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.
Previously, 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 apply after just 3 years.
Another innovation is that the Federal Council has lifted the ban on multiple citizenships.
In future, however, it will 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. For example, Indian nationals are not allowed to have two passports, which is why Indian nationality must be renounced in this case.