Citizenship Record in Germany: 291,955 New German Citizens in 2024

The impact of Germany’s new citizenship law is clearly reflected in the statistics. In 2024, the number of people who became German citizens reached a historic peak, increasing by 46% compared to the previous year. The dramatic rise in applications from Russian and Turkish nationals underscores the decisive role of the new dual citizenship regulation.

According to data published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Germany has opened the door to a new era in its migration and integration policy. A total of 291,955 foreigners obtained German citizenship in 2024 — the highest number recorded since statistics began in 2000. This represents not only a significant milestone but also a 46% increase compared to 2023, surpassing all expectations.

The main driving force behind this historic surge was the modernization of the Citizenship Act (StARModG), which came into effect on June 27, 2024, and is commonly known as the “Dual Citizenship Law”. The new regulation reduced the required residency period for naturalization from 8 years to 5, and down to 3 years for those demonstrating special integration achievements. However, the most revolutionary change was the elimination of the requirement to renounce one’s original citizenship.

Syrians Lead the Way

When analyzing the countries of origin of new citizens, the ongoing trend of recent years continued. Many Syrians who arrived in Germany during the 2015–2016 refugee influx have applied for citizenship as soon as they became eligible. In 2024, one in four new citizens (28%) was of Syrian origin. A total of 83,150 Syrians became German nationals, followed by citizens from Turkey (22,525), Iraq (13,545), Russia (12,980), and Afghanistan (10,085).

Record Interest from Turkish and Russian Nationals

One of the most striking aspects of the data is the surge in numbers from Turkish and Russian applicants. The number of Turkish nationals granted citizenship more than doubled, increasing by 110% compared to the previous year. This jump reveals that thousands of long-term residents, previously hesitant to give up their original citizenship, were encouraged by the new law. The average residence duration of 23.1 years among Turkish recipients reinforces this insight.

A similar trend was observed among Russian nationals. While only 1,995 Russians were naturalized in 2023, this figure soared by an astounding 551% to 12,980 in 2024. Their average residence duration of 14.5 years suggests that the real attraction was not the shorter residency requirement but the ability to retain their Russian passport.

Rising Citizenship Trend Across Europe

This upward trend is also the result of Germany’s improved migrant integration policies. The ongoing war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East have led to increased migration toward Germany. Faster processing times for citizenship applications and reduced bureaucratic hurdles have further accelerated the process. Similar increases in citizenship applications are being observed in countries like France and the Netherlands. Experts predict this trend will continue in the coming years.