Despite pledging to scrap the bill, Germany's conservatives have agreed on a plan to keep the dual nationality and fast-track citizenship law in place if they enter in a coalition with the centre-left SPD.
The number of people filing lawsuits for delays in their citizenship applications has quadrupled since Berlin brought in its new online system. Here's why many applicants are still deeply unsatisfied with the process.
Germany needs foreigners to survive, but xenophobic politics and long waits for citizenship mean many won’t have a say in its future. With so many disenfranchised, this snap election has been especially galling, writes Imogen Goodman.
Home to several top employers, the German city of Stuttgart exerts a strong pull on foreigners. But what can people expect if they decide to naturalise in the Baden-Württemberg capital?
Immigration has become the most hotly-debated topic in the German election campaign. Here's a guide to leading parties' positions on immigration and citizenship.
Citizenship and immigration rules are a major talking point in the upcoming German elections, with the CDU/CSU threatening to end the right to multiple nationalities. What does this mean for dual nationals who currently hold German citizenship?
Munich is one of the most popular German cities for internationals, but trying to naturalise there isn't always plain sailing. We look at the waiting times for citizenship in the Bavarian capital and how foreigners can apply.
To naturalise as German, you have to pass a citizenship test to show your understanding of life and society. But from chip flavours to bill etiquette, do you have what it takes to REALLY be German?
A motion to tighten up German borders and asylum rules controversially passed the Bundestag this week, relying on votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). But a second motion may tell us more about where dual citizenship is headed.
The bombshell Brexit vote left Brits in Germany scrambling to gain dual nationality before the cut-off date on December 31st 2020. Five years on, here's how Brexit has impacted the number of British citizens becoming German.
Cologne made headlines last year when it stopped processing applications for German citizenship due to the backlog. Now the naturalisation office is back open for business, we look at the latest numbers and what future applicants can expect.
Germany's dual citizenship reform was hailed as a modern step forward by many. But conservatives - and others - can't stop talking about its problems. Rachel Loxton analyses why the reform is so controversial in Germany and what effect it has.
Knowing how Germany's electoral system works is key to understanding if - and how - certain immigration and citizenship laws could be changed under the next federal government.
Going further than its sister party the CDU, Bavaria's CSU has called for a return for eight-year residence requirements for those who want to naturalise as Germans.
The upcoming early election on February 23rd is the first one to take place since the government's new citizenship reform - which allows dual citizenship - came into force. So how soon do you need to have citizenship in order to vote this time?
Several changes to migration rules have come into effect since the start of 2025, and further changes are being debated. Here are the ones likely to have the biggest impact on the lives of Germany's foreign residents.
In a new interview, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called for drastic changes to Germany's citizenship reform and suggested tightening the law around revoking passports from dual citizens who commit crimes.
Germany's centre-right CDU and CSU have long been vociferous opponents of the dual nationality law. As the federal election draws nearer, they are pledging to revoke key parts of it.
Although the new law allowing dual citizenship for everyone only came into effect in June, a fortunate few new German citizens will be able to vote in the country's upcoming early elections.
Germany's conservatives are currently on track to enter the next government after the early elections in February. Here are some of the key policies they want to reverse if they return to power next year.
Foreign residents applying for German citizenship in cities like Frankfurt and Darmstadt face long waits. A new investigation shines a light on the naturalisation backlogs and delays in Hesse's major cities.
The 'traffic light' coalition government passed landmark citizenship and immigration reforms, which have benefitted foreigners in Germany. What might happen to these laws following new elections?
A social media post by far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel has accused Berlin of giving out German passports in a "clearance sale" without making applicants go through interviews. We put the claim under a microscope.
Many foreign residents in Germany are eager to get citizenship now that dual nationality is allowed. But with a surge of applications, German cities are struggling with backlogs.
