Changes to the German Citizenship Law from June

Germany has enacted significant changes to its citizenship law in 2024, aimed at simplifying and speeding up the process of obtaining German citizenship.

Here are the key changes:

• Reduction in required residency period: The period of legal residence required to obtain citizenship has been reduced from eight to five years. Additionally, certain categories of individuals with "proven achievements" can qualify for citizenship after just three years.

• Dual citizenship: The new legislation allows more people to hold dual citizenship, including citizens from non-EU countries like the US and the UK. This is a significant change, as previous laws placed restrictions on retaining former citizenship.

• Simplified process for children: Children born in Germany to foreign parents can now obtain German citizenship if one of the parents has legally resided in the country for five years.

• Easier process for elderly applicants: Applicants over the age of 67 will only be required to demonstrate oral language skills, making the process easier for older individuals to obtain citizenship.