German Citizenship Reform 2024: What Changed

Did the news about Germany's new citizenship law confuse you? Since June 2024, many rules changed. This article explains what is new. It also explains what stayed the same.

Why Germany Changed the Citizenship Law

Germany passed a new law in 2024. Its name is "Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts." The law took effect on June 27, 2024. The goal is faster naturalization. Germany has many long-term residents. Many of them work and pay taxes here. Many raise families here too. The old law made citizenship hard to get. The new law makes it easier.

The Biggest Change: You Can Keep Your Old Citizenship

Before 2024, most applicants had to give up their old citizenship. There were exceptions for EU and Swiss citizens. This rule is now gone. You can become German and keep your other citizenship. This applies to everyone, not only EU citizens. The legal basis is § 10 of the Citizenship Act (StAG).

Shorter Waiting Time: 5 Years Instead of 8

Before the reform, you needed 8 years of legal residence. Now you only need 5 years. This rule is in § 10 Abs. 1 StAG. The years must be legal and continuous.

Even Faster: 3 Years With Special Integration

Some people can apply after only 3 years. This is called "besondere Integrationsleistungen" (special integration achievement). You need very good German skills, at C1 level. You also need one more achievement. Examples are excellent grades, job success, or volunteer work. This rule is in § 10 Abs. 3 StAG.

Children Born in Germany

A child born in Germany to foreign parents can get citizenship at birth. Before 2024, one parent needed 8 years of legal residence. Now 5 years are enough. This rule is in § 4 Abs. 3 StAG.

What Did Not Change

Some rules stayed the same after the reform. You still need to:

• pass the naturalization test (Einbürgerungstest)
• support yourself without state benefits
• commit to the free democratic basic order
• have no serious criminal record

The commitment to the free democratic basic order includes Article 1 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). Article 1 protects human dignity. It says human dignity is inviolable ("die Unantastbarkeit der Menschenwürde"). This is BAMF test question 18. Every applicant must accept this principle.

The 2024 reform also added one new rule. You cannot naturalize if you acted in an antisemitic, racist, or otherwise inhuman way. This exclusion did not exist before 2024.

Supporting Yourself: Why Social Insurance Knowledge Matters

To naturalize, you must pay your own living costs. You should not depend on benefits like Bürgergeld. This connects to how work and insurance function in Germany.

The BAMF test checks if you understand this system. Here are examples from the question pool:

• Most employed people in Germany work for a company or a public authority (question 23).
• The German state finances social insurance through social contributions, called Sozialabgaben (question 35).
• Health insurance is one measure that creates social security in Germany (question 36).
• Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) belongs to social insurance (question 45).

If you understand these facts, you also understand the livelihood rule. Germany's social system works because employed people pay contributions.

Overview: Before and After 2024

Topic	Before 2024	After 2024
General waiting time	8 years	5 years
Fast track	not available	3 years, with conditions
Multiple citizenship	mostly not allowed	allowed
Children born in Germany	parent needs 8 years residence	parent needs 5 years residence
Naturalization test	required	still required
Exclusion for antisemitic or racist acts	not explicit	explicit exclusion rule

A Special Rule for Guest Workers and Contract Workers

The reform also considered older generations. Many people came as guest workers ("Gastarbeiter") before 1974. Others came as contract workers before 1990. Some of them can show language skills without a written test. This rule recognizes their long life in Germany.

Ready for the Test?

The naturalization test still uses 460 questions in total. You get 33 questions in your exam. You need 17 correct answers to pass.

Are you ready for the test? Practice all 460 questions with explanations in your language at /trainer.

Check our pricing page to see all practice options.

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This article is information, not legal advice.