Germany is reforming its citizenship law, streamlining the procedure to get German nationality. Dual citizenship will also become an option.

The German government has presented its new citizenship law this Wednesday (23.08.2023). The legislation proposed by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser will make dual citizenship easier as well as naturalization for non-EU citizens.<

The new citizenship plans boil down to these changes:

  • Immigrants legally living in Germany will be allowed to apply for citizenship after five years, rather than the current eight; and if they have special achievements this can go down to only three years

  • Children born in Germany of at least one parent who has been living legally in the country for five or more years will automatically get German citizenship;

  • Immigrants above the age of 67 will be able to do an oral instead of a written German language test

  • Multiple citizenships will be allowed

People living entirely on state support will not be eligible for German citizenship. German citizenship will be denied to people who have committed antisemitic, racist, xenophobic or other defamatory offenses that are seen to be “unreconcilable with commitment to the free democratic basic order.”

The new legislation will be debated in parliament and could come into effect in the fall.<

  • TanakaAsuka@sh.itjust.works
    101·
    1 year ago

    OK and what are they? Having dual nationality makes it easier to travel. For example there are countries where travel or visiting for more than a short period is very difficult for non citizens, if you emigrate from said countries but you need to return for an extended period (such as family illness) you need to keep citizenship to be able to do so legally.