Expedited German Citizenship Gains Ground Among Well-Integrated Immigrants, But Unevenly Across Regions
Lengthy Pending of Citizenship Applications Occasionally Occurs - Determining the Processing Time for Citizenship Requests Can Extend Over Multiple Years
Dive into the mixed bag of results arising from the traffic light coalition's implementation of a three-year naturalization option for integrative foreigners in Germany, assessing its impact in various states and municipalities.
Proving Its Weight
The newly-minted regulation, which seeks to make German citizenship more easily accessible for particularly well-assimilated foreigners, came into force on June 27, 2024. Since then, it has aided a modest group of individuals in securing their German passports quicker, according to a survey by the German Press Agency.
Capitalizing on the Benefits in Berlin
The capital city has seen the most significant use of this regulation since its inception, with roughly 500 individuals exploiting the opportunity to earn German citizenship after a residency of three years, thanks to strong language skills and exceptional school, professional, or volunteer accomplishments.
Portable Policies Nationwide
This three-year naturalization option is a part of a broader overhaul of the Citizenship Law, which added the ability to retain a previous citizenship, shortened residency requirements to five years, and allowed for derivation of citizenship for children born in Germany to foreign parents. The current administration maintains its commitment to these revisions.
Unfortunately, the avant-garde reduction of the naturalization period to three years for exceptional academic or professional achievements is set to be scrapped by the Union and SPD. The initial debate on this matter in the Bundestag is planned for June 26, 2025. The CDU and CSU have consistently objected to the abridged wait period, introduced by the SPD, Greens, and FDP, citing the need for extensive integration into German culture and society.
Regional Patterns
The 3-year naturalization rule has proven beneficial statewide, though to varying degrees. Here's a snapshot:
- Hamburg: Five individuals have been naturalized since its implementation in 2024.
- Baden-Württemberg: Of the 2,530 naturalizations that occurred with a residence period of less than eight years in 2024, the 3-year rule was applied in 16 instances.
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Few cases have been reported so far.
- Brandenburg: One accelerated naturalization was processed in 2024.
- Bavaria: 78 individuals have taken advantage of the special regulation since its inception in 2024.
- Hesse: Only four accelerated naturalizations have occurred so far.
Laggards on the Track
However, the 3-year naturalization rule has yet to be used in Thuringia, Saxony, or Magdeburg in 2024.
Efficient Integration, Efficient Outcome
One prerequisite for consideration is a language level of C1. This allows one to understand complex texts and engage in linguistically demanding discussions. However, a language level of B1, which enables conversations about familiar topics and rudimentary linguistic use in daily life, is sufficient for regular naturalization after five years of residence. Special exceptions were made for former guest workers and contract workers of the GDR, who had few integration opportunities during their tenure.
A New Citizenship Milestone
A record-breaking 292,000 individuals were naturalized in 2024, a 46% increase compared to the previous year. 28% of those naturalized in 2024 hailed from Syria, followed by those from Turkey.
Snags Along the Way
The increased number of applications has resulted in lengthy waiting times in many locations. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, the average wait time stretches to 18 months, while in Hamburg, it is 13 months. In Rhineland-Palatinate, around 24,200 individuals are reportedly awaiting a decision on their naturalization application as of March, while the average processing time for Hesse in 2024 was two years.
Despite the surge in applications, many metropolitan areas have experienced a rise in the pending citizenship applications, with Mannheim reporting a staggering 2.5-fold increase compared to the previous year.
Identity Dilemmas
A city official in Magdeburg explained to dpa that the naturalization procedure is also contingent on the documents needed for identity clarification, which can take anywhere from three months to five years. The approval rate for citizenship applications is not static; instead, an uptick in the number of rejected applications has been detected.
- Despite the varying usage of the three-year naturalization option across EC countries, the implementation of similar policies in business and finance could lead to increased integration of foreigners in various industries and boost the overall economy.
- The revised Citizenship Law in politics has not only shortened residency requirements but also provided the opportunity for exceptional foreigners to gain citizenship quickly through vocational training. This could potentially revolutionize skill-based industries and contribute significantly to general-news discussions about the future of work in EC countries.
