10,000 Afghans Gained German Citizenship last year

DIDPress: Nearly 292,000 individuals received German citizenship last year. Among them, at least 10,000 were Afghan nationals, announced Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.

This marks an unprecedented 46% increase in naturalizations compared to previous years—a surge directly linked to the fundamental reforms in Germany’s citizenship law introduced in June 2023.

Among the nationalities that have benefited most from the changes, Syrians top the list with 28%, followed by Turks (8%), Iraqis (5%), Russians (4%), and Afghans in fifth place with 3%.

The revised law, aimed at easing the integration of migrants, reduced the required residency period for naturalization from 8 years to 5 years, and in special cases, even to 3 years.

It also allows applicants to retain their original citizenship, making dual nationality possible for thousands of migrants, including Afghans and those of Turkish descent.

Given the unstable situation in Afghanistan and the mass migration following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, a significant number of Afghan nationals have successfully transitioned from residency to citizenship under the new conditions.

Afghans’ strong presence in Germany—especially their contributions to the labor market and participation in social integration programs—has also played a key role in accelerating this process.

While the path to citizenship has become more accessible, Germany’s current coalition government—comprised of conservative and social democratic parties—is reviewing possible revisions to the law.

Conservatives have expressed concerns that shorter waiting periods may encourage increased migration and trigger new waves of public discontent.

Many analysts view these changes as a step toward modern and humane migration policies, while others warn they may increase cultural, economic, and political pressures on the host society.