Germany's Berlin has announced the launch of an online
citizenship application form for foreigners. The online form will enable foreigners to learn about their
eligibility and apply for German citizenship.
Since January 1, 2024, the State Immigration Office (LEA) has been in charge of determining citizenship eligibility and receiving applications. Berliners without a German passport can now visit their local LEA's website to fill out a questionnaire that will produce a personalized statement regarding their eligibility for citizenship.
According to I Am Expat Germany, the newly available online
form evaluates applicants' eligibility based on current citizenship criteria.
Applicants must demonstrate legal presence in Germany for at least six years,
B1 German language proficiency, and a refusal to accept unemployment benefits.
Applicants can fill out paperwork and submit required papers once these
conditions are met. The application price is €225 per individual, and payment
must be made once all other procedures have been completed. The new online form
allows candidates to upload papers directly to the website.
Berlin's Interior Senator, Iris Spranger, stated that, given
the backlog of citizenship applications, the goal is to enhance the capital's
naturalisation rate.
“Our goal is to noticeably increase the
naturalisation rate in Berlin. Recently, procedures in the districts have
continued to pile up and the waiting times were clearly too long. This has put
many people off. Centralisation will give naturalisation a new significance in
our city,” Berlin’s Interior Senator, Iris Spranger stated.
According to Berlin.de, the LEA is managing over 34,000
pending cases, the majority of which are naturalization applications.
Naturalisation is essential for social integration and involvement. In 2022,
8,875 foreigners were granted German citizenship in Berlin, and 8,640 persons were
naturalized by November 30. All eligible Berliners are urged to apply for
citizenship, as the authorities believe it is beneficial to both sides.
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