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BERLIN | Xinhua | Germany’s new citizenship law took effect on Thursday, enabling quicker naturalization and allowing multiple passports.
A central election promise of the current government, the reform allows naturalization after five years instead of eight, provided that applicants demonstrate successful integration, proficiency in German, and financial independence while retaining their original passports.
Exceptional integration, such as outstanding job performance and alignment with national values, could further reduce the requirement to three years, noted Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
“Many immigrants feel German, but do not want to cut ties with their country of origin,” a German government statement said, adding that in the future, foreigners “will no longer be required to give up part of their identity.”
With this reform, Germany aims to address its low naturalization rate of 1.1 percent, which is below the European Union average of 2 percent. One in eight foreigners residing in Germany does not possess German citizenship, though millions have lived there for over 10 years.
Europe’s largest economy relies heavily on the immigration of workers due to its aging population. According to the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), around 1.8 million jobs were reported “unfilled” in 2023.
This year alone, Germany’s economy is expected to lose production capacity worth 49 billion euros (52.4 billion U.S. dollars) due to labor shortages, according to a recent study by the German Economic Institute (IW).
The German government continues to ease legal barriers for skilled workers from outside the EU and has initiated agreements with countries such as India and Vietnam for targeted labor migration.
The new citizenship law is intended to further enhance Germany’s appeal as a business and work destination for foreigners. (1 euro = 1.07 U.S. dollar) ■
