According to a report, Federal Interior Minister Faeser wants to significantly lower the conditions for naturalization of foreigners. In addition to reducing the waiting time, the knowledge test previously required for some groups is also to be eliminated. Meanwhile, the CDU is warning of a "sale" of German passports.
According to a media report, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser wants to significantly lower the conditions for naturalization in Germany. As the "Bild" newspaper reports, citing a switching conference between the ministry and the responsible departments of the federal states, children born in Germany to foreign parents, for example, should automatically receive German citizenship if one parent has "usually resided lawfully" for five years. has in Germany.
In addition, the time it takes foreigners to naturalize is to be reduced from the current eight years to five years. "In the case of special integration achievements", naturalization is even possible after three years. In addition, the obligation to give up one's previous citizenship is to be abolished, meaning that dual citizenship will not remain uncommon.
According to the report, Faeser wants to abolish the written language certificates that were previously required for senior citizens aged 67 and over. The “ability to hold an oral hearing” is then sufficient. The knowledge test about Germany should also be omitted for this group.
The initiative was criticized primarily by the CDU and CSU. "The German passport must not become junk," warned Thorsten Frei, parliamentary manager of the Union faction in the Bundestag. The German naturalization law is already attractive and liberal, German citizenship must come at the end and not at the beginning of the integration process.
The deputy parliamentary group leader of the CSU, Andrea Lindholz, also expressed concerns. The planned new regulations would deprive foreigners of a major incentive to integrate. "This can become a real threat to the cohesion of our society."
In its coalition agreement, the government had agreed on a reform of the naturalization law. According to the report, the planned law is to be presented to the cabinet later this year.
