In a significant development, German lawmakers have voted in favor of legislation that seeks to simplify the process of gaining citizenship and eliminates restrictions on holding dual citizenship. The government argues that these reforms will enhance immigrant integration and attract skilled workers to the country.

With a majority vote of 382-234, the plan proposed by center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's socially liberal coalition received parliamentary approval, despite criticism from the main center-right opposition bloc, who claimed that it would devalue German citizenship.

Under the new legislation, individuals can become eligible for citizenship after residing in Germany for five years, or three years in the case of "special integration accomplishments." This marks a reduction from the current requirement of eight or six years. In addition, the children of German-born individuals will automatically receive citizenship if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, decreasing the previous requirement of eight years.

Furthermore, the reforms eliminate restrictions on holding dual citizenship, except for individuals from European Union countries and Switzerland. Previously, most non-EU citizens were obliged to renounce their original nationality upon acquiring German citizenship, with certain exemptions.

The German government highlights that approximately 14% of the population, which amounts to over 12 million people out of a total of 84.4 million inhabitants, do not hold German citizenship. Of this number, around 5.3 million individuals have resided in Germany for at least a decade. Germany's naturalization rate is currently below the European Union average.

In 2022, approximately 168,500 people were granted German citizenship, the highest figure since 2002. This increase was largely attributed to a significant influx of Syrian citizens over the past decade. However, this number still represents only a small portion of long-term residents.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser states that these reforms bring Germany in line with neighboring European countries like France and are necessary to attract a greater number of skilled workers. Faeser emphasized the need to offer a pathway to German citizenship, similar to the United States and Canada.

The reforms also require individuals seeking naturalization to demonstrate the ability to support themselves and their dependents. However, there are exceptions for those who arrived as "guest workers" before 1974 in West Germany and those who migrated to communist East Germany for employment purposes.

The existing law requires aspiring citizens to commit to the principles of the "free democratic fundamental order," with the new legislation specifically stating that acts of anti-Semitism and racism are incompatible with these principles.

In a video message, Chancellor Scholz addressed concerns over the far-right's stance towards immigrants and affirmed that "we are telling all those who often have lived and worked for decades in Germany, who keep to our laws: You belong in Germany."

The conservative opposition argues that these new citizenship requirements come at a time when other countries are tightening their own rules. Christian Democrat Alexander Throm asserted that the reforms devalue German citizenship and cautioned that lifting restrictions on dual citizenship would introduce foreign political conflicts into German politics.

The citizenship law reforms are part of a broader series of social changes planned by Chancellor Scholz's coalition government, which also includes proposed liberalization of cannabis possession and sales regulations, as well as simplified procedures for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals to change their gender and name in official records. Both of these measures are still subject to parliamentary approval.

This notable citizenship reform comes on the heels of lawmakers recently passing legislation aimed at streamlining the deportation process for unsuccessful asylum-seekers.