Germany eases conditions for obtaining citizenship

“We urgently need qualified labor in many sectors of our economy,” the German interior minister explained on Friday.

Europe’s biggest economy is opening up a bit more to immigration. On Friday 19 January, German deputies adopted a law that eases the conditions for obtaining nationality, specifically to reduce the labor shortage in the country. Under the text, backed by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, it will now be possible to apply for German nationality after five years of residence instead of the current eight.

The law would also open the possibility for more people to hold dual nationality, an opportunity for Germany’s large Turkish community of around 1.5 million citizens. Olaf Scholz welcomed the adoption of this law: “You are part of Germany”He said while addressing “To all who live and work” in the country for decades.

“Global Competition to Attract the Best Minds”

“Our reform is crucial for the German economic situation”Secretary of the Interior, Nancy Fesser, underlined after the adoption of the law. “We are at the center of a global competition to attract the best minds. We urgently need skilled labor in many sectors of our economy”, she added. With around 82 million inhabitants, Germany is facing an aging demographic, which is increasing the stress on the labor market.

“We’ll Need More Immigration”Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned in October, when he wanted “Limit irregular immigration” In Germany, because “Many people are coming”. In this logic of selective immigration, Germany’s labor minister, Hubertus Heil, will travel to Thailand and Vietnam next week, hoping“Attract thinking heads and helping hands”