Friedery Réka
Ralf RoßkopfGermany has always been a country of immigration, and the integration of newly arrived people is an ever-present topic, albeit one that fluctuates in intensity. The former German government expressed the view that modernising the Citizenship Law was necessary because approximately 14 per cent of the population (around 12 million people) did not possess a German passport. It is estimated that 5.3 million of these people had been living in Germany for at least ten years, but only a small percentage of those eligible were able to become naturalised.[1] The newly formed government of 2025 has not abandoned the path already initiated but has adapted it to align with its own priorities.
Subsequent to the enactment of the series of legislative changes to the Citizenship Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz – StAG[2]), the then new provisions have come into force in Germany on 27 June 2024.[3] It is evident that the aforementioned amendments signified a deviation in the migration policy of the former German government, which was presided over by Chancellor Scholz. The new government, established in 2025 under Chancellor Merz, has since implemented, reversed or introduced a range of regulations in May 2025, aligning with the primary directives outlined in the coalition agenda.
The 2024 Act for the Modernization of the Citizenship Law (Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts), introduced amendments designed to facilitate integration with regard to issues such as time periods and multiple citizenship, addressing both older and younger generations. One of the most controversial new features was the shortened waiting period for naturalisation, which has been reduced from eight to five years. In exceptional cases, this period was even further cut to three years in case of outstanding integration, if the applicant had German language skills at level C1 and if their livelihood was secured in the long term. Particularly good school, vocational, or professional achievements, but also civic engagement are expressly mentioned as examples for having achieved such outstanding integration.
A significant development was the shift in attitude regarding dual citizenship. Historically, the concept of dual citizenship was permitted in Germany only in exceptional cases, particularly under the so-called obligation to opt (Optionspflicht) regime. Under certain conditions, this entailed granting citizenship to children of non-German parents of whom at least one had to have a history of residency in Germany in order to foster their integration and providing equal opportunities (§ 4 para. 3 StAG). This already was an exception to the predominant rule of the “right of blood” (ius sanguinis; “Abstammungsrecht”), a legal principle determining the nationality of a person on the basis of the nationality of their parents. Though, while it allowed dual citizenship in the beginning, it required renouncing either the German or the foreign nationality between age 18 and 21. However, there were exceptions to this rule as well as for naturalization, including for persons whose home country did not allow them to renounce their nationality or who belonged to a particularly vulnerable group, such as recognised refugees. In the case of EU and Swiss citizens, the previous nationality could be retained. Nevertheless, in accordance with the legislation of the respective EU Member State, there was a possibility that they could forfeit their previous nationality. In the aftermath of the recent amendment, German citizens who acquire another nationality will retain their German citizenship unconditionally; the obligation to opt was terminated. This constituted a substantial modification, especially for a considerable number of Turkish nationals whose ancestors migrated to Germany as guest workers.
Subsequent to the aforementioned amendments, children born in Germany to foreign parents acquire German citizenship if at least one parent has legally resided in Germany for a minimum of five years (a reduction from eight years) and holds a long-time residency. This can be considered a conditional right of soil (“Bodenrecht”) which determines a person’s nationality based on the country where they were born.
In addition, a symbolic gesture shall be highlighted. In the aftermath of World War II, Germany found itself in a state of reliance on a considerable influx of guest workers. The organisation and recruitment of these workers was conducted by the state, as stipulated among others in the 1955 German-Italian agreement. The majority of these guest workers arrived between 1955 and 1973. A total of 14 million people came from southern European countries, including the former Yugoslavia and Turkey. A recent amendment has stipulated that applicants for naturalization who migrated as guest workers during the 1960s and 1970s—and due to their advanced age, now constitute an older generation—are only required to demonstrate fundamental oral proficiency in German language skills (§ 10 para. 4 cl. 3 StAG). This adjustment is made with the intention of acknowledging their sustained contributions to Germany’s economic and social development over the course of their lifetimes. Consequently, these individuals are also exempt from the citizenship examination.
Successful integration and democratic commitment remain preconditions to naturalization. Applicants must prove their financial independence and demonstrate their knowledge of the German language at B1 level, as well as their respect for democratic norms. Those convicted of racism, anti-Semitism, denial of gender equality, polygamy or extremist views will be disqualified. Particular emphasis was placed on commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law, Germany’s special historical responsibility for the injustices of the National Socialist regime and its consequences, specifically with regard to the protection of Jewish life, and to peaceful coexistence and the prohibition of aggressive warfare.
As a result of this legislation, naturalizations surged to a record 292,020 in 2024[4]—an almost 50% increase compared to 2023—driven notably by Syrian, Turkish, Iraqi, Russian, and Afghan applicants[5], many benefiting from the new dual citizenship and shorter residency rules.
It is expected that a partial reversal of this liberal citizenship policy is going to be experienced in 2025, initiated by the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The assumption is based on the CDU, CSU and SPD coalition agreement.[6] In its rationale, this Sixth Amendment to the Citizenship Act particularly highlighted the accelerated naturalisation process. It was emphasised that a sufficiently long period of prior residence in Germany is seen as an essential requirement for naturalisation, with the intention being to ensure sustainable integration into life in Germany.[7] The respective Sixth Amendmenthas already been introduced into the legislative process.[8] The contested access to citizenship after a residence period of only three years for individuals who had demonstrated exceptional integration is meant to be terminated. Eligibility after such a short period of three years is, thus, meant to be limited to spouses of German citizens, provided that they have been married for a minimum of two years and have resided in Germany for further three years (see for more details § 9 StAG).
However, it is important to note that the admissibility of dual citizenship and the symbolic gesture towards the guest-worker generation, in addition to the general waiting period remaining at 5 years, are not contested.
Conclusion
The reforms of June 2024 introduced changes with the objective of increasing applications for citizenship and enhancing integration. Consequently, naturalisation numbers increased significantly, indicating widespread demand and significant impact. The recently elected government has acknowledged the significance of addressing the long-standing, ever-present issue of integrating migrants. In this regard, efforts have been made through the recent amendments to the German Citizenship Act to enhance the integration process providing a valuable foundation for further progress in this area. Notwithstanding keeping the admissibility of dual citizenship and the five-year standard for the waiting period, future amendments are under consideration, including those concerning the revocation of citizenship in cases associated with extremist activities.
__________________________________________________________
[1] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/modernisierung-staatsangehoerigkeitsrecht-2215610
[2] https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stag/index.html
[3] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/modernisation-citizenship-law-2254382
[4] Statistisches Bundesamt, Naturalisations, 2000 to 2024, https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Population/Migration-Integration/Tables/naturalisations-rate.html
[5] Statistisches Bundesamt, Naturalisations, 2024, by former citizenship https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Population/Migration-Integration/Tables/naturalisations-former-citizenship.html
[6] Koalitionsvertrag zwischen CDU, CSU und SPD: Verantwortung für Deutschland. 21. Legislaturperiode, https://www.koalitionsvertrag2025.de/
[7] Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung. Entwurf eines Sechsten Gesetzes zur Änderung des Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetzes, https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/gesetzgebungsverfahren/DE/Downloads/referentenentwuerfe/VII5/gesetz-6-aenderung-des-staatsangehoerigkeitsrechts.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3
[8] Stellungnahme des Bundesrates. Entwurf eines Sechsten Gesetzes zur Änderung des Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetzes https://www.bundesrat.de/SharedDocs/drucksachen/2025/0201-0300/220-25(B).pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1
__________________________________________________________
The views expressed above belong to the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centre for Social Sciences.