Germany approves a historic amendment to citizenship law
On Friday, the German Federal Council of States (Bundesrat) approved the new German Citizenship Amendment Act, which includes historic amendments to the law that expand the conditions for obtaining citizenship and expand the possibility of holding two citizenship, to significantly reduce the labor shortage that the largest economic power in Europe suffers from.
With this final approval, the new law enters into force.
The German House of Representatives approved the new amendments on the nineteenth of last month.
Last August, the German Council of Ministers announced its approval of the draft law before referring it to the House of Representatives for approval.
Most notable modification in the law:
Immigrants living in Germany legally will be allowed to apply for citizenship after only five years instead of eight as is currently the case.
Children born in Germany will automatically obtain German citizenship, provided that at least one parent has lived legally in the country for five years or more.
Children born in Germany to foreign parents will no longer need to choose between German citizenship and the citizenship of their parents when they reach legal age.
Dual citizenship will be allowed for immigrants.
