Time required for German language proficiency in Berlin: 11 years
Streamlined German Citizenship Process in Berlin: Shorter Waiting Times and Relaxed Criteria
A significant change is coming to the German citizenship process in Berlin, with the implementation of a new law on June 27, 2023. The reforms aim to make the process more accessible, efficient, and inclusive, offering a more streamlined route for applicants.
The updated requirements for obtaining German citizenship in Berlin now include a clearer 5-year residency rule. Time spent as a student counts at half the rate, meaning 4 years of study counts as 2 years towards the 5-year minimum. Applicants must also demonstrate at least B1-level German language skills, complete an integration course, pass the citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest) or the “Leben in Deutschland” test, prove financial stability, have valid public or private health insurance, maintain a clean criminal record, and register proof of housing in Berlin.
Moreover, the new 2024 law enables applicants meeting requirements to retain their original nationality alongside German citizenship, a significant change from previous rules.
Berlin’s State Office for Naturalisation (Landesamt für Einbürgerung, LEA) has improved its processing significantly since 2023, introducing a largely digital application process where most steps can be completed online, reducing in-person visits to certificate collection. The waiting time has shortened with the new system and increased staffing: the LEA aims to process about 3,000 naturalisation cases per month in 2025, targeting a total of 40,000 citizenship decisions in the year. Previous long backlogs and difficulty getting appointments have been largely resolved by increased digitization and staffing.
The changes in the law may encourage more people to apply for German citizenship due to the relaxed criteria and the allowance of multiple nationalities. In 2022, on average, it took 11.6 years of residence in the country to become a German citizen in Berlin. However, the average waiting time decreased slightly from 2021 to 2022, with the average waiting time in 2021 being 12.6 years.
Last year, 9,041 people were naturalized as German citizens in Berlin, with the largest group being migrants from Syria (2,486) and the second largest group from Türkiye (618). The number of new German citizens from Iran was 353. It's worth noting that the number of people naturalized in Berlin in 2022 was 166 fewer than in 2021.
The new law is a significant relaxation of Germany's current citizenship laws and is overdue, according to many. The changes are expected to help reduce waiting times for people trying to gain German citizenship and offer a more straightforward, partly online process.
In summary, since the 2023 reforms and the 2024 law changes, applicants in Berlin can expect clearer 5-year residency rules, retention of dual citizenship options, a shorter waiting time due to digitalization and additional staff at the naturalisation office, and a more streamlined, partly online process.
In light of the revised German citizenship process, individuals may find a growing interest in applying for business opportunities within the country, given the relaxed criteria and efficiency improvements. Simultaneously, these changes in finance-related aspects could have broader implications for the country's general-news landscape, as increased accessibility might help build stronger ties between German and global business communities and politics.
