A new national record for naturalization is taking shape in Germany. Last year, at least 309,852 people received German citizenship. This figure surpasses the previous nationwide record of 291,955 naturalizations that occurred in 2024.
This information, reported by “Welt am Sonntag” is based on data provided by 14 states; some states have released the figures themselves, while others provided them upon request. It is noted that some of these values are still preliminary, and no official figures are yet available from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or Saxony-Anhalt, nor are comprehensive totals available for Lower Saxony, Saarland, or Schleswig-Holstein, although almost all municipalities and districts in those states have provided their data when asked.
While several local authorities are currently reporting a decline in applications, they are already preparing for what is anticipated to be the next surge in citizenships. According to several governmental agencies, the number of Ukrainians seeking German citizenship is expected to increase significantly next year. A spokesperson for the Aurich district told the newspaper that since the first major wave of refugees began with the start of the Ukraine conflict on February 24, 2022, many of those initial refugees will reach the required five-year preliminary residence period by spring 2027. Furthermore, the collective protection status granted in March 2027 is set to expire. To secure legal certainty, it is anticipated that many refugees will then utilize the shortened five-year period for naturalization, a process that has become even more appealing due to the new allowance for dual citizenship.
Compared to the refugees from 2015/2016, Ukrainian refugees benefit from significant structural advantages. Thanks to immediate access to the labor market, many can demonstrate stable income much faster than required. Moreover, they circumvent long asylum procedures and identity checks. Consequently, a renewed sharp rise in application numbers is anticipated.
Other municipalities are also predicting rising application rates, though they emphasize that those currently under the protection status have no legal entitlement to citizenship. As revealed by the survey, different opinions persist regarding the best ways to handle Ukrainian refugees who seek German citizenship.
