The Law on the Modernization of the Citizenship Act, which makes dual citizenship possible in Germany, entered into force yesterday after being signed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on March 26.
The new law facilitates the acquisition of German citizenship and removes obstacles to dual citizenship. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on foreigners living in the country to “acquire German citizenship“.
Scholz, who posted a video on his social media account after the new law came into force, stated that many people who were born in another country or whose parents came from another country live in Germany and said, “They live here, speak German, work, study and cheer well for the German National Team and now it is easier for them to take German citizenship. This is a good development.”
Emphasizing that everyone who speaks German and contributes to the country and society should have a say in the future of Germany, Scholz addressed those who are considering whether or not to naturalize and said, “Please, this is a good step. This helps people have more say in the decisions to be taken.”
“Now we are showing them: You belong to Germany.”
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, in a statement on the social media platform X, pointed out that the reform of the citizenship law is for those who have lived with Germans for years, share their values, work hard, raise children and help their country move forward, “Without German citizenship, they could never fully belong. Now we show them this: You belong to Germany.”
Stating that he was very pleased with the entry into force of the new citizenship law, Faeser said, “We must give the best minds, qualified employees in global competition, the hope of becoming a full part of our society in the foreseeable future.”
In a statement made on the X account of the Turkish Embassy in Berlin, it was reported that members of the Turkish Community in Germany can now regain their Turkish citizenship while retaining their German citizenship if they wish, and that 14 consulates general in Germany have completed their preparations for this.
What does the law mean?
AA reporters compiled 20 questions about what the law means and what kind of gains it contains, especially for Turkish citizens.
1- Why did Germany amend the Citizenship Law?
The law aims to make it easier for foreigners living in Germany to become German citizens. Germany, which needs immigration due to its aging population, i.e. its demographic structure, wants to keep its skilled and qualified labor force in the country on the one hand, and on the other hand, to close the gap with countries such as the USA and Canada in the competition for skilled labor. For this reason, Germany wants to offer perspectives to foreigners who are considering coming to Germany and to facilitate integration by encouraging foreigners who have been living in the country for a long time.
Around 12 million people in Germany – 14 percent of the population – do not hold a German passport. Of these, 5.3 million have lived in Germany for at least 10 years.
2- What is the waiting period for naturalization?
The new law also shortens the waiting period for naturalization. From now on, the legal residence period required to acquire German citizenship will be reduced from 8 to 5 years.
This period can be reduced to 3 years in cases where the person who wants to acquire German citizenship has school or professional success in adapting to the living conditions in the country, does volunteer work or makes special efforts to learn the language.
3- Do those who acquire German citizenship have to renounce their previous citizenship?
No, they do not. With the entry into force of the new law, those who want to acquire German citizenship will not have to renounce their previous citizenship. Turkish citizens living in Germany will be able to acquire German citizenship without renouncing their Turkish citizenship.
4- Will children born in Germany become German citizens?
Even if their parents are not German citizens, children born in the country can obtain German citizenship if at least one of them has been legally residing in the country for at least 5 years. In principle, children born in the country can permanently hold both German citizenship and the citizenship of their parents.
The previous “option model”, which forced individuals to choose between their parents’ citizenship and German citizenship until the age of 23, has also been completely abolished.
5- Where should I apply for citizenship?
Due to the federal state structure in Germany, citizenship issues are handled by the Länder. Citizenship applications must be submitted to the relevant offices of these states or local governments. In some states, applications can also be made online. Information on this subject can be obtained from non-governmental organizations operating in states and local governments or from the websites of the relevant official offices.
6- Is German language skills required for naturalization?
German language skills at B1 level are required for naturalization.
A certificate of successful completion of a school in Germany covers the B1 level. Those who do not have this certificate must take a language exam.
As an exception, workers who came to the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) as part of the Labor Agreement until June 30, 1974 and to the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as contract workers until June 13, 1990 will not have to take a written test for naturalization. It will be sufficient for them to be able to communicate orally in German.
7- What is a naturalization test?
A prerequisite for naturalization is that candidates successfully pass a “citizenship test”. This test came into force in 2008.
The test includes questions about the history, legal and social structure of Germany and the state of residence. The test consists of 310 questions in total. The exam also asks 33 questions.
The German Interior Ministry announced that the list of questions in the citizenship test was expanded due to the increasing antisemitism in the country, and that questions on antisemitism, the right of the state of Israel to exist and Jewish life in Germany were included in the list.
