Germany has approved Citizenship Law Reforms that are aimed at integration and skilled worker attraction.
In a decisive move, German lawmakers voted 382-234 on Friday to approve legislation that relaxes the rules on obtaining citizenship and eliminates restrictions on dual citizenship. The proposal, advocated by center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's socially liberal coalition, aims to enhance immigrant integration and facilitate the recruitment of skilled workers
Under the new legislation, individuals can qualify for citizenship after residing in Germany for five years, or three years in the case of "special integration accomplishments," compared to the current requirements of eight or six years. German-born children will automatically acquire citizenship if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, a reduction from the previous eight years.
Moreover, the legislation eliminates restrictions on holding dual citizenship, a significant departure from the existing requirement for most individuals from non-European Union countries to renounce their previous nationality upon gaining German citizenship.
The government emphasizes that approximately 14% of the population, more than 12 million out of 84.4 million inhabitants, does not possess German citizenship. Of this population, around 5.3 million have lived in Germany for at least a decade. Germany's naturalization rate is reported to be below the European Union average.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser asserts that the reform aligns Germany with European neighbors like France and underscores the country's need to attract skilled workers. Faeser explains, "We also must make qualified people from around the world an offer like the U.S., like Canada, of which acquiring German citizenship is a part."
The legislation mandates that individuals seeking naturalization must be capable of supporting themselves and their dependents, with exemptions for "guest workers" who arrived in West Germany up to 1974 and those who came to communist East Germany to work.
Additionally, the existing requirement for citizenship applicants to adhere to the "free democratic fundamental order" is maintained, with the new version explicitly stating that antisemitic and racist acts are incompatible with this commitment.
Chancellor Scholz, addressing concerns over the far right's stance on immigrants, states in a video message, "We are telling all those who often have lived and worked for decades in Germany, who keep to our laws: You belong in Germany." He highlights that the reform ensures that individuals do not have to "deny their roots."
However, the conservative opposition argues that Germany is relaxing citizenship requirements while other countries are tightening theirs. Center-right Christian Democrat Alexander Throm characterizes the legislation as a "citizenship devaluation bill," expressing concerns that dropping restrictions on dual citizenship may introduce political conflicts from abroad into German politics.
The citizenship law overhaul is part of a broader set of social reforms agreed upon by Scholz's three-party coalition, including plans to liberalize cannabis rules and streamline gender and name changes for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals. Despite the government's recent challenges and unpopularity, these reforms mark a significant step forward in shaping Germany's social and immigration policies.
The Three Phases of Change
The first part of Germany's new skilled worker law went into effect on November 18, 2023, changing the regulations pertaining to EU Blue Cards. The purpose of these modifications is to improve the chances for skilled workers to enter Germany.
Expected modifications as of March 1, 2024
Adaptable Routes for Education and Certification
The revised Skilled Immigration Act has flexible provisions aimed at accommodating persons who wish to pursue qualifications in Germany that correspond with their training abroad. Part-time employment is allowed for individuals who are training for a German-equivalent qualification, up to a maximum of three years and twenty hours per week.
With the consent of their Germ an employer, skilled people seeking recognition for their foreign qualifications can start working immediately while the recognition process is in progress. This policy will permit a maximum stay of three years, given that the individual has a minimum A2 level competence in German and a professional certification of at least two years.
Family Reunification Simplified
For talented workers, the Talented Immigration Act would also expedite the family reunification procedures, namely with regard to spouses, minor children, and, most importantly, parents or parents-in-law. The burden of proving adequate living space is reduced, but proving the ability to support livelihoods is still necessary.
If skilled workers' own residency permits remain valid after March 2024, they will be permitted to bring their parents or parents-in-law to Germany. In addition to acknowledging the value of family relationships, this change intends to improve the atmosphere in which qualified workers can settle in Germany.
