On 27 June 2024, Germany’s Act to Modernise Nationality Law entered into force, bringing substantial changes for migrants and long-term residents. The reform centres on two main pillars: a shorter residence period for naturalisation and a broad opening towards multiple citizenships.

First, the regular residence requirement for naturalisation was reduced from eight to five years of lawful, habitual residence. For a short period, an accelerated three-year track for “exceptionally well-integrated” applicants existed in the law, but parliament repealed this fast-track route in October 2025. The five-year rule, however, remains fully in force.

In practice, this means that a person who has lived in Germany for five years, has at least B1 German, can largely support themselves and accepts Germany’s constitutional order can apply for citizenship significantly earlier than before.

Second, the reform fundamentally reshapes Germany’s stance on dual and multiple citizenship. Previously, Germany’s default approach was to avoid multiple nationality, with only narrow exceptions for EU nationals or cases where renouncing the original citizenship was impossible or unreasonable. Since 27 June 2024, however, new citizens are generally allowed to retain their previous nationality, and German nationals who acquire a foreign citizenship after that date can normally keep their German passport without applying for a special retention permit.

For many long-term residents, this is more than a legal technicality. People with Turkish, Arab or other backgrounds no longer have to choose between a German passport and their original citizenship. The law sends a symbolic message: it is possible to become a full member of German society without cutting one’s formal ties to the country of origin.

At the same time, core naturalisation conditions remain unchanged in spirit:

• sufficient German language skills (normally level B1; C1 was relevant only to the now-abolished fast track),
• no serious criminal convictions,
• commitment to the free democratic order,
• and, as far as possible, economic self-sufficiency.

From an integration perspective, the reform does two things at once:
It recognises that Germany is a country of immigration that needs stable, fully included citizens; and it links citizenship more clearly to real integration achievements in language, work and civic life, rather than mere passive residence.

For many residents, the takeaway is clear:
if you regularise your status, learn the language, and participate in working life or education, five years can now be enough to move from “permanent migrant” to German citizen with dual nationality – without having to choose between your different identities.