually need their own residence permit in France.

What to do now: Start French lessons before you move, for both adults. The partner who is not working often has more time to learn, but check that both of you can reach the level you will need later. Our France family guide covers schools and the practical set-up.

Germany: no more 3-year fast track

What changed: Germany removed the option to become a citizen after 3 years for people with very strong integration (high-level German, strong volunteering or work record). The standard minimum is now 5 years of legal residence. Germany still allows dual citizenship.

When: 30 October 2025. There was no transition: pending fast-track applications were assessed under the new rules.

Who it affects: A small group of families aiming for early citizenship.

What to do now: Plan on 5 years at the earliest. For most families this changes little in daily life.

Italy: citizenship by descent narrowed

What changed: Italy restricted citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). For applications made after 27 March 2025, people born abroad generally need a closer link: broadly, a parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship, or an Italian parent who lived in Italy for 2 years before the child's birth. Descent from a great-grandparent is usually no longer enough. Italy's Constitutional Court upheld the law in 2026.

When: In force since 28 March 2025 (Law 74/2025).

Who it affects: Families, many in the Americas, who planned to use Italian ancestry for an EU passport.

What to do now: Check eligibility with an Italian citizenship lawyer before spending on documents. If a parent already holds Italian citizenship, ask about registering minor children. The current deadline for that declaration has been reported as 31 May 2029.

Netherlands: the 30% ruling becomes 27%

What changed: The Dutch "expat ruling" lets employers pay skilled migrants part of their salary tax-free to cover the extra costs of moving. From 1 January 2027, the maximum drops from 30% to 27% for most people whose ruling started from 2024. The minimum salary needed to qualify also rises, to roughly €50,400 a year in 2027 (lower for young master's graduates).

When: 1 January 2027. People whose ruling started before 2024 keep 30% for their remaining period.

Who it affects: Families moving to the Netherlands for a skilled job, especially where one salary covers everything.

What to do now: When comparing job offers, ask for the net salary after 2027, not just this year's figure. Build the difference into your family budget. Questions about how it applies to you are ones to check with a qualified tax adviser.

EU-wide: new border checks for non-EU passports

What changed: The Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' fingerprints and photo at Schengen borders, replacing passport stamps. It has been fully running since 10 April 2026. A separate online travel authorisation, ETIAS, is expected for visa-free visitors from late 2026, with a grace period at the start.

Who it affects: Non-EU families on a research trip or trial stay before they move. Holders of an EU residence permit are generally outside these checks.

What to do now: Allow extra time at the border with children, and check the ETIAS start date before booking any exploratory trip in 2027.

What has NOT changed?

• EU free movement. If one parent is an EU citizen, the family can still live and work in other EU countries under EU rules. Non-EU partners and children can usually join them there. Most of the changes above do not apply to EU families moving within the EU.
• Children's right to school. Children living legally in an EU country can attend state school, whatever their nationality.
• Work routes for skilled jobs. The EU Blue Card and national skilled-worker permits still let families join the main worker, often quickly.
• Permanent residence in many countries. The longer waits mostly apply to citizenship. In Portugal, for example, permanent residence is still possible after 5 years. For most families, residence is what matters for day-to-day life.
• Remote-work visas. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Estonia and others still offer a route for families where a parent earns from abroad.

If a route you were counting on has closed, other countries may fit better. Our guides to Cyprus and Estonia and the Baltics cover two options that often get overlooked, and the easiest countries to move abroad with a family compares routes side by side.

How do you plan a move when the rules keep changing?

1. Decide what your family needs. The right to live there for 3 years, or a second passport for your children? If citizenship was the main reason for choosing a country, check that reason still holds.
2. Plan on the longer timeline. Assume settlement and citizenship will take the longest period being discussed. If the rules turn out kinder, that is a bonus.
3. Apply early. Portugal protected applications filed before its change; Sweden and Germany did not. If you already qualify, do not wait without a good reason.
4. Keep records from day one. Residence permits, tax returns, payslips, rental contracts and school enrolment letters. Newer rules often ask you to prove income and integration over many years.
5. Start the language before you move. Language tests have been added or raised in France, Sweden, Portugal and the UK. Both adults should learn, not only the one with the job.
6. Use official sources for the final check. Blogs, including this one, go out of date. Confirm the rules on the government website, and speak to a qualified lawyer for anything complex.
7. Keep a plan B. Shortlist two or three countries, so one policy change does not end your plans.

Our guide to visas for moving abroad with a family explains the main visa types and what each means for partners and children.

Not sure which European country still fits your family? Take the 2-minute family destination quiz to see which destinations match your priorities, timeline and budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is it still possible to move to Europe with kids in 2026?

Yes. Work permits, family visas, remote-work visas and study routes are all still open in most European countries. The main changes affect how long it takes to become a permanent resident or citizen, and how quickly some family members can join. Moving in the first place is still very possible.

Does Portugal's 10-year rule affect my children?

Children who move with you generally cannot qualify faster than the adults on residence alone, although a child can often become Portuguese through a parent who naturalises. Check the details with a lawyer. A baby born in Portugal only gets citizenship at birth if one parent has at least 5 years of legal residence. Minor children are exempt from the new 2-year wait for family reunification.

Which European countries are easiest for families after the 2026 changes?

It depends on your passports, income and work. For EU families, free movement still makes most of the EU accessible. For non-EU families with a skilled job, an EU Blue Card country is often simplest. For remote workers, Spain and Portugal's digital nomad visas remain options, with higher income levels in Spain.

Do these changes affect EU citizens?

Mostly not. EU citizens and their families moving within the EU are covered by EU free movement rules. Some changes, such as Portugal's 7-year citizenship rule for EU nationals, do apply if you want citizenship of the new country.

The rules have changed, but the main question has not: which place gives your family the life you want? Start with that, then check the paperwork carefully.

Want the whole move in the right order? The Global Relocation System takes your family through all five stages, Decide, Prepare, Transit, Arrive and Thrive, with a master checklist, planning templates and a budget tool. See what is inside the system

Comparing visa routes? Our Visa Guide for families sets out visa types, costs, processing times and family rules for ten destinations.