Bremen (dpa)
Germany's new immigration law, which allows for German citizenship in five instead of eight years and also generally permits applicants to keep their country of origin citizenship, was long overdue, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"Being a successful country of immigration gives Germany a historic opportunity," Scholz said on Monday during a naturalization ceremony in the port city of Bremen.
The reform would enable Germany to attract sufficient labour and remain a growing country in future, he said. The law, which has been in effect since June, allows citizenship after just three years of residency if the applicant can show exceptional integration achievements. These include good performance at school or work, language skills, or voluntary work.
Scholz was pleased that more and more immigrants are applying for a German passport. "Anyone who lives here permanently, who works here and who appreciates and honours our democracy' should be able to become a German citizen," said Scholz as he congratulated 11 people from Guinea, Syria, Colombia, Jordan, Ethiopia, Mexico, Ghana, Russia and Ukraine who received their naturalization certificates at the ceremony in Bremen's town hall.
In Germany's smallest federal state, the desire for German citizenship has recently increased significantly. According to the authorities, just under 2,300 people applied for naturalization in 2020, compared to almost 5,800 in 2023.
With the new immigration law, interest is even greater - Bremen expects to receive around 10,000 applications this year.