Allegations raised against Berlin, suggesting low-cost distribution of German passports
The Landesamt für Einbürgerung (LEA), Berlin's State Office for Naturalisation, has implemented a new digitalised system aimed at streamlining the process of granting German citizenship. This change has led to a significant increase in the number of cases processed, with the LEA expected to decide on over 40,000 applications this year.
Before the implementation of this new system, Berlin faced a backlog of over 40,000 pending cases, some dating back over a decade. This backlog resulted in only around 9,000 cases being processed annually before 2023. The new system, designed to process applications at scale, has seen improvement in the naturalisation process in Berlin.
In the first half of 2025, the LEA has already completed another 20,000 cases, bringing the total number of cases processed since the implementation of the new system to 41,802. This rapid progress has sparked criticism from German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CDU), who accuses Berlin of handing out passports "too easily" and inflating naturalisation targets.
Dobrindt's comments come at a time when the system begins to function effectively. However, some argue that the digitalised process, which allows applicants to complete most of the procedure online, may potentially lower standards or oversight compared to previous practice.
It is important to note that the move to a digitalised system appears aimed at addressing issues of capacity and administrative efficiency rather than deliberate laxity. The controversy surrounding Berlin's naturalisation process should be seen in the political context of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government taking a harder stance on migration policies nationwide, including curbs on asylum and deportations.
While Dobrindt's accusations align with this tougher federal approach, there is not definitive evidence from the search results that Berlin’s naturalisation process is improperly lax. Instead, the criticism may partly reflect political disagreements on migration and integration policy rather than proven malpractice or legal violations.
Just days ago, the state of Brandenburg added a new condition to its naturalisation process: applicants must affirm recognition of Israel’s right to exist. Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) is considering introducing a similar clause in Berlin, adding another layer of complexity to the already contentious issue.
In summary, Dobrindt's claims have some basis in the sense that Berlin’s recently accelerated and digitalised naturalisation process has enabled a large volume of citizenship grants, which his ministry critiques as too permissive. However, this needs to be balanced against Berlin’s prior administrative backlog and reforms aimed at modernisation, as well as the political motivations behind the accusations. The naturalisation process in Berlin continues to evolve, and the implications of these changes will be closely watched in the coming months.
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- The debate surrounding Berlin's naturalisation process, with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt accusing the city of being too permissive, unfolds within the broader context of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics, as the nation adopts tougher migration policies under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government.
- Theevolution ofBerlin's naturalisation process, marked by the implementation of a digitalised system and an accelerated volume of citizenship grants, has sparked controversy and general-news discussions, with some criticizing potential lowering of standards and others viewing it as a necessary response to a long-standing administrative backlog.
