Citizenship Modernisation Act — dual citizenship allowed, residency requirement cut
The Staatsangehörigkeitsmodernisierungsgesetz came into force on 27 June 2024. Multiple citizenship is now permitted (previously, most non-EU applicants had to renounce their prior nationality). The standard residency requirement for naturalisation was reduced from eight years to five, and to three years for applicants demonstrating exceptional integration. Children born in Germany to non-German parents acquire citizenship at birth if one parent has been lawfully and habitually resident for at least five years.
Who it affects: Non-German residents seeking naturalisation; children of foreign residents born in Germany.
BMI — New law on nationality takes effect (27 June 2024) ↗ · Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette) ↗ · verified 2026-04-18