Delays in Processing Citizenship Applications Span Over Years
Fast-Track Citizenship in Germany: A Rare Occurrence
Berlin - The lightning-fast citizenship route created by the traffic light coalition for exceptionally integrated immigrants has yet to benefited many, according to a survey by the German Press Agency among federal states and municipalities. This route, which is set to be scrapped soon, has only helped a tiny fraction of immigrants obtain a German passport more swiftly, the data shows.
The new regulation, enacted as part of a citizenship law reform on June 27, 2024, has primarily been utilized in Berlin. From July 2024 to April's end, out of the 29,853 people who were naturalized in the capital, 500 with great language skills and remarkable school, professional, or volunteer achievements received their German citizenship after three years of residency, the Senate Department of the Interior revealed.
Shorter deadlines have been in place for nearly a year
The fast-track option is part of the citizenship law reform launched in 2024. Since then, new citizens can generally retain their previous citizenship and five years of residence is now sufficient as a condition, instead of the previous eight. The new federal government continues to support these changes.
However, the possibility of reducing the waiting period to three years for exceptional school or professional achievements is set to be abolished by the Union and SPD. The first parliamentary debate on this is scheduled for June 26. From the outset, the CDU and CSU rejected the shorter waiting period proposed by the SPD, Greens, and FDP, arguing that true integration into German life demands more time.
Minimal use in other states
Since the implementation of the three-year rule, five individuals have been naturalized in Hamburg based on this regulation, according to the authorities. In Baden-Württemberg, there were a total of 2,530 naturalizations with a residency period under eight years in 2024. In only 16 cases was naturalization after three or four years carried out in the southwest. North Rhine-Westphalia refers to "few cases." Only one fast-track naturalization took place in Brandenburg. Out of the 54,732 foreigners who became German in Bavaria between June 27, 2024, and April's end, 78 benefited from the special regulation, as per the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior. So far, only four immigrants have gone through a naturalization process in Hesse after three years.
No fast-track naturalization in Thuringia or Saxony in 2024
According to the State Statistical Office in Erfurt, the shortened residence period under the new citizenship law has not yet been applied in Thuringia in 2024. In Saxony, the new regulation was used sparingly, according to the Saxon State Ministry of the Interior.
In Magdeburg, only a small number of individuals have applied for naturalization with less than five years of residency, as per the city administration.
Strict language requirement
A requirement for this fast-track route is a language level of C1. Those who reach this level can understand complex texts and participate in linguistically demanding discussions. For naturalization after five years, level B1 is sufficient, which enables conversations about familiar topics such as work, school, or leisure and independent language use in everyday life. Exemptions were made in 2024 for former "guest workers" and GDR contract workers, as there were few integration opportunities for them at the time.
Approximately 292,000 people were naturalized in Germany in 2024 - a record since statistics started in 2000. This represents a 46% increase compared to the previous year. 28% of those naturalized in the past year were from Syria, followed by those from Turkey.
Waiting times can stretch several years
The surge in naturalization applications has resulted in long waiting times in many places. Those seeking German citizenship in Baden-Württemberg typically wait 18 months, while in Hamburg, the process takes 13 months. As of March, around 24,200 people were awaiting a decision on their application in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, the average processing time for naturalizations in Hesse was two years in 2024.
A survey by the Integration Media Service uncovered that the number of pending applications in Munich and Heidelberg increased by around 85% compared to the previous year. In Mannheim, the number of pending applications was even 2.5 times higher than the year prior. Munich had approximately 33,000 pending applications.
Identity verification can be complex
A representative from the Magdeburg city administration shared with dpa, "A naturalization process depends on the documents required for identity verification and can take anywhere from three months to five years." It's essential to mention that not every application is approved, "but the number of rejected applications is on the rise."
In light of the fast-track citizenship route implemented by the traffic light coalition for exceptionally integrated immigrants, discussions about business and finance have arisen, as the impact of this option on Germany's economy and general-news landscape remains uncertain. Politically, the future of this shortened residency period is under debate, with the CDU and CSU arguing for a longer integration period, while the SPD, Greens, and FDP advocate for a faster route based on exceptional school or professional achievements. Despite the enactment of the new citizenship law reform in 2024, only a minimal number of individuals have benefited from the three-year fast-track naturalization in various states, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Bavaria, and others.
