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GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

Foreigners in Germany celebrate as long-awaited dual citizenship law enters into force

Foreign residents in Germany have been waiting for this moment for years. And on Thursday it became a reality. The new naturalisation law - which allows people to hold multiple nationalities - came into force.

Published: 27 June 2024 09:29 CEST
People celebrate the German national team at the Euros with German flags in Berlin. Germany has relaxed its citizenship laws.
People celebrate the German national team at the Euros with German flags in Berlin. Germany has relaxed its citizenship laws. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Under the new law, residents are able to apply to become German after five years instead of the previous eight-year residency requirement. 

Some people will be able to apply for German citizenship after just three years of residency if they have exceptional integration achievements and C1 level German. 

And one of the biggest changes is that restrictions to holding multiple nationalities have been removed. It means that all non-EU citizens are able to hold on to their previous passport or passports when becoming German, if their origin country allows it. 

CHECKLIST:

Previously, Germany only allowed people to hold dual nationality in certain circumstances, for example if they were an EU citizen, if someone had refugee status or if they successfully filed an exception. 

Matt Bristow, a volunteer with citizens rights group British in Germany, told The Local’s Germany in Focus podcast this week that the law change meant different things to foreign residents. 

He said being able to fully take part in democracy and vote was a significant factor for many.  

“There’s, of course, added benefits as well of being a German citizen in that you’re also then European citizen,” he added.

“And for some people, they may be thinking of not staying in Germany for the rest of their lives, but want you to move elsewhere in Europe. And so for people who aren’t already EU citizens, that’s another bonus.

“But on the other hand, there’s also the emotional side, that sense of belonging, that you’re not a foreigner anymore. You’re a German like everyone else. And I think that’s something which shouldn’t be underestimated.”

READ ALSO: What would German citizenship mean to foreign residents?

Bristow said being able to hold German citizenship – alongside their previous nationality or nationalities – is key for many people.

“That’s a really important aspect of being able to have both your original nationality and German citizenship and not having to choose between one identity or the other,” he said. “I think that was one of the things which was most unfair about the previous rules that people were given this choice, which was a horrible choice to make.

“Where do my loyalties lie? Can’t they lie with both? And so that’s something I really welcome that people don’t have to make such a horrible decision anymore. And that all aspects of their identity can be valued by Germany.”

However, it is expected that the road to citizenship will be long for applicants. Many citizenship offices in Germany are already overrun and struggling to deal with inquriries.

Some authorities have vowed to take on more staff and tackle the issue – but delays are expected. 

READ ALSO: The citizenship waiting times and backlogs in major German cities

MORE USEFUL LINKS:

The Local has been covering this issue for our readers for several years. Learn everything you need to know about German citizenship law, and how to apply, on The Local’s citizenship news page.

Here is a selection of recent stories put together by The Local Germany team that we recommend you check out:

Member comments

  1. I think the headline is a little misleading. Personally, I don’t know any foreigner who is celebrating this. The truth is the German government went ahead with plans they designed themselves. I doubt there was input from the local offices or the foreigners themselves. If there was, they would realise that nobody was really advocating for a quicker pathway to citizenship. A number of people advocated for dual citizenship but I don’t know anyone who complained about the 8 years it took under the previous law.

    The local offices are not prepared for the new law. The German government knows this, the offices know this and we know know. Rather, resources should have been allocated to streamlining the current backlog of applications, digitalising the offices, increasing staffing by letting foreigners work in local offices. I have many foreigners I help (who just moved to Germany) on almost a weekly basis because anytime the offices hear them speak English, they hang up the call. This is the daily reality of many foreigners. This is where true change is needed.

    It’s also the same with the opportunity card. The German government claims to have understudied the Canadian Government. Tell me why anyone in their right senses will decide to come to Germany on an opportunity card when you still need a blocked account, you will only get a visa and the visa will only permit you to work part time. While with Canadian express entry, I enter as a PR holder, can already work any job full time and i don’t need a blocked account.

    Half backed solutions not properly thought out. To me it’s worse that no solutions at all.

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For members

GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

FACT CHECK: Can Germany’s CDU scrap the dual nationality law?

Even before Germany's new citizenship law came into force on Thursday, the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) were threatening to overturn it. Could they really end dual citizenship if they win the next election?

Published: 27 June 2024 19:39 CEST
Updated: 28 June 2024 16:28 CEST
FACT CHECK: Can Germany's CDU scrap the dual nationality law?

