Berlin: Investigations against employees of the State Office for Immigration
In Berlin, a 38-year-old official of the State Office for Immigration (LEA) is suspected of having illegally naturalized a family of four from North Macedonia.
According to the police, he allegedly created naturalization certificates himself, forged signatures and used a foreign seal. Particularly explosive: the family's immigration files were subsequently deleted - presumably with the help of a colleague's access.
Two members of the naturalized family (a 36-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man) are suspected of having bribed the employee of the authorities. A personal relationship between the employee of the authority and the naturalized woman is considered a possible motive.
Evidence was seized during the search of the suspects' homes and is currently being analyzed. According to the authorities, the incident was uncovered by employees and the IT department of the LEA.
Lower Saxony: Prison sentence after bribery in 16 cases
The investigations in Lower Saxony are even more advanced. In July 2025, the Lüneburg Regional Court sentenced a former employee of the Lüchow-Dannenberg Foreigners' office to six and a half years in prison.
The man had sold Residence permit and German citizenships in at least 16 cases - he is said to have made a total of around 154,000 euros. His defense has since lodged an appeal against the verdict.
The responsible Foreigners' office in Lower Saxony has announced that it will examine unlawfully issued Residence permit and withdraw them if necessary. Those affected could lose their residence status - or even their German passport. In the worst case scenario, they could be required to leave the country.
North Rhine-Westphalia: Investigation into possible bribery
An employee of the Foreigners' office in Grevenbroich (Rhine district of Neuss) is also under investigation. The allegation: issuing residence permits in exchange for money. Searches were already carried out on July 10, 2025. The employee was suspended as a precautionary measure.
The Düsseldorf public prosecutor's office is investigating for bribery. It is assumed that this is not an isolated case, but that several illegal residence permits may have been issued.
Can Naturalization be revoked?
In principle, German citizenship is specially protected by the Basic Law and the Citizenship Act (StAG). Nevertheless, Naturalization can be revoked retroactively in accordance with Section 35 StAG - for example, if it was obtainedthrough bribery, false information or deception.
Withdrawal is possible up to ten years after Naturalization . In this case, it is considered "null and void" - i.e. legally as if it had never taken place.
According to media reports, a corresponding annulment notice has already been issued in the Berlin case. The family concerned is therefore not legally entitled to German citizenship.
In which cases do you lose your German passport?
Apart from revocation due to fraud, bribery or false statements, German citizenship can also be lost in other cases regulated by law. These include in particular
- Voluntary renunciation: If you already have another nationality, you can renounce your German citizenship - for example, if you are planning to emigrate.
- Adoption by foreign nationals: Minors can lose their German citizenship if they are adopted by foreign parents - depending on the legal situation and nationality law of the receiving country.
- Military service in a foreign army: Anyone who enters active service in a foreign armed force without the prior consent of the Federal Ministry of Defense risks losing their German passport.
- Terrorist activities abroad: Anyone who takes part in combat operations for a terrorist organization can lose their German citizenship - but only if this does not result in statelessness.
