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GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

What do Germans think of plans to allow dual nationality?

Internationals in Germany have been on tenterhooks waiting for the country to ease its citizenship rules - but do Germans in the country feel the same? Here's what the latest polls say.

Dual British and German nationality
A dual British and German national holds up their passports. Under proposed new rules, non-EU nationals will be able to take on German citizenship after living in Germany for five years, while retaining their original nationality. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Holger Hollemann

As the Bundestag prepares to debate the federal traffic-light coalition’s proposed changes to German citizenship laws, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are pushing back – saying the public doesn’t agree with the changes.

The party’s leader in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, told Parliament this month that the traffic light’s plans to allow dual citizenship and shorten the wait from eight years to five – and even to three years if the applicant can prove B2 level German – were at odds with 60-70 percent of the German public.

Frei referred to an online Civey poll showing that 62 percent of respondents saying that becoming German should require someone to renounce their previous citizenship.

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Yet a recent “Deutschlandtrend” poll by public broadcaster ARD shows a more divided picture.

A slim majority of those respondents, about 49 percent, support the government’s plans for an easier citizenship law. Almost as many, or about 45 percent, are against the plans.

Regular Green Party voters are most likely to be supportive at 86 percent, with about two-thirds of Social Democrat voters, and an even 47-47 percent split among regular Free Democrat (FDP) voters. While more regular CDU voters are against the plans – about 44 percent are still in favour.

The same poll finds that the higher education someone has, the more likely they are to support the proposed changes, no matter what party they typically vote for. In fact, 64 percent of respondents with higher education are in favour of liberalising Germany’s citizenship laws.

Parliamentarians working on the law hope for it to pass the Bundestag by summer 2023.

READ ALSO: German business leaders back proposed citizenship reforms

Member comments

  1. Germans did nothing to achieve being so lucky with their rights and freedoms. As long as immigrants pay taxes etc I don’t see the issue regarding dual nationality. Why not? What difference does it make to those already German?

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GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

Language and citizenship tests: 7 essential articles for German naturalisation

With the citizenship law coming into effect soon, many international residents in Germany are getting ready to apply. Here's a list of some articles with a focus on language requirements and citizenship tests to help you on the way.

Language and citizenship tests: 7 essential articles for German naturalisation

Germany’s citizenship rules will change on June 27th 2024. When the new law comes into force, foreign residents will be able to apply for citizenship after five years of legal residence in Germany instead of eight years. Holding multiple nationalities will also be allowed in future. 

But what about language requirements?

We explain what level of German you’ll need for the various paths to citizenship here: 

To prove your language level, you will likely need to take a test. We spoke to a language teacher for tips on how to pass the exams: 

Last year, we asked readers of The Local who have passed the B1 language test to share their advice. Here’s what they had to say:

Under the fast-track route for gaining German citizenship, applicants will need C1 level German (along with three years of residence and proof of exceptional integration). In this article, Sarah Magill talks us through her experience of passing the exam: 

Citizenship test essential articles:

Another requirement for the majority of people when naturalising is that you have to pass the German citizenship test. Imogen Goodman talks us through her experience of sitting the test in Berlin and shares her tips: 

Want to try out an (English language) version of the German citizenship test yourself in the form of a quiz? Look no further!

One thing to keep in mind is that Germany is planning to shake up its citizenship test questions. We explain the changes you can expect here: 

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