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The German government has just passed a bill to shorten the time limit for applying for citizenship for qualified immigrants as well as recognize dual citizenship status in the context of Germany's population increasing to 84.3 million people by 2022, mainly due to a record increase in immigration.
However, the country is still facing a workforce crisis as older people gradually withdraw from the workforce. A survey earlier this year found that more than half of German companies are struggling to find staff due to a lack of skilled workers.
Meanwhile, Germany’s naturalization rate is lower than other European countries, with 13 citizenships granted per 10,000 people in 2020 compared to an average of 16 per 10,000 across the European Union. This makes it difficult for foreign workers to integrate into the German economy and society as a whole. Reforming immigration laws is also an important commitment of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government when it takes office in late 2021.
The bill, which will be discussed in parliament in the coming time, aims to create conditions for foreigners to be able to acquire German citizenship after only 5 years, instead of 8 years as at present. Even those who integrate well and have a good level of German will be able to acquire citizenship after only 3 years. These cases also need to prove that they can support themselves, without depending on state support, with some exceptions.
In particular, the bill opens up the opportunity to obtain German citizenship for more people with dual citizenship. Under current German law, only people with a European Union passport or those with a German parent are eligible for dual citizenship.
Dual citizenship is currently generally limited to citizens of European Union countries and Switzerland, although there are exceptions. Around 10 million people, or 12% of the population, live in Germany without a German passport, which prevents them from enjoying basic rights such as voting or holding certain public office positions. It is estimated that after Germany reforms its immigration laws, the number of applications for citizenship will increase by 50% to 100% compared to today.
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