Revolution in citizenship law: bureaucracy will be abolished!

Revolution in citizenship law: bureaucracy will be abolished!

The discussion about reforming the citizenship law in Germany and Austria is gaining momentum. On December 23, 2025, Austrian Integration Minister Raajesh Shetty expressed calls to reduce bureaucracy in accessing citizenship. In particular, the high income hurdle of currently 2,500 euros net is heavily criticized. Shetty emphasizes that the fees for citizenship in particular are too high and that the current requirements are no longer up to date. The Austrian government plans to tackle the reform in the first half of 2026, as Kleine Zeitung reports.

Applicants currently have to prove German language skills at level B1 and have a secure livelihood. There are also income limits, which are currently 1,274 euros net for individuals, while couples have to earn 2,010 euros, plus 197 euros per child. However, the aim is to increase the required German level to B2. In addition, participation in an integration program and a mandatory citizenship course at the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) should become a prerequisite for naturalization.

New citizenship law in Germany

A similar development is taking place in neighboring Germany. The traffic light government's new nationality law comes into force to speed up naturalizations and enable dual citizenship. While it was previously possible to apply for German citizenship after eight years of legal residence, this period has been shortened to five years. In special cases of good integration performance, naturalization can even take place after three years, as Tagesschau explains.

In addition, multiple nationality is generally permitted, which enables naturalized persons not to give up their previous nationality. This is in contrast to the previous regulations, which often required a decision in favor of one of the nationalities. In particular, children of foreign parents receive German citizenship if one parent has lived legally in Germany for more than five years. Language skills are no longer mandatory for members of the guest worker generation, which significantly lowers the hurdles for this group.

Statistical developments and future trends

According to statistical surveys, around 12 million people with foreign citizenship live in Germany, of whom around 5.3 million have lived there for at least ten years. The number of naturalizations has increased in recent years, from 168,545 in 2022 to 200,095 in 2023. The modernization of citizenship law could lead to an increase in the number of dual nationals, particularly among people of Turkish origin, which can promote integration and the recognition of hybrid identities, according to reporting by Federal Political Agency Education.

However, the reform is not fully supported. Critics fear that multi-nationality allows for political say in countries where one is not resident and creates potential conflicts of loyalty. Proponents, on the other hand, see facilitating access to citizenship as an important step towards an inclusive society that recognizes the diversity of its citizens. The discussion about the requirements and regulations for naturalization as well as dual nationalities remains exciting and will continue to generate numerous debates in the coming years.