Germany reports a 50 percent rise in naturalizations compared to 2022
A recent survey of 25 German cities reveals a 50 percent increase in the number of people gaining German citizenship over the past two years.
Germany Sees Surge in Citizenship Applications
According to a report by *Welt am Sonntag*, the number of new applications for German citizenship has doubled in the last two years. The survey of the 25 largest German cities found that 81,007 people were naturalized in 2022, a figure that rose to 200,100 in 2023—marking the highest annual total in 23 years.
The increase is expected to continue following the enactment of Germany's new citizenship law in June 2024, which permits dual citizenship and reduces the residency requirement to five years. While completed applications have slightly decreased in 2024, with 122,882 individuals naturalized so far, this may be due to slower processing amid an influx of applications.
Citizenship Applicants Facing Extended Waiting Periods
Germany’s record-high worker shortage and limited administrative staff have led to significant delays in processing the growing number of citizenship applications. The survey found that approximately 217,000 applications are currently pending across 20 German cities.
Average waiting times now stand at 18 months, though some cities, such as Berlin—with 40,000 applications in queue—report that even this estimate may be optimistic. Berlin’s application processing center, LEA, has cautioned applicants to expect “long waiting times” without offering a specific timeframe.