Increased Number of Foreigners Applying for German Citizenship in Bavaria

Key Takeaways

1. The introduction of dual citizenship laws has led to a significant increase in citizenship applications, particularly impacting the Bavarian region.
2. Bavarian authorities are experiencing a backlog due to the surge in applications.
3. The processing of applications is further delayed by a shortage of personnel.

Several cities and towns in Bavaria, Germany, have seen a record number of citizenship applications following the country's decision to allow dual citizenship. The sudden rise in applications is straining local authorities, who are struggling to keep up with the demand due to limited staffing.

The new citizenship rules, introduced at the end of June, have made it easier for foreigners to obtain German citizenship, prompting the surge in applications.

Bavarian Cities & Towns Facing Record Numbers of Citizenship Applications

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, received more citizenship applications by early August than it did in all of 2023. According to *Augsburger Allgemeine*, nearly one-third of the essential staff positions remain unfilled, leading to processing times of up to two years.

In Augsburg, over 3,000 applications have been submitted, surpassing the expectations of public order officer Frank Pintsch. Most applicants are from Turkey, Russia, and Balkan countries, who had to renounce their previous citizenship under the new law. The dual citizenship policy has sparked significant interest among residents in obtaining German citizenship.

Bamberg has also seen a rise in citizenship applications, with 178 people granted German citizenship between January and July—matching the total number of applications received in all of 2019.

"The offices are mentally prepared, but not in terms of personnel," said Thomas Karmasin, Head of the Bavarian District Council.

In Kempten, the number of citizenship requests is expected to double, reaching 450 by the end of the year. Romanians, Italians, and Turks are the primary nationalities applying.

Over 200,000 People Gained German Citizenship in 2023

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 200,095 people were granted German citizenship in 2023, with the majority coming from Asia (58.5 percent).

Distribution by Continent

• - Europe: 58,165 people (29 percent)
• - Africa: 13,235 people (6.61 percent)
• - America: 6,305 people (3.15 percent)
• - Australia and Oceania: 100 people (0.04 percent)
• - Stateless: 5,150 people (2.57 percent)

Syrians were the largest group to gain citizenship, with 75,485 individuals representing 37.7 percent of all nationalities. Turkish nationals followed, with 10,735 obtaining citizenship, closely trailed by Iraqis (10,710).