Eased requirements such as dual nationality and reduced residence time, make the new citizenship law of Germany assist about 5.3 million foreigners. Once comes into force, the new nationality law is considered to be the faster path of naturalization never experienced in the federal republic before.
According to the German Government (Bundesregierung), about 14 percent (12 million) of the population in Germany does not have a German passport. Approximately 5.3 million of them have lived in Germany for at least ten years. The naturalization rate in Germany is 1.1 percent, below the naturalization rate in the EU at 2.0 percent. The new law is however intended to create incentives for integration instead of creating hurdles and requiring long lead times.
How will the new changes help foreigners?
Most of the foreigners currently counted at 5.3 million have been struggling to be naturalized in Germany due to not fulfilling the requirements. For most of these biggest hindrance was forfeiting the previous nationality. The new law will help the majority of the people to hold their citizenship while applying for the German as well.
The country is also working on increasing the capacity of the offices to process more and more nationality applications. Some of these people will also choose a path of high integration which will leave more space for others with standard integration to be qualified for the naturalization process.
In Germany, the overall sense of an immigration country is prevailing which is proven through introductory laws about skilled worker visas. The federal country knows the value of skilled labor influx from around the world. This also leads to making the land more comfortable as far as the visas and nationality processes are concerned. The new Skilled Worker Visa rules and Opportunity Card are some of examples. An attractive and easy naturalization process could attract more highly qualified workers from India, China, Russia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Mexico, and other countries.
The naturalization rate in Germany has been continuously low. Only 168,545 people applied for a German passport in 2022. That’s just 3.1 percent of foreign citizens who have lived here for at least ten years. On the other hand, during the same year, overall EU countries issued 989,000 citizenship certificates (including Germany). Italy dominated the list by issuing 213,000 new citizenship awards followed by Spain 181,800.
What does the new citizenship law of Germany offer?
The new citizenship law of Germany is set to come into force on 27 June 2027. The modernized law brings many new changes that may help more and more people apply for the naturalization process such as:
- choice of dual nationality;
- residence requirement of only 5 years required;
- in case of a high level of integration, the residence requirement is reduced to 3 years;
- children born in Germany to foreign parents automatically receive German citizenship if one parent has lived legally in Germany for more than five years and has a permanent right of residence;
- for former guest workers, oral language skills will be sufficient in the future. A naturalization test is no longer required. The regulations for former guest workers apply to the spouses of guest workers and contract workers who have moved there in the same period.
Promoting the new citizenship Law
German Authorities to launch a new Website and media campaigns for new citizenship law. This will help the federal republic to help people properly apply for the naturalization process. The campaigns are set to be launched in foreign languages as well such as Arabic and English reports Bild newspaper.