A correct answer to 17 questions is considered a successful pass. Those with a school diploma in Germany do not have to take the test. The fee for taking the test is currently set at 25 euros.
8- What are the other requirements for German citizenship?
In addition to the values of a free society, those seeking German citizenship must recognize that Germany has a special historical responsibility for the lawlessness of the National Socialist regime (the Nazi era) and its consequences (the Holocaust).
This responsibility includes the protection of Jewish life. Anyone who does not share these values will be denied German citizenship.
Those who commit anti-Semitic, racist, xenophobic or other inhumane acts or who do not accept the equality of men and women will not be granted German citizenship.
9- Can a candidate for German citizenship receive social assistance?
In principle, those who want to naturalize as German citizens must be able to support themselves and their families without social assistance. There are some exceptions, such as those who have done everything possible to earn a living but still have to receive social assistance.
11- How much does it cost to naturalize as a German citizen?
The fee for naturalization is 255 Euro for each person. If you want them to become a German citizen, you have to pay an additional 51 Euro for each child.
12- Can the acquired German citizenship be revoked later?
Yes, according to Article 35 of the Citizenship Act, citizenship can be revoked within 10 years if it was acquired through fraudulent misrepresentation, threats or bribery, or by deliberately providing false or incomplete information required for naturalization.
Misrepresentations of loyalty to the democratic basic order in Germany can also be grounds for revocation.
13 – What should Turks who have previously acquired German citizenship do?
Those who want to regain Turkish citizenship will make an appointment by making a pre-application on “consosluk.gov.tr” under the “Application for Regaining Turkish Citizenship” section.
After the appointment, the physical documents will be delivered to the Consulate General. The process will be completed with the receipt of the naturalization certificate and the T.R. identity card.
14- When Blue Card holders want to become Turkish citizens, what are the required documents and the cost of the process?
Application form (Vat-5), receipt showing that the citizenship service fee has been paid to the Consulate General’s cashier, document showing marital status, if there is a change in identity information after renouncing Turkish citizenship, recognition enforcement from Turkish courts is required in order for the document showing this change (name, surname and date of birth) to be recorded in the population records.
A passport, identity card, or in case of statelessness, a document showing the country of citizenship, and certified documents with Turkish translation (marriage, divorce and spouse death certificate) showing the change in marital status after the loss of Turkish citizenship.
For the year 2024, the citizenship service fee is the euro equivalent of 280 Turkish liras at the daily exchange rate and will be deposited in the cashiers of foreign representations or provincial governorships.
Among the documents required for the application, those in foreign languages must be translated and certified in Turkish.
In order to regain Turkish citizenship, an application can be made to the provincial directorate of population and citizenship under the governorship of the province of residence in Turkey and to the foreign representative offices abroad.
15- Can the application for regaining Turkish citizenship be made via e-Government?
This application cannot be made via e-Government. The pre-application application can be made on-line at “https://www.konsolosluk.gov.tr” and only the application process can be followed through e-Government.
Those who wish to reacquire Turkish citizenship will be able to obtain more detailed information from the booklet prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the subject.
17- If a German citizen couple obtains Turkish citizenship, will their children under the age of 18 also be compulsorily naturalized as Turkish citizens or is it possible for the children to remain German citizens only?
If the mother and father want to regain Turkish citizenship together, it is essential that their children under the age of 18 are also processed, but the mother and father can only apply for Turkish citizenship for themselves without their children acquiring Turkish citizenship.
18- Can a person who renounces Turkish citizenship do military service if he/she becomes a Turkish citizen again?
Pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 43 of the Military Service Law No. 7179, the military service procedures of those who regain Turkish citizenship after losing Turkish citizenship for various reasons are carried out by taking into account their previous military service.
Therefore, the person who regains Turkish citizenship after renouncing Turkish citizenship without performing military service must fulfill his/her military service.
19- Until what age is the military service obligation of a person who renounced Turkish citizenship without performing military service?
According to Article 4 of the Law No. 7179 on Military Service, every male citizen of the Republic of Turkey is obliged to perform military service. There is no age limit for military service.
20- How many blue card holders who have previously acquired German citizenship are expected to become Turkish citizens again?
It is estimated that approximately 1 million German citizens of Turkish origin currently live in Germany. Following the new law, 500 thousand blue card holders are expected to take Turkish citizenship again.
