Like it or not, proving your own financial stability is required to naturalise as German. But are the rules around meeting the requirement clear? Here's what our readers told us based on their own experiences.
The requirements for German citizenship are well documented, as is the application process and wait times involved, but how many applications are rejected? The Local asked immigration authorities in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt to find out.
As a foreigner in Germany the rights you’re afforded, and the hoops you need to jump through, are determined by your residency or citizenship status. One common question that comes up is the differences between them. Here's an overview.
Just the words “German bureaucracy” can send a shiver down the spine - of native born Germans as well as relative newcomers to the country, but by following some simple but key advice, German paperwork can be made easier.
If it takes the immigration office months or even years to reach a decision on a citizenship application, people in Germany can sue over its 'failure to act'. This year, Berlin's immigration authority faced a record number of lawsuits.
Members of Germany's coalition government want to introduce a 10-year ban on naturalisation for anyone who tries to qualify for citizenship using a forged language certificate.
If you see your future in Germany then you might be considering applying for German citizenship. From fulfilling residency requirements to naturalising through marriage or descent, we look at the different ways to qualify.
After several lawmakers questioned the principle of dual citizenship as it currently exists in Germany, The Local spoke to an immigration lawyer who pointed out that limiting dual citizenship could actually make it harder to deport criminals.
Most people need to sit the citizenship exam if they want to naturalise as German citizens - but not everyone has to. These are the lucky groups who can skip that part of the process.
Despite recent changes to Germany's citizenship law, conservative politicians are continuing to target it. Are we likely to see dual citizenship rights for foreigners reversed? We put the question to lawmakers in the CDU and SPD to find out.
An amendment ending the fast-track to German citizenship for well integrated residents has come into force after previously being passed by the federal cabinet and the Bundestag.
Multiple conservative leaders have jumped on a national debate around immigration to call for changes to Germany's dual citizenship rules, which were liberalised last year. What's being said and how likely are further reforms?
Demonstrating financial stability, and not relying on certain welfare benefits, is among the basic requirements to gain German citizenship. We asked our readers if they thought this was fair, and some mentioned cases where it gets complicated.
If you’re planning to apply for citizenship, you may be wondering if the German passport is something that could ever be revoked after you get it. Here are the few conditions which could lead to someone losing their citizenship.
Germany’s Bundestag has voted to abolish the fast-track naturalisation process, ending the possibility for particularly well-integrated migrants to obtain German citizenship after just three years of residence.
Politicians will seize a rare opportunity this week to argue against Germany's rules on 'financial independence' for people hoping to naturalise. We look at the problems with the current system – and the chances it might change.
Those foreign citizens who have already applied for the three-year 'turbo' German citizenship path will not see their applications processed once the option is axed in an upcoming law change, The Local can reveal.
Taking parental leave to bond with a newborn child is a wonderful experience, but if you're applying for German citizenship, you may be wondering if this break from work could impact your application. We look at the rules and offer some helpful tips.
Germany's Bundestag will debate and vote on the government's push to get rid of the three-year path to citizenship, dubbed "turbo naturalisation" by critics, on October 8th.
For some, proving financial independence can be the hardest hurdle to clear to achieve German citizenship - that's especially true for anyone who has recently lost their job. Stephanie Liao shares her experience.
Being able to demonstrate financial security is a prerequisite for naturalising as German, and this can get complicated for anyone who receives short-term unemployment benefits. The Local asked several immigration offices for clarification.
The sale of counterfeit language and integration certificates, such as those used for residence or naturalisation applications in Germany, has caused a stir in the media. But how big is the problem really?
Not all foreign nationals are eligible for dual citizenship even after Germany changed the rules. The Local spoke with long-term residents from India about their thoughts on the new law and whether they would renounce their Indian citizenship to naturalise.
