Faster naturalization: Bundestag passes new citizenship law

In the future, people will be able to naturalize more quickly in Germany while also keeping their foreign passport. The Bundestag in Berlin decided on a corresponding reform of citizenship law in a roll-call vote. Of the 639 votes cast, 382 were in favor and 234 were against, with 23 abstentions.

Opposing votes from the Union and AfD on the reform of naturalization

In the vote in the second reading, the traffic light factions SPD, Greens and FDP had previously voted for the innovations and the CDU/CSU and AfD against them. The non-attached MPs, most of whom belong to the Left or the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, abstained.

This means that naturalization will be possible after just five years instead of the previous eight, and even after three years for “special integration achievements” – this could be particularly good performance at school or work or civic engagement. In the future, children of foreign parents will receive German citizenship at birth if one parent has lived legally in this country for five years – previously this was only the case after eight years.

In addition, people who become German can retain their previous citizenship in the future. This has already been the case, for example for citizens of other EU countries.

“Germany has always been a country of immigration”

There are also tightening measures. Exceptions to the obligation to pay for one’s own living expenses are limited to certain cases.

The Federal Government’s Commissioner for Integration, Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD), promoted the new citizenship law in the plenary debate. “Germany has always been a country of immigration,” she said, and efforts are now being made to ensure that the Federal Republic becomes “a sustainable immigration country” – one that is committed to diversity and openness.