The new naturalization law in Germany, approved by the Bundestag, simplifies the…

Overview

The new naturalization law in Germany, approved by the Bundestag, simplifies the process of obtaining citizenship for legal immigrants, reducing the required period of residence to five years instead of the previous eight years. Now, immigrants can accumulate German citizenship with other nationalities, without the requirement to renounce their original citizenship (which no longer affected Brazilians), making the country more attractive for qualified workers. Furthermore, the legislation establishes the possibility of reducing the period of residence to three years for those who demonstrate exceptional integration, while children born in Germany to parents who have been legally resident for more than five years will automatically receive German citizenship. However, the new law also imposes restrictions, excluding those who depend entirely on state support and denying citizenship to individuals involved in anti-Semitic, racist, xenophobic or other defamatory crimes considered incompatible with democratic values.