Smart Mode — EU residence-to-citizenship pathway scorer (8 member states + jure sanguinis + descent routes)

Build an EU naturalisation strategy for the applicant based on the answers I gave you.

§1 — PATHWAY ELIGIBILITY MATRIX
For EACH pathway, mark Qualifies / Borderline / Does Not Qualify with one-line reasoning:
  Standard residence-based routes:
  (a) Portugal 5 yr under Lei da Nacionalidade Lei 37/81 + Decree-Law 26/2022 + CAPLE A2
  (b) Spain 10 yr standard OR 2 yr Iberoamerican / Sephardi / Filipino / Andorran / Equatorial Guinean / Portuguese fast track under Codigo Civil Article 22 + DELE A2 + CCSE
  (c) Italy 10 yr standard OR 4 yr EU-citizen OR 3 yr Italian-spouse (post-2018 reform) + CILS B1
  (d) Netherlands 5 yr under Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap + Inburgeringsexamen A2 + KNM + ONA
  (e) France 5 yr under Code civil Articles 21-15 to 21-27 + TCF IRN B1 oral + civic interview
  (f) Belgium 5 yr under Code de la nationalite belge + A2 + social/economic/civic integration test
  (g) Greece 7 yr under Code of Greek Nationality (Law 5038/2023 reforms) + Hellenic Naturalisation Test B1
  (h) Austria 10 yr under Staatsburgerschaftsgesetz §10 + B1 + strict dual-citizenship rule
  Descent / heritage routes:
  (i) Italian jure sanguinis under Law 91/1992 Article 4 (post Decree-Law 36/2025 narrowing)
  (j) Spanish 2-year fast track via Iberoamerican / Sephardi / Filipino / Andorran / Equatorial Guinean / Portuguese descent
  (k) Portuguese Sephardi under Lei 30-A/2022 (post-2024 narrowing)
  (l) French jus sanguinis via parent / grandparent
  Investment / exceptional routes:
  (m) Malta naturalisation (MPRP residence + 5 yr Exceptional Services Regulations)
  (n) Cyprus standard naturalisation 7-8 yr post-CBI termination
  Family routes:
  (o) Spousal fast track per country (Italy 2-3 yr / Spain 1 yr / Belgium 3 yr cohabitation / France 4 yr post-marriage)
  EU long-term residence:
  (p) Directive 2003/109/EC long-term resident — 5 yr legal residence + integration measures (NOT citizenship, but adjacent)

§2 — RECOMMENDED PRIMARY + SECONDARY PATHWAY (80-120 words)
Name the recommended primary path with reasoning + a credible Plan B. Justify on clock + language + dual-citizenship rule + applicant horizon.

§3 — YEAR-BY-YEAR CLOCK PROJECTION
For the recommended primary pathway, show:
  Year 1: residence permit issued + register at AIMA / Extranjeria / Comune / gemeente / Prefecture / commune / Aliens Bureau / MA35
  Year 2-N: maintain continuous residence + start language preparation + tax compliance + criminal-record clean
  Year N: apply for naturalisation at:
    Portugal — Conservatoria dos Registos Centrais (online via Justica.gov.pt)
    Spain — Ministerio de Justicia (electronic procedure via Sede Electronica)
    Italy — Comune + Prefettura + Ministero dell'Interno (3 yr decision window post-Decreto Sicurezza 2018)
    Netherlands — IND naturalisatieverzoek + gemeente intake
    France — Prefecture + Ministre de l'Interieur (decret de naturalisation)
    Belgium — commune + Procureur du Roi
    Greece — Decentralised Administration + Ministry of Interior
    Austria — Bezirkshauptmannschaft + Land government
  Year N+1: oath / decree + passport application

§4 — LANGUAGE + CIVIC TEST PLAN
For the recommended pathway, specify:
  - Exam: CAPLE / DELE + CCSE / CILS / Inburgeringsexamen / TCF IRN + civic interview / NT2 + civic / Hellenic Naturalisation Test / OeSD
  - Provider + earliest test date
  - Preparation time estimate (typically 3-9 months from B1 starting point)
  - Validity period of the test report

§5 — DUAL CITIZENSHIP + RENUNCIATION ANALYSIS
India does NOT permit dual citizenship under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955. Naturalising in any EU country requires renunciation of Indian citizenship UNLESS:
  - The naturalisation is automatic (jure sanguinis at birth)
  - OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) is acquired post-renunciation
Country-specific dual-citizenship tolerance:
  - Permits dual: Portugal / Italy / France / Belgium / Greece
  - Generally restricts dual: Netherlands (with narrow exceptions) / Austria (rare exceptions under §28a-§28d StbG)
Surface OCI as the standard post-naturalisation route for the applicant to retain India ties.

§6 — THE 3 HIGHEST-ROI LEVERS BEFORE NATURALISATION FILING
Rank what would move outcomes most for THIS applicant. Examples:
  - Enrol in CAPLE / DELE / CILS / Inburgering / TCF prep course (12-month lead)
  - Document continuous-residence proof via tax returns + utility bills + lease registrations
  - Resolve any pending tax / civil / criminal proceeding before filing
  - Pivot to spousal / descent fast track if heritage proof is available
  - Apply for long-term EU residence under Directive 2003/109/EC at year 5 even if naturalisation is year 5-10 — opens intra-EU mobility

§7 — ACTION PLAN (next 30 / 60 / 90 days + year-by-year)
Concrete checklist:
  30 days: order long-form Indian birth + parents' birth + marriage certificates (apostilled) + Indian PCC
  60 days: enrol in language prep + book CAPLE / DELE / CILS test + start collecting tax + utility evidence
  90 days: confirm naturalisation application authority + form codes + filing fees
  Annual: maintain continuous residence + file taxes + retake language tests as needed

§8 — CITATIONS
Anchor each recommendation to:
  - National nationality law: Lei 37/81 PT / Codigo Civil + Real Decreto 1004/2015 ES / Law 91/1992 + DPR 572/1993 IT / Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap NL / Code civil + decret 93-1362 FR / Code de la nationalite belge BE / Code of Greek Nationality + Law 5038/2023 GR / Staatsburgerschaftsgesetz AT
  - EU Directive 2003/109/EC (long-term resident) — adjacent pathway
  - Indian Citizenship Act 1955 Section 9 (renunciation rule)
  - National authority guidance: IRN PT / Ministerio de Justicia ES / Ministero dell'Interno IT / IND NL / Ministere de l'Interieur FR / Ministre de la Justice BE / Ministry of Interior GR / BFA AT

— DRAFT only. For country-specific immigration / nationality lawyer review (Portugal AIMA-registered advogado, Italy iscritto in albo, Spain abogado especializado en extranjeria y nacionalidad, France avocat specialise en droit de la nationalite, etc.). Verify all clock, language, and dual-citizenship rules against current national law before submission. India's renunciation rule under Section 9 must be addressed concurrently — coordinate with an Indian immigration lawyer on OCI.