The reason: they receive a citizen's allowance. The case could send out a signal for similar cases.
Living in Germany - but without citizenship
As the news magazine Spiegel reports, the couple fled from Syria to Germany in 2015. Here they worked as a teacher and engineer, attended integration courses, learned German and volunteered at times.
Today, they are both of retirement age, chronically ill and have applied for a disability assessment. They are permanently dependent on financial support. While their two children, who also live in Germany, have now been naturalized, the parents are still considered stateless.
Despite their many years of residence and integration in Germany , their application for Naturalization was rejected - on the grounds that they were unable to support themselves independently. According to Der Spiegel, the couple currently receive around 1,800 euros a month in citizens' allowance.
Under what conditions is Naturalization possible in Germany?
Anyone wishing to obtain a German passport must fulfill certain requirements set out in Section 10 of the German Citizenship Act (StAG). These include:
- a habitual residence in Germany for at least five years (in exceptional cases three),
- a legal Residence permit,
- proof of identity and nationality (national passport, birth certificate, etc.),
- a secure livelihood for themselves and dependent family members - without receiving social benefits,
- the commitment to a free and democratic basic order,
- no serious criminal offenses,
- Language skills at B1 level,
- as well as a passed naturalization test.
Citizenship reform 2024: Citizen's income (almost always) excludes Naturalization
A reformed version of the nationality law has been in force since June 2024. Many innovations - such as shorter waiting periods or dual citizenship - have since made access to Naturalization easier.
At the same time, a decisive hurdle has been tightened: anyone who receives a citizen's allowance or other social benefits is no longer entitled to a German passport.
This was different before the reform: until June 2024, people who were unable to earn their own living (through no fault of their own) were also entitled to Naturalization. These exceptions mainly applied to
- People with disabilities or chronic illnesses
- Caring relatives
- Single parents and parents with young children who were unable to work or could only work part-time due to caring for their underage children
- Senior citizens in the basic old-age pension scheme
- Students and trainees
Since the reform of nationality law, such exceptions are only possible in cases of particular hardship - and this is at the discretion of the authorities.
In the case of the Palestinian couple, the competent authority does not see a case of hardship.
NGOs support lawsuit: Naturalization must not depend on income
Several civil society organizations support the lawsuit - including the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF), Handicap International and Statefree. They argue that the denial of Naturalization violates certain fundamental rights - in particular the prohibition of discrimination and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"The authorities must not block the path to democratic participation for elderly people with disabilities just because they receive financial support," says GFF lawyer Soraia Da Costa Batista. "The state cannot demand anything from them that they cannot possibly fulfill."
Sophia Eckert from Handicap International also sharply criticizes the regulation: "People with disabilities, even if they are impaired due to age, enjoy the full protection of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."
Federal Council recommends return to the old regulation
The regulation is also repeatedly criticized by some German politicians. Just a few weeks ago, the Federal Council recommended a return to the old regulation. According to this, so-called "vulnerable groups" should be able to be naturalized even if they are unable to fully support themselves.
The Die Linke parliamentary group also submitted a similar proposal to the Bundestag. The proposal was debated on June 27, 2025 and is now being discussed further by the Committee on Internal Affairs. However, there are no official plans to return to the old regulations.
Conclusion: Significance beyond the individual case
It remains to be seen whether the couple will be successful with their lawsuit. What is clear, however, is that the case has far-reaching implications. It raises the question of whether the right to Naturalization can be linked to criteria that certain population groups - such as the elderly, sick or disabled - are unable to meet.
The proceedings before the Cottbus Administrative Court could therefore become a precedent - for many people who live in Germany, are integrated, but are permanently excluded from a German passport due to their living conditions.
