Germany’s new dual citizenship law, passed on January 19, 2024, and enacted on June 27, 2024, allows individuals to acquire German citizenship while retaining their original nationality. This reform is the result of a 42-year effort by German-Turkish organizations and activists, including Professor Hakkı Keskin.
Key changes under the new law include:
- Reduced residency requirement for naturalization from 8 to 5 years, or even 3 years for those with strong German language skills.
- Elimination of the written German language test for the first generation of immigrants arriving before 1974.
- Automatic German citizenship for children born in Germany to at least one parent with legal residency of five years.
- Exclusion of individuals who reject democratic principles, engage in hate speech, or advocate for Sharia law.
The law signifies Germany’s recognition as a country of immigration and aims to promote inclusivity and social cohesion.
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