German Citizenship: Record High Naturalizations and Sharp Rise Among Russians

In 2024, nearly 292,000 people acquired German citizenship — the highest number since records began in 2000. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this marks a 46% increase compared to 2023. Experts attribute the spike to the recent liberalization of citizenship laws.

Naturalization by Country of Origin

Syrians led the chart with 83,150 new citizens, making up 28% of the total. They were followed by:

Turkey – 22,525 (8%)

Iraq – 13,545 (5%)

Russia – 12,980 (4%)

Afghanistan – 10,085 (3%)

The most striking surge was among Russian nationals, whose naturalizations jumped from just 1,995 in 2023 to 12,980 in 2024 — a 551% increase. In absolute numbers, the largest increase was among Turkish nationals (+11,790), but Russians saw the fastest growth rate.

This was not driven by reduced residency requirements but by expanded rights to retain dual citizenship. Previously, only 23% of Russians naturalized with dual status; the new law made this option more accessible.

Looking at the ratio of naturalizations to the total number of residents from each country, the pattern shifts:

22% of stateless individuals acquired citizenship

9% of Syrians

6% of Iraqis

5% of Russians

2% of Turks

This shows that integration is influenced by legal and cultural factors, not just the number of applications. Citizenship remains both a legal milestone and a strategic step for families living long-term in Germany without full rights.

New Law: Shorter Residency, Dual Citizenship Allowed

On June 27, 2024, the new Citizenship Modernization Act came into force. It reduced the residency requirement from eight to five years (§10 Abs. 1 StAG). For well-integrated applicants (education, work), citizenship is now available in just three years (§10 Abs. 3 StAG).

The reform also legalized dual citizenship for most cases.

In 2024, 7% of new citizens gained their passports via this fast-track route. 86% followed the standard path or received citizenship via family.

Average Length of Stay Before Citizenship

Overall average: 11.8 years (vs 10.9 in 2023)

Syrians: 7.4 years

Afghans and Iraqis: ~9 years

Russians: 14.5 years

Turks: 23.1 years

This indicates that many long-time residents opted for naturalization only after the dual passport rule changed.

What’s Next: Fast-Track May Be Scrapped

In 2025, new legislation could revoke the fast-track naturalization path. A bill now in the Bundestag proposes eliminating the 3-year rule, even for well-integrated individuals. It also seeks a 2-year pause on family reunification for holders of subsidiary protection.

If passed, the law could slow down future naturalizations and restrict access for applicants who had planned on simplified routes. However, the 5-year rule and dual citizenship provisions remain unchanged for now.