Germany has set a new record for naturalizations, with 332,500 people acquiring German citizenship in 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office. That represents a 14 percent increase over the previous year, driven largely by a reform of citizenship law that took effect in June 2024 under the former traffic-light coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP.
Syrians still top, but numbers drop
The largest group of new citizens were Syrians, accounting for 20 percent of all naturalizations. However, nearly 20,000 fewer Syrians naturalized compared to 2024. Turks came second with 10 percent, followed by Russians at 6 percent. Notable surges were seen among citizens of Bosnia (+126 percent to 8,800), the United States (+100 percent to 6,600), and Albania (+97 percent to 6,100).
Almost all newly naturalized Germans are opting for dual citizenship, the Integration Media Service reports. The 2024 reform made dual citizenship the legal standard, eliminating the previous requirement to renounce one's original nationality. It also shortened the residency requirement for naturalization from eight to five years.
Political reactions and the AfD
The figures drew sharp criticism from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Party leader Alice Weidel wrote on social media: “The new citizens are making use of the benefits of being German without committing themselves to Germany. For the AfD one thing is clear: mass naturalizations must be stopped and naturalizations that have already taken place must be put to the test.”
In contrast, Sebastian Fiedler, the SPD parliamentary group’s spokesperson on domestic policy, defended the policy. “We are working excellently with the Union on the basis of the coalition agreement. I am pleased that, as part of this, we have also maintained dual citizenship in law as a successful model,” he told Die Welt. He added that only “well-integrated people” can become German, calling the figures “good for all of us: good for the labour market, the welfare systems and for our social cohesion.”
Ukrainian wave looms in 2027
Around 1.3 million Ukrainian nationals currently live in Germany, and from spring 2027 they could overtake Syrians as the largest group of new citizens. Ukrainians in Europe have been under EU temporary protection, which is set to expire in March 2027. EU interior ministers are discussing possible extensions, with two versions circulating: a blanket extension, or one that excludes Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 from new arrivals.
Local authorities are already bracing for a surge. “The citizenship authorities are already working to full capacity as it is,” Die Welt quoted from a document by the German Association of Cities. Additional demand from Ukrainians could lead to a “permanent overload situation,” the document warns. Some municipalities, like the district of Uelzen and the city of Flensburg, argue that a residence permit does not automatically entitle holders to naturalization. Others, such as Leer in Lower Saxony, are preparing for a flood of applications.
Coalition compromise on citizenship
The CDU, now in coalition with the SPD, had pushed for tougher naturalization rules. Alexander Throm, a CDU politician, called for extending the residency requirement back to eight years and abolishing dual citizenship. However, the black-red coalition agreement only states: “We are abolishing ‘turbo naturalization’ after three years. Beyond that, we are upholding the reform of citizenship law.” This leaves the 2024 reform largely intact, though the fast-track option for highly integrated individuals has been removed.
The record naturalizations come amid broader debates about migration and integration in Germany. The country has also faced tensions with the EU over internal border checks, as Berlin defied Brussels by rejecting demands to end controls at its borders, citing migration management. Meanwhile, Germany's failure to secure a UN Security Council seat for the first time has raised questions about its diplomatic influence.
As the 2027 deadline approaches, the interplay between EU temporary protection decisions and German naturalization policy will be critical. For now, the record numbers reflect a country that has made citizenship more accessible, but also one grappling with the administrative and political consequences of that choice.
