Delays in Processing Citizenship Applications That Last Nearly a Decade
Uncensored, Bold Assistance:
Hey there! Here's a fresh spin on that article. Don't blame me if it sounds a little rough around the edges.
The Scrap run-of-the-mill naturalization of damn fine assimilated individuals after just three years is on the chopping block. Some cities have foreigners waiting years for their applications to be sorted, ya know?
Berlin - The three-year fast-track naturalization for exceptional foreigners, introduced by the traffic-light coalition, has only helped a few hundred souls secure German citizenship quicker, according to a survey by the German Press Agency in various states and municipalities.
Apparently, this regulation, about to be tossed out the window, was only used extensively in Berlin. Out of the 29,853 people who became German citizens in the capital between July 2024 and the end of April, 500 exceptional individuals with top-notch language skills and remarkable school, work, or volunteer achievements scored German citizenship in just three years of living in Deutschland.
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The three-year fast-track was part of a citizenship law reform, which went live on June 27, 2024. Since then, newbies to Germany have typically had the option to keep their previous passports, and five years of residency is now sufficient to snag German citizenship, instead of eight. The current government is sticking to these modifications.
The only thing about to be yanked is the possibility of cutting application wait times to three years for exceptional school or professional achievements. The first debate on this is scheduled for June 26 in the Bundestag. The CDU and CSU opposed this swift naturalization since the get-go, primarily due to their belief that genuine integration into German life requires more time.
Just one fast-track naturalization in Brandenburg
Since the three-year rule came into play, only five folks got naturalized in Hamburg based on it, according to the authorities. In Baden-Württemberg, 2,530 new citizens with less than eight years of residency were naturalized last year. Naturalization after three or four years was granted in a paltry 16 cases in the southwest. North Rhine-Westphalia calls these instances few and far between. There was only one "turbo-naturalization" in Brandenburg. Out of the 54,732 foreigners who became German in Bavaria between June 27, 2024, and the end of April, 78 individuals profited from this regulation. Only four immigrants have been swift-naturalized after three years in Hesse yet.
No "turbo-naturalization" in Thuringia 2024
According to the Statistical Office in Erfurt, the reduced residency requirement according to the Citizenship Act hasn't been implemented in Thuringia in 2024. In Saxony, the regulation was barely applied "in a limited capacity," as stated by the Ministry of the Interior in Dresden.
In Magdeburg, only a handful of people have applied for naturalization, who have been in Deutschland for less than five years, according to the city administration.
High language requirement
One requirement is having a language level of C1. This knowledge allows for understanding complex texts and engaging in demanding linguistic discussions. A B1 level is enough for naturalization after five years. It enables conversations about familiar topics, such as work, school, or leisure, and the use of language in daily life. Exceptions were made in 2024 for former "guest workers" and contract workers from the GDR, who had limited integration offers at the time.
Breaking Records with Naturalizations
Around 292,000 folks became German citizens in 2024 - a record since statistics started in 2000. This represents a 46% increase from the year before. 28% of those naturalized in the past year came from Syria, followed by those from Turkey.
Application Processing Times Can Be Grueling
The enhanced number of applications has led to lengthy wait times in many places. In Baden-Württemberg, for instance, the average wait time is 18 months. In Hamburg, it's 13 months. As of March, approximately 24,200 folks were waiting for a decision on their naturalization application in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the Interior Ministry, the process time for naturalizations in Hesse in 2024 averaged two years.
A survey by the Integration Media Service found that the number of pending applications in Munich and Heidelberg had increased by around 85% compared to the previous year. Mannheim had a whopping 2.5 times more applications still pending compared to the year before. Munich boasted about 33,000 open applications.
Verification of Identity Can Get Complex
A spokesperson for the city of Magdeburg informed dpa, "A naturalization process depends on the documents needed for identity verification, and it can take anywhere from three months to five years." It's worth noting that not all applications are approved, but rejections have been on the rise.
In light of the increasing number of naturalization applications and the extended wait times, the debate over streamlining the process for exceptional individuals with top-notch skills or achievements is heating up in politics. This discussion is set to take place on June 26 in the Bundestag, as the CDU and CSU are pushing back against the idea, citing the importance of integration into German life taking more time.
Meanwhile, finance experts are closely monitoring the impact of the proposed changes on business and the general-news landscape, as the faster naturalization process could potentially bring in new talent, boosting the German economy. The exact consequences, however, remain to be seen and are causing much discussion within the business community.
