Germany has recently simplified the requirements for obtaining citizenship. Now the minimum period of residence in the country to obtain a German passport is only 3 years. This means that part of the Ukrainian refugees will have the opportunity to become German citizens already next year. However, the number of our fellow citizens who receive a German passport is already growing. Those who came to Germany before 2022 are in a hurry to become naturalized. In addition, those who marry Germans get citizenship faster.
How many Ukrainians received a German passport in 2023?
According to the data Federal Statistical Office of Germany, published on Tuesday, May 28, during 2023, 5.9 thousand Ukrainians became citizens of Germany. This is 6% more than in 2022. Although this is three times more than in 2021 – then only 1.9 thousand Ukrainians received a German passport.
General statistics
In total, in 2023, more than 200,000 foreigners from 157 countries received German citizenship. Ukrainians make up only 3% of them. Most German passports were issued to people from Syria last year. 75,500 Syrians received German citizenship. This is 38% of the total number, or more than every third new citizen of the country.
In the second and third places are people from Turkey and Iraq. In 2023, 10.7 thousand migrants from these countries received German passports.
The large number of naturalizations of Syrians is related to the migration crisis of 2015-2016, when more than 1 million refugees from Syria entered the country. Many of them now meet the requirements for German citizenship. Migrants lived long enough on the territory of the country and during this time could learn the German language well. In addition, wives/husbands of Syrians and their minor children can be naturalized without a minimum period of residence.
Will Ukrainians receive German citizenship en masse?
If the war continues for a few more years, a similar situation may happen to the Ukrainians, because currently there are about 1.3 million refugees from our country living in Germany. Some of them will be able to apply for a German passport already next year. after three years, a person can become a citizen who has demonstrated notable success in integration – at a high level (C1) knows the language, independently provides for himself and his family, and also shows success in studies or professional activities, or is actively engaged in volunteering.
It is clear that not all refugees will achieve sufficient success in integration. However, after five years of residence in Germany, the requirements for those who want to obtain citizenship are relaxed. In particular, it is enough to confirm the B1 level on the language exam, and it is not necessary to prove special successes in professional or other activities.
Only 52% of Ukrainians are certain or very likely to return to their homeland after the end of the war, the results show research Center for Economic Strategy (CES). However, recently the number of refugees returning home has increased somewhat. During March, more Ukrainian refugees left 9 EU countries than entered them. In particular, the number of our fellow citizens in the Czech Republic decreased by 20.7 thousand (-5.4%) and by 10 thousand people (-21.5%) in Sweden.
The influx of Ukrainians to Germany also decreased by 3%. However, more and more citizens of Ukraine enter the country than leave it. In addition, refugees often move from other European countries to Germany. So, if the poll results are to be believed, if the war continues for another three years, half of the Ukrainians with protection status may stay abroad forever.
