Naturalization is made easier in Germany Naturalization is made easier in Germany

In the future, people will be able to naturalize more quickly in Germany and also keep their foreign passports.

The Bundestag decided on a corresponding reform of the citizenship law during a roll-call vote in Berlin on Friday. Of the 639 votes cast, 382 were in favor and 234 against, with 23 abstentions.

During the vote in the second reading, the ‘traffic light factions’ SPD, Greens and FDP had previously voted in favor of the innovations. The CDU/CSU and the right-wing populist AfD voted against. The non-attached MPs, most of whom belong to the left or the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, abstained from voting.

This means that naturalization in Germany will be possible after just five years instead of the previous eight, and with “special integration services” even after three years – this could be particularly good performance at school or at work, or social involvement.

In the future, children of foreign parents will receive German citizenship at birth if one of the parents has lived legally in Germany for five years – so far this has only been the case after eight years.

In addition, people who become Germans can retain their previous citizenship in the future. This is, for example, already the case for citizens of other EU countries.

There are also stricter measures. Exceptions to the obligation to provide for one’s own subsistence are limited to certain cases. The opposition criticized that German citizenship was granted too easily. (sda/dpa)