More naturalizations in 2025 than in the previous year
In 2025, a total of 332,500 people were naturalized in Germany. That was 40,500 people, or 14 percent, more than in the previous year.
By comparison, 292,000 people were granted German citizenship in 2024. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the number of naturalizations has risen.
Particularly noteworthy: For the first time since these statistics were introduced in 2000, more than 300,000 people were naturalized in a single year. In total, approximately 467,400 applications for naturalization were received by the authorities in 2025. At the same time, 371,100 cases were finalized.
Most naturalized citizens come from these countries
As in previous years, Syrian nationals made up the largest group of naturalized citizens. A total of 65,600 people from Syria were granted German citizenship in 2025. This accounts for about one-fifth of all naturalizations.
At the same time, the number of Syrians who became naturalized citizens fell by 21 percent compared to the previous year. The Federal Statistical Office attributes this decline to the fact that many of the Syrian asylum seekers who arrived in Germany between 2014 and 2016 now meet the requirements for German citizenship.
In 2025, the majority of naturalizations were granted to individuals from the following countries of origin:
- Syria: 65,600 people
- Turkey: 34,100 people
- Russia: 19,700 people
- Iraq: 13,800 people
- Afghanistan: 10,900 people
- Ukraine: 10,600 people
- Iran: 10,100
- Kosovo: 9,700 people
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: 8,800 people
- Romania: 8,300 people
While the number of naturalizations of Syrian nationals declined, other countries of origin saw significant increases. Naturalizations rose particularly sharply among people from:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (+126 percent)
- the United States (+100 percent)
- Albania (+97 percent)
- Turkey (+51 percent)
- Russia (+51 percent)
The Federal Statistical Office cites the 2024 reform of citizenship law as a key reason for the increase in the number of Turkish and Russian nationals. Since then, dual citizenship has generally been permitted in Germany. As a rule, those who are naturalized are no longer required to renounce their previous citizenship.
Average length of stay until Naturalization
At the time of Naturalization , most people Naturalization already Naturalization in Germany for an average of 12.4 years. In 2024, the average length of residence was still 11.8 years.
However, there are also significant differences depending on the country of origin. Turkish nationals lived Naturalization Germany for a particularly long time before Naturalization , while Syrian nationals stayed for a slightly shorter period:
- Syria: 7.9 years
- Iran: 8.2 years
- Eritrea: 8.7 years
- Iraq: 9.0 years
- Afghanistan: 9.2 years
- Ukraine: 11.7 years
- United States: 12.4 years
- Russia: 14.1 years
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: 15.1 years
- Turkey: 24.1 years
In 2025, people from Egypt and Albania Naturalization the shortest average length of residence prior to Naturalization . On average, they had lived in Germany for 7.3 years before receiving their German passports. The longest average length of residence was among people from Italy (26.3 years), Austria (27.4 years), and the Netherlands (34.9 years).
Only a few fast-track naturalizations
The majority of naturalizations in 2025 were granted through naturalization by entitlement under § 10 of the German Nationality Act (StAG). This is the standard form of Naturalization. Among other requirements, it requires that applicants
- have been legally residing in Germany for at least five years,
- be able to support themselves on a long-term basis,
- sufficient knowledge of German at the B1 level
- and have a verified identity
- and are committed to the free and democratic basic order.
In 2025, approximately 72 percent of all naturalizations were granted through this process. Another 19 percent were naturalizations of spouses or children. Together, these two forms of Naturalization accounted for Naturalization 91 percent of all cases.
In contrast, so-called "Naturalization" played only a very minor role. In 2025, only about 1,500 people were naturalized under this program. That amounts to less than one percent of all naturalizations.
The "Naturalization temporarilyNaturalization individuals to Naturalization three years of residence if they could demonstrate exceptional efforts toward integration. However, the program was abolished again at the end of October 2025.
