In an effort to facilitate immigrant integration and draw in skilled labor, German lawmakers passed legislation that relaxes requirements for obtaining citizenship and eliminates limitations on holding dual citizenship.
Modifications in the legislation
According to the law, a person can apply for citizenship after five years in Germany or three if they have made “special integration accomplishments.” As of right now, one must have lived in Germany for eight or six years, respectively, to qualify. In addition, children born in Germany would automatically become citizens after five years of lawful residence by one parent. The parent must currently dwell there for a number of years.
Does dual citizenship affects the new norm?
The ban on dual citizenship will also be lifted, since obtaining German citizenship currently requires most nationals of non-EU nations and Switzerland to renounce their prior citizenship.
People approved with German citizenship in 2022?
2022 saw the biggest number of German individuals granted citizenship since 2002—roughly 168,500 people—thanks to a significant rise in the naturalization of Syrian citizens.
German interior minister’s take on the fresh reforms
According to the nation’s interior minister Nancy Faeser, the change aligns Germany with its neighbors in Europe.
“We also must make qualified people from around the world an offer like the US, like Canada, of which acquiring German citizenship is a part,” she averred.
German Chancellor’s take
Olaf Scholz mentioned in a video message “we are telling all those who often have lived and worked for decades in Germany, who keep to our laws: You belong in Germany”.
