Germany: The evidence number of foreigners gained German citizenship in 2025

The number of naturalizations increased by 14 percent, i.e. by 40,5 1000 people compared to 2024, erstwhile citizenship gained 292,000 foreigners. This is the 5th yearly growth.

– always since the beginning of statistics, i.e. since 2000, no more than 300 1000 people have been naturalized in 1 year," the national Statistical Office emphasized.

According to the data, the alleged standard naturalizations, which required at least a five-year stay in Germany, and the naturalizations of spouses and children, prevailed. In total, they accounted for 91% of all cases.

The largest naturalised group were Syrian citizens – about 65.6 1000 people (20%), although they fell by 21% compared to 2024. The Turks (10%) and the Russians (6%) were in the following places.

In both groups, the number of naturalizations increased by more than half year-on-year.

Particularly dynamic growth was recorded among the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (plus 126 percent, to 8.8,000), the United States (plus 100 percent, to 6.6 thousand) and Albania (plus 97 percent, to 6.1 thousand).

A full of 467,4 1000 naturalisation applications were submitted in 2025. Of the 371.1 1000 completed proceedings, about 90% were closed with citizenship. 3% of applicants were refused.

Reform of the Naturalization Act, passed by the erstwhile SPD government coalition, The Greens and Liberals under Chancellor Olaf Scholz have been in force since June 2024. It introduced the anticipation of maintaining existing citizenship in naturalisation. Previously, this law was only applicable to EU citizens and in exceptional cases.

It is possible to grant German citizenship after 5 years, not – as before – after 8 years in Germany.