The traffic light coalition wants to lower the hurdles for naturalization. The ban on multiple nationalities is also to be abolished. Criticism hails from the Union. The reform plans have been known for a year - and far less drastic than it appears.
The federal government wants to make naturalization easier in the future. Not only people who have integrated particularly well should therefore be allowed to be naturalized more quickly. The generation of former guest workers who have been living in Germany for decades should also be able to obtain a German passport more easily. For those who do not want to choose German citizenship or citizenship in their home country, the ban on multiple citizenship should be lifted.
Basic principles for a reformed citizenship law had already been agreed between the traffic light parties in the coalition agreement. The plans have been on page 94 for a year - but parts of the Union are only now outraged that the draft law is almost complete. The coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP "apparently wants to sell off the German passport," said the deputy parliamentary group leader of the CSU, Andrea Lindholz, of the "Bild" newspaper. A comment in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" even speaks of the "devaluation of German citizenship" and "disregard for German interests".
In fact, the innovations are far less drastic than the criticism suggests. Essential reasons for exclusion from naturalization remain untouched - such as a criminal offense committed in Germany or abroad, or previous anti-constitutional convictions. It will also be difficult for people who cannot prove their identity, have a temporary residence permit or are only tolerated. Anyone who receives social benefits from the state also has poor chances. Naturalization is then only possible in exceptional cases - for example after termination for operational reasons or if small children have to be looked after in the household.
length of stay
Anyone who wants to be naturalized must have lived in Germany "permanently" and "legally" - i.e. with an official residence permit - for at least eight years. The traffic light wants to shorten this period to five years. In the case of special integration services, it should also be possible in the future to be naturalized after just three years. However, reductions in the length of stay are already planned, for example for people who ...
nationality
So far, anyone who wants to acquire German citizenship has had to give up their previous citizenship. This is to prevent multiple nationalities. However, there are plenty of exceptions - for example in the case of children with one German and one foreign parent, who may have several nationalities from birth. Even children of foreign parents who were born in Germany do not have to choose a nationality, provided they grew up in Germany. This is only required if they grew up abroad.
Further exceptions apply to:
The traffic light coalition would like to allow multiple states for everyone in the future. In addition, children of foreign parents who were born in Germany should automatically receive German citizenship if one parent has had "his lawful habitual residence" in Germany for five years.
Dual citizenship has been a political issue for years. While integration commissioners criticize unequal treatment, for example because French people are allowed to keep their citizenship when naturalized, while Turks are not allowed to do so, the Union parties argue that multiple nationalities not only make integration more difficult, but also represent privileges compared to people with only one nationality.
knowledge of German
If you want to get the German passport, you must be able to prove that you have sufficient knowledge of German. The "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" (CEFR), which includes different language levels, defines what sufficient means. Anyone who has mastered language level B1 can be naturalized. B1 means using standard language and understanding main points. People can "recount experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief justifications or explanations for plans and beliefs".
There are also exceptions here - for example for people with disabilities, for the sick or for people over 65 years of age. In addition, for people over 60 who have been living in Germany for more than twelve years, a lower knowledge of German has already been sufficient. At this point, the coalition only starts in detail: For "members of the so-called guest worker generation", the language level to be proven is to be lowered again - to the "ability for oral communication".
citizenship test
A naturalization test should also be omitted for this group. In addition, illiterates should be able to be naturalized without language tests in a hardship case regulation. The naturalization test consists of 33 questions, of which at least 17 must be answered correctly. It is about the German legal system, the culture and history of the country. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, well over 90 percent of the participants have passed the test in recent years.
And here, too, there are exceptions: If you have a German school or university degree, you do not have to take the test. This is decided by the immigration authorities. In addition, the following already applies: Anyone who was unable to acquire civic knowledge due to illness, disability or old age can do without the test. The traffic light does not set a new standard at this point.
Classification in German living conditions
In essence, it is about accepting the German legal and social order. This is already required when committing to the Basic Law, which must be submitted in writing and orally for every naturalization. Currently, the "classification into German living conditions" means above all the concrete case of polygamy: Anyone living in such a marriage can so far be denied naturalization. According to the coalition agreement, this regulation should be “replaced by clear criteria”.
So far, the principle has applied that "under foreign law to be married to several people at the same time" is "not compatible with German living conditions". However, only the conclusion of a polygamy is punishable, not its continuation in Germany, if it was previously concluded abroad. There is also no obligation to report plural marriages in this country - and therefore no official figures on how many plural marriages are actually performed.