As the landmark citizenship reform came into force on Thursday, there was an audible sigh of relief and cheer of jubilation from Germany’s international community. 

But one cloud has been darkening the horizon: the threats from the right-wing CDU party to overturn the reforms the second they come back into power. 

Speaking to DPA on Tuesday, CDU immigration spokesperson Alexander Throm slammed the reform for shortening waiting times for foreigners and allowing people to hold more than one nationality.

“The CDU and CSU will reverse this unsuccessful reform,” he said. “Dual citizenship must remain the exception and be limited to countries that share our values.”

After The Local reported Throm’s comments, foreigners got in touch to express their fears about the law being changed once again. 

Writing on X, Canadian citizen Logan Ouellette, who lives in Berlin, said he was “already anxious” about another potential shake-up. 

So, how likely is it that the CDU and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), will end up in government next year, and could they actually scrap the law?

Here’s what you need to know. 

CDU/CSU could take power – but only with a coalition partner

It’s no secret that the traffic-light coalition parties are currently doing absolutely dismally in the polls, and recent elections have shown a significant lurch to the right in Germany.

In the June 9th EU elections, the CDU/CSU alliance emerged as the clear winners with 30 percent of the vote, while the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) lost 21 points between them. This is backed up by recent polling figures, which consistently show the CDU/CSU on 30 percent or more.

If things stay the same for another 15 months – and that it in itself is questionable – the CDU and CSU look set to be catapulted back into government. 

But even if they do end up as the largest party in the federal elections next year, they are almost certain to need a coalition partner.

As part of its core principles, the centre-right alliance has erected a so-called Brandmauer, or fire-wall, against working with either the far-right AfD or the left-wing Linke party.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Brandmauer

Pending a massive shake-up of German politics, that would only leave the SPD, Greens or FDP as potential coalition partners – all of whom are in the current government.

Speaking to The Local on Wednesday, Greens immigration expert Filiz Polat rebuffed the notion that the CDU/CSU alliance would ever have the numbers to reverse the citizenship law. 

“The CDU/CSU is completely isolated with its announcement that it will revoke the citizenship law in the event of a change of government,” she said.

Greens immigration expert Filiz Polat

Greens immigration expert Filiz Polat. Photo: Filaz Polat’s parliamentary office

“It was the same with its ‘no’ to the Skilled Labour Immigration Act. All other democratic parliamentary groups in the Bundestag have clearly positioned themselves in favour of a modern citizenship law in a modern country of immigration.”

With the governing parties all speaking out passionately in favour of a liberal immigration policy and citizenship law, it’s hard to see a scenario in which they would agree to scrap it.

READ ALSO: How are Germans reacting to the new citizenship law?

For the SPD in particular, this would be a humiliating move for a party that unsuccessfully fought for years in coalition with the CDU/CSU to make dual nationality a reality. 

The numbers in the Bundesrat don’t add up 

Parliamentary sources have also told The Local that the CDU would need what’s known as an “absolute majority” in the Bundesrat in order to repeal the law. This means getting more than 50 percent of the vote. 

The Bundesrat is the upper house of parliament that is comprised of the 16 state governments, each of which vote together as a bloc.

As an example, this means that if the CDU are in a state coalition with the Greens – as is the case in Baden-Württemberg, for example – both of these parties have to agree on which way to vote in the Bundestag.

If they can’t agree, this counts as an abstention.

The outside of the Bundesrat

The outside of the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper house of parliament. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd von Jutrczenka

That’s one reason it would be incredibly difficult to get any new attempt to tighten citizenship laws through the Bundesrat – even if a new law made it through the Bundestag.

With the exception of Bavaria, where the CSU governs alongside the Free Voters, or Freier Wähler, party, every single state coalition the CDU is part of involves some combination of of the Greens, SPD and FDP. 

READ ALSO: What would German citizenship mean to foreign residents?

Greens politician Polat emphasised that the reforms to citizenship law would be “good for democracy” and help Germany compete for workers from abroad.

“The high demand for the German passport shows how many people living here want to get involved and have a say,” she said. 

The immigration specialist also slammed the centre-right alliance for harming Germany internationally with its anti-foreigner rhetoric. 

“With its anti-immigration discourse, the CDU/CSU is also damaging Germany’s reputation in the world,” she said. “I am increasingly receiving questions about this issue from abroad.”

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