Foreign individuals, numbering approximately 16,600, had their citizenship granted within a span of five months.
In a remarkable turn of events, Berlin, the German capital, has witnessed a significant surge in naturalizations, with a record 21,000 new citizens in 2024[1]. This increase is part of a nationwide trend, as Germany naturalized a total of 291,955 individuals, marking a 46% increase over the previous year[1][3][5].
The composition of naturalized citizens in Berlin has also undergone notable changes, reflecting shifts in the country of origin and demographic factors. Syrians remain the largest group, with 83,150 new citizens in Germany in 2024, maintaining their top position from the previous year[1][2][5]. A dramatic increase can be seen in Turkish naturalizations, which more than doubled in 2024, reaching 22,525[2], largely due to reforms in the citizenship law. Russian nationals also saw a substantial surge, with nearly 13,000 naturalizations in 2024, up from 1,995 in the previous year[2], likely influenced by geopolitical and migration trends.
The changes in the Citizenship Act, effective from June 27, 2024, have eased naturalization by reducing residency requirements from eight years to five years, or even three years under integration conditions[2]. The new law also allows for dual citizenship and automatically grants citizenship to children born in Germany if at least one parent has legally resided for five years[2]. These reforms are expected to particularly benefit younger immigrants and families, leading to an increase in the number of naturalized children and younger adults, although exact age breakdowns are not detailed in the available data.
Among the new Germans in Berlin, at least partially European states, Turkey, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine are the top four origin countries[2]. The changes in the citizenship law have enabled at least 156 women and men to receive the German passport at the age of over 70[6]. It is worth noting that, as of the end of May 2023, 16,651 naturalizations had been carried out in Berlin[4], and an annual target of 40,000 naturalizations has been mentioned as a political goal.
The former red-red-green Senate had increased the capacities at the Office for Naturalizations in Wedding to 862 permanent employees[7]. However, Berlin's State Secretary for the Interior, Christian Hochgrebe, could not answer how many foreigners were naturalized in the capital this year after a five-year legal residence[8]. This information remains to be seen as the effects of the new citizenship law continue to unfold.
In conclusion, Berlin's naturalized citizen population in 2024 reflects both quantitative growth and qualitative shifts, spurred by significant citizenship law reforms that ease naturalization and promote dual nationality, especially benefiting Syrian, Turkish, and Russian origin populations as well as younger immigrants and children of immigrants[1][2][5].
References: [1] https://www.berlin.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zur-veroeffentlichung-der-statistiken-zur-deutschen-staatsangehörigkeit-2024-1128137.php [2] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/integration/staatsangehörigkeitsreform-2022-1031024 [3] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/staatsangehoerigkeitsstatistik-2023-1031025 [4] https://www.berlin.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zur-veroeffentlichung-der-statistiken-zur-deutschen-staatsangehoerigkeit-2023-1128136.php [5] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/integration/staatsangehoerigkeitsstatistik-2022-1031026 [6] https://www.berlin.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zur-veroeffentlichung-der-statistiken-zur-deutschen-staatsangehoerigkeit-2024-1128137.php [7] https://www.berlin.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zur-veroeffentlichung-der-statistiken-zur-deutschen-staatsangehoerigkeit-2023-1128136.php [8] https://www.berlin.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zur-veroeffentlichung-der-statistiken-zur-deutschen-staatsangehoerigkeit-2024-1128137.php
- The changes in Germany's policy-and-legislation on citizenship have led to a surge in naturalizations, particularly among Syrian, Turkish, and Russian individuals, as evidenced by the record 21,000 new citizens in Berlin alone, a 46% increase from the previous year.
- The new German politics on citizenship, which includes easing requirements, promoting dual citizenship, and granting citizenship to children born in Germany if at least one parent has legally resided for five years, have resulted in a notable shift in the composition of naturalized citizens, with Europe, Turkey, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine being the top four origin countries.
