On 27 June 2024, the Act to Modernise Nationality Law entered into force. Foreigners who are working in Germany and are well-integrated can now gain German citizenship after five years of legal residence in Germany instead of eight, as before. They no longer have to give up their previous citizenship – and with it, part of their identity. At the same time, the requirements for commitment to Germany’s free and democratic constitutional system have become stricter: anyone who expresses racism, antisemitism or any other form of hatred cannot become a German citizen.

Commitment to the free and democratic constitutional system

What do we expect of people who want to make Germany their permanent home?

• Those who want to acquire German citizenship must commit to upholding the values of a free society. These values include in particular the dignity and equality of all people. Acts motivated by racism, antisemitism or other forms of contempt for human dignity are incompatible with the guarantee of human dignity enshrined in Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law. The naturalisation test was expanded to include questions about such attitudes.
• People whose conduct shows that they do not respect equal rights for men and women, as anchored in the Basic Law, cannot become naturalised citizens. This includes being married to more than one spouse at the same time.
• To be eligible for naturalisation, foreigners must be able to support themselves and their family members without relying on public funds.
• Foreigners who came to East and West Germany as contract workers and guest workers played a major role in our country’s development. In the past, however, there were few public programmes to help them become integrated. That is why they only need to demonstrate that they can communicate about everyday matters orally in German without difficulty. They do not have to take the naturalisation test.
• The security screening process is being converted to digital form and streamlined. The security authorities will share their findings with the nationality authorities.

Modernising nationality law

What is changing to make Germany a more attractive destination for foreign skilled workers?

• Germany’s new nationality law allows multiple citizenships. The rules for becoming a naturalised citizen are clear and understandable: for instance, those who wish to become naturalised German citizens must demonstrate that they are well integrated, possess good German language skills and are able to support themselves without having to rely on public funds.
• Foreigners can now become naturalised citizens after five years of legal residence instead of eight, as before. Foreigners who can demonstrate that they are very well integrated can become naturalised after only three years. This applies to people who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their job, or who are active in volunteering, as long as they can speak German well and can support themselves and their family without relying on public funds.
• All children born in Germany to foreign parents will now receive German citizenship and be able to retain the citizenship of their parents if at least one parent has lived in Germany legally for more than five years and has a permanent right of residence.