Welcoming a new child into the world is a joyful and exciting time, and soon-to.be parents may be looking forward to taking some time off work to care for their newest family member.
In Germany, generous maternity and paternity leave means that most parents have the opportunity to do just that. As well as a mandated 14 weeks' 'Mutterschutz' or maternity leave for new mothers, 14 months of paid 'Elternzeit' or parental leave can be split between the new parents.
This can be even extended to up to three years if they continue to work part-time.
During this time, foreign parents may wonder if it's still possible to naturalise as German. Since periods of absence from work can be frowned upon, will the authorities take a dim view of relying on Elterngeld (parental allowance) for months on end?
Here's what expecting parents need to know.
Does Elterngeld count as social welfare?
According to German law, people who want to naturalise must show that they can support themselves and their dependents financially without relying on help from the state.
People who rely on benefits like Bürgergeld and Wohngeld - unemployment and housing benefit - can therefore have a hard time becoming naturalised.
Unlike long-term unemployment benefits, however, the payments you receive while on maternity and parental leave do not count as social welfare. That means that, unlike some other forms of income support, getting Elterngeld won't bar you from citizenship.
Nevertheless, immigration experts say that a period of parental leave can still have an impact on how the authorities treat your application.
READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about parental leave in Germany
How can parental leave affect naturalisation?
If you're employed and on an unlimited contract, you still count as employed for the duration of your parental leave, even though you're taking a break. This is a big positive for your citizenship application, as periods of unemployment are rarely seen in a positive light.
However, the authorities must still be convinced that you'll have a secure income after your parental leave is over - and this is where things can get a bit more complicated.
"The naturalisation office makes a prognosis about the future ability to secure one's livelihood," explained Berlin-based immigration lawyer Sven Hasse.
"If a person takes parental leave and the family income depends on the parental allowance, this can give rise to doubts that the person will be able to cover the living costs after the end of the parental leave."
In other words, the authorities will want to be sure that you won't start relying on state benefits after your parental leave is over. According to Hasse, the duration of your working contract and your partner's income could both play a role here.
If you have a partner who doesn't work, or your contract expires during or shortly after parental leave, this could present issues for your application.
On the other hand, if you have a stable job you've been working at for years and an unrestricted contract, this could help reassure the authorities. The same applies if your partner is working full time and on a good salary.
In some scenarios, the naturalisation office may simply put your application on hold until you're back at work so that they know you can secure your livelihood.
READ ALSO: 6 essential articles for German citizenship
What about freelancers?
Since freelancers are self-employed, time off work to look after a new baby doesn't technically count as parental leave.
However, since freelancers are entitled to maternity and parental allowance, they may also decide to reduce their workload for a number of months after a new family member is born.
This may cause the authorities to look a bit more closely at their application. Generally, freelancers are subject to much more scrutiny than their employed counterparts, and may need to do a bit more work to convince the naturalisation office that they will be financially stable after their Elternzeit.
"With self-employed individuals, a prognosis is naturally much more difficult and therefore also more difficult to predict," Hasse explained.
Relevant factors could include whether you continue working on a part-time basis for one or two clients, how long you've supported yourself as a freelancer, any assets you have such as rental property, and whether you have a partner who can also support you.
If the authorities have doubts, they may well put your application on hold until you are once again working at full capacity.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about Germany’s new parental benefits reform
Is there anything I can do to avoid delays?
As we've seen from the exorbitant waiting times around the country, applicants often have little influence on how long the naturalisation process can take.
That said, there are a few things you can do proactively to keep your case worker on-side.
The first, and most important, is to give the naturalisation office punctual and clear updates on your situation.
When you enter maternity or paternity leave, you'll want to send a letter explaining the change. In the letter, be sure to highlight:
- That you are still employed / continuing to practice your freelance profession (if true)
- That you are not reliant on any social benefits
- Any additional sources of income, such as rental income, savings or your partner's income
- When you intend to return to full-time work
Optionally, you could also include supporting documents such as proof of recent income or letters of intent from freelance clients that intend to work with you after you return from parental leave.
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