Record number of people become citizens in Germany following citizenship law reform

According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), the number of foreigners who acquired German citizenship in 2024 reached 291,955. This figure marks an increase of 91,860 people compared to the previous year.

NEW LAW FACILITATED CITIZENSHIP TRANSITION

The new Citizenship Law, which entered into force on June 27, 2024, has made it easier for foreigners to acquire German citizenship. One of the most significant changes introduced by the law was the reduction of the required legal residence period for citizenship from 8 years to 5 years. For those meeting certain conditions, this period was reduced to as little as 3 years. Furthermore, children born in Germany were granted the right to acquire German citizenship if one of their parents has legally resided in the country for at least 5 years. Dual citizenship was also made possible.

Among those who acquired German citizenship in 2024, Syrians ranked first with 83,150 people, while Turks ranked second with 22,525 people. They were followed by Iraqis with 13,545, Russians with 12,980, and Afghans with 10,085. The increase in the number of Russian citizens was particularly notable; while only 1,995 Russian citizens acquired German citizenship in 2023, this number rose to 12,980 in 2024. The number of Turkish citizens more than doubled.

These reforms have accelerated the citizenship process for foreigners living in Germany, allowing more people to become German citizens.

News Source: 12punto