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Immigration authorities are preparing to naturalize Ukrainians.
- Isabelle Manoli
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have come to Germany. For many of them, the time will come in about two years when they will be eligible for naturalization . From February 24, 2027, onward, numerous new applications could be submitted to the German naturalization authorities . This represents a further significant organizational challenge for the authorities, as German naturalization law is already characterized by absurdly long processing times and sometimes years-long waiting periods.
A wave of naturalization applications is emerging.
The scale of the anticipated wave of applications is enormous. While naturalizing Syrian women was already a major undertaking in the past – with approximately 700,000 potential applicants – the number of Ukrainian women is estimated at around one million. This means the future volume of applications significantly exceeds previous levels . Furthermore, easier access to the labor market means many Ukrainians can more quickly meet the requirements for naturalization, particularly the requirement of securing their livelihood . This could make the upcoming wave of naturalizations even more challenging to organize than previous procedures.
Strategies of immigration authorities
To cope with the anticipated workload, immigration authorities plan to first process existing pending naturalization applications by the end of 2026. Only then will they focus on Ukrainian applicants. The aim is to structure the processes and better manage the expected surge in naturalization applications. Nevertheless, it is expected that the additional applications could further extend the already lengthy processing times and pose significant organizational challenges for the authorities.
Tips for future applicants
For Ukrainians seeking naturalization, it is particularly important to gather information early and prepare the necessary documents carefully. Submitting complete and accurate applications can at least partially avoid potential delays. At the same time, the situation remains challenging for migration professionals: It will be crucial how the authorities manage this new challenge organizationally and whether additional resources are provided to streamline the naturalization process.
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