--- title: German citizenship - what is new (2024)? description: In February 2024, the Federal Council passed the new Naturalization Act. The new law makes it considerably easier to apply for a German passport and also allows to hold dual citizenship. The pre-stay period in Germany had been reduced to 5 years. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/german-citizenship-the-new-law-2024#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact us](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![DwyerLegal\_logo.png\]](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DwyerLegal_logo.png?height=42&name=DwyerLegal_logo.png) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://dwyer-legal-4951429.hs-sites.com/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://dwyer-legal-4951429.hs-sites.com/blog) - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/kb-tickets/new) - Contact us Contact us Dwyer Legal Citizenship Knowledge Base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Dwyer Legal Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [German Citizenship](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/german-citizenship?hsLang=en) 3. [The new German citizenship law](https://knowledge.dwyer-legal.com/german-citizenship?hsLang=en#the-new-german-citizenship-law) # German citizenship - what is new (2024)? ## In February 2024, the Federal Council passed the new Naturalization Act. The new law makes it considerably easier to apply for a German passport and also allows to hold dual citizenship. What exactly do the changes bring? On 02.02.2024, the Federal Council passed the new Naturalization Act.  The new law makes it significantly easier to apply for a German passport. With the new citizenship law, German citizenship can now be applied for after just 5 years, in some cases even after 3 years only. An additional feature is that the applicant can keep his former citizenship   Before the new law came in, it was only possible to apply for German citizenship after a previous period of legal residence of 8 years. With the new law, German citizenship can now be applied for after just 5 years. People who have made special integration achievements can even be naturalized after just 3 years. Special integration achievements are, for example, very good performance at school and at work and social commitment. Excellent German language skills (at least C1) can also be considered a special integration achievement and thus make it possible to already obtain the German passport after 3 years only. At the same time,  the Federal Council has lifted the ban on multiple citizenships. As a consequence,  it will now be possible to obtain German citizenship in addition to your existing citizenship. This means that in future it will be possible to have two or more nationalities and passports. Special rules only apply if the applicant's home country itself prohibits dual citizenship. To give an example, Indian nationals are not allowed to have two passports, which is why Indian nationality must be renounced in this case. No exception without exception. Please contact us should you like to discuss your concrete situation. 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