As we always say, it`s a personal decision. Only you know whether German citizenship as soon as possible or dual citizenship is more important to you. We will certainly explain the full criteria for applying for citizenship under the new rules as soon as we know, but for now, enthusiastic future Germans can prepare by putting their papers in order (digging up old registration certificates and tax returns, etc.), making sure their passport is still valid, and refreshing their German language skills and naturalization test questions. In response to a question from The Local, a Home Office spokesperson said modernising the citizenship law was a “very high priority”. READ ALSO: explained: How I got German citizenship – and how you can too. If you don`t have five years under your belt, you may well be justified if the rules change. Alternatively, the duration of the stay can be reduced to three years with a higher level of German (C1 or B2) and possibly an integration course. Additional rights may arise in respect of the other country of which they are nationals. Whether they can exercise these rights (such as the right to vote) depends on the laws of the other state and does not affect politics, society or individuals in Germany. Third-country nationals such as Americans, Indians and Australians were given hope of obtaining EU citizenship, while tens of thousands of Britons were delighted to be able to regain it. For the largest groups affected – the Turkish generation of guest workers and their loved ones – the change offered an opportunity to recognize both the Turkish and German part of their identity.
READ ALSO: What`s the latest news on Germany`s plan to change dual citizenship laws? Children of non-Germans automatically receive citizenship if their parents have lived in Germany for at least five years and they can retain all other nationalities they hold for life. Are they entitled to dual citizenship if the rules change while their application is processed? And will people who renounce their current citizenship be able to regain it after the new citizenship law comes into force? Foreigners in Germany are eagerly awaiting a fundamental change in citizenship law that will finally allow non-EU citizens to apply for a German passport and keep their existing passport. Germany was generally reluctant to allow dual and multiple nationality. Exceptions have been made to allow citizens of other EU countries and dual Swiss citizenship, but this is a difficult process. When a person applies for German citizenship, they usually have to renounce their previous citizenship. There are exceptions in cases with refugee or asylum-seeker status, in countries where renunciation of citizenship is not allowed, and in case of difficulties. If a child of citizens of other (non-EU) countries was born in Germany, one of the nationalities had to be lost when the child reached a certain age (usually in his early 20s). According to current German citizenship law, those who meet the criteria for German citizenship must renounce their previous citizenship.
The only exceptions are applicants for German citizenship who: However, if this is your case, you may not have to renounce your citizenship forever. Which brings us to our next point. In other words, you would be treated like any other German citizen applying for another nationality once the law changes. For children of non-Germans and third-country nationals born in Germany, however, the situation is somewhat more delicate: this group is only entitled to German citizenship if their parents have lived in the country for at least eight years and have a right of permanent residence in the country. Even then, at the age of 23, they had to choose between German citizenship and their parents` nationality. The coalition also wants to make it easier for so-called “guest workers” to become eligible for naturalization. This generation of workers came to Germany in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, mainly from Turkey, to fill the labour shortage in key industries. Many stayed in Germany, but often did not meet citizenship requirements – especially language requirements. The coalition now wants to lower this obstacle. There are many advantages associated with German citizenship, as the German passport is one of the strongest in the world. As Germany is a member state of the European Union, its citizens have the right to live, work, study and travel freely across European borders.
This benefit can be used at all stages of life, from studying at Europe`s top universities to retiring in Germany, Spain or France. German citizenship opens the entire European Union and allows its holder visa-free or visa-required access to about 190 countries for international travelers. Before you apply, you may want to know how long it takes on average to process an application at your local citizenship office and how long you are willing to wait to get your German passport. If it takes about a year in your area and you think the law will have changed by next summer (according to the Home Office`s plans), it may be a good idea to start the application quickly if you meet the criteria. You can automatically obtain dual German citizenship by birth if you were born to a parent with German citizenship. But there are certain criteria that you must meet depending on the circumstances of your birth: This has been rumored for some time, but now it has been confirmed: Germany`s new coalition government has unveiled plans to simplify the requirements for applying for German citizenship and allow non-EU citizens dual citizenship for the first time. In general, it can take several months for bills to be drafted, voted on by the upper and lower houses of Parliament, and streamlined at the committee and review stages. Then, of course, central questions need to be clarified as to how change should be implemented. However, it is not excluded that there may be a significant movement in 2023. For Turkish guest workers and their relatives, the path to citizenship will be made even easier by simplifying language requirements. In addition, a “general hardship clause” will be created to allow for an exemption from the language requirement in specific cases.
In addition, the government says it will replace the requirement of “integration into German living conditions” with “clear criteria.” Immigrants may also have to wait less time before applying for German citizenship, as the new government is also considering allowing them to apply for citizenship after just five years in the country. In its coalition pact, the government wants to develop a “modern citizenship law” that offers people who want to build a life in Germany a much faster and easier way to get naturalized. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, we are a full-service law firm with offices and conference rooms throughout Germany. We advise clients from all over the world on their rights to German citizenship, dual citizenship and more. Our lawyers handle naturalization applications by assessing our clients` claims, finding required documents, and working with officials in Germany to ensure smooth applications. In case of problems during the application process, our team is available for competent legal advice and representation. This was confirmed by the Bürgeramt Berlin Mitte, which stressed that the changes to the dual nationality rules are currently only a plan and that implementation “could take several years”. In Germany, a person with a foreign nationality has exactly the same rights as all other German citizens in addition to their German citizenship (multiple citizenship). However, when asked for more details, they revealed that changing the law when processing your application would mean that your right to dual citizenship would also change. From our offices and conference rooms in major German cities, we have advised countless clients and processed their applications for German citizenship. We offer all our services for German citizenship in English and German. Call us, send us an email or use our online form – we will be happy to give you an overview of your options as part of an initial assessment.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the rules that apply to your citizenship application are always based on the applicable law. While 28,305 citizens of other EU countries received German citizenship in 2020, the top EU countries whose citizens became German citizens in the same year are Romania – 5,930, Poland – 5,000, Italy – 4,075, Greece – 2,650 and Bulgaria – 2,040. The agreement says the coalition wants to “simplify the path to German citizenship” and modernize the law. The residence requirement – the minimum period of residence that a person must have in Germany before being eligible for naturalisation – will be reduced to five years, or to three years for persons who have completed special integration measures.