New naturalization record in Berlin: 16,600 new Germans in the first half of 2025
- VG3
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Berlin is currently experiencing a historic surge in naturalizations : By the end of May 2025, 16,651 foreign citizens had already been naturalized in the capital—almost as many as in the entire previous year. If this pace continues, the number of naturalizations could even double compared to 2024.
Naturalization boost on the verge of collapse
The reason for the current rush: the still-valid option of so-called turbo naturalization . Since 2024, people have been able to apply for a German passport after just three years of residence – a rule introduced under the then traffic light coalition. However, the new federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to abolish this process. In the future, at least five years of residence will generally be a prerequisite for naturalization.
For this reason, many foreigners are now applying for naturalization. In May alone, another 3,233 people were naturalized before the change in the law took effect. According to Berlin State Secretary Christian Hochgrebe (SPD), no figures are available on how many of these had actually fulfilled the previous five-year period.
Berlin administration on record course
The Berlin Senate had already prepared for a naturalization boom under the previous red-red-green coalition government: The State Office for Immigration (LEA) in Berlin-Wedding now employs 862 permanent staff . The political goal: 40,000 naturalizations per year.
2024 already set a record: 21,811 naturalizations were registered—more than twice as many as in 2023 (9,041). The proportion of so-called discretionary naturalizations (4,008 cases), naturalizations for compensation, and people with particularly close ties to Germany was particularly high.
Countries of origin: Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine in front
Most of the naturalization applicants come from Syria. However, the origins of the new citizens present a diverse picture:
Europe : Turkey (1563), Russia (1515), Ukraine (1458)
Africa : Egypt (469), Tunisia (305), Morocco (133)
America : USA (283), Brazil (258), Mexico (164)
Asia : Syria by far the leader (6146), followed by Iran (872) and Iraq (554)
The previous nationality of 1,371 people could not be clearly determined.
Who will be naturalized?
It's also interesting to note how long the naturalization applicants have been living in Germany. Many of the naturalized citizens have already lived in Germany for years:
7350 people : less than eight years
11,608 people : eight to 15 years
1974 people : more than 20 years
The passport was granted particularly frequently to 30- to 35-year-olds—4,454 people. However, naturalization is also possible at an advanced age: 156 people over the age of 70 received German citizenship in 2024.
Conclusion
The current wave of naturalizations demonstrates that the desire for integration and belonging is strong – especially in times of political uncertainty. However, with the impending end of turbo naturalization, the pace of naturalization is likely to slow again soon. Whether Berlin will still achieve its ambitious goal of 40,000 naturalizations per year remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the capital is becoming more diverse than ever.
You might also be interested in: Status of naturalization in Berlin (beginning of 2025)
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