In the latest twist in immigration policy, Germany has amended Citizenship Law, enabling the acquisition of dual citizenship. This significant change has far-reaching implications for many foreigners, including Serbian citizens living and working in Germany. The new regulation came into effect on June 27, 2024, and is expected to ease the lives of thousands who have faced complex citizenship challenges.
Strict Law and Restrictions
Before this innovation, Germany had one of the strictest regimes in Europe regarding dual citizenship. For years, it explicitly prohibited the possibility of holding two or more citizenships, except for citizens of EU member states and in cases where the original countries did not allow renunciation (Iran, Morocco, North Korea).
Under previous rules, foreigners generally had to renounce their original citizenship to acquire German citizenship, which posed a significant problem for many residents who often had to choose between two identities and two homelands. This situation led many to abandon the idea of acquiring German citizenship or to simply remain with permanent residence status, without the additional rights that citizenship brings.
The restrictions made their integration into German society that much more difficult, creating barriers that prevented their full contribution to the community.
What Does the New Law Bring?
The new Citizenship Law now allows for the acquisition of dual citizenship, eliminating the need to renounce the primary citizenship. Additionally, the conditions for acquiring citizenship have been eased, such as reducing the required period of permanent residence from eight to five years, and in certain cases, to three years for those who have shown exceptional integration achievements (high level of German language proficiency, volunteering, advancement at work or in school, etc.).
This change represents a significant step towards greater inclusion and integration of foreigners into German society. Reducing the required residency period will make it easier for many to obtain German citizenship faster and enjoy all the rights that come with it.
Rights of Foreigners – A New Chapter for Serbian Citizens
The new measures will allow many foreigners to enjoy the full scope of rights as German citizens, including the right to vote, the right to work in public institutions, and all social benefits. It is especially significant that Serbs, who have faced the dilemma of renouncing their citizenship, can now retain both, maintaining their cultural and family ties with Serbia while enjoying all the benefits that German citizenship holds. German citizenship will enable members of the Serbian community to equally compete for jobs in public administration, including educational institutions and healthcare.
Additionally, the German passport, one of the strongest in the world, allows visa-free travel to over 190 countries, providing benefits of seamless travel that only few countries have achieved.
One of the main goals of these changes is further integration of foreign nationals as well as attracting a skilled workforce. Many members of the Serbian community who have already integrated well, contributed to the economy and social life, will now have the opportunity to be fully equal members of the community.
Reacquiring Serbian Citizenship – A Second Chance for Those Who Renounced It
A novelty that is particularly significant for all Serbian citizens who have moved to Germany is the possibility of reacquiring Serbian citizenship. Those who have previously renounced their Serbian citizenship to become German citizens can now reapply for Serbian citizenship. Such an opportunity is especially important for those who wish to restore their ties with their homeland.
This right allows Serbs to retain all benefits that come with Serbian citizenship, including the right to property, pension, and social security. Moreover, reacquiring Serbian citizenship allows for the renewal of cultural and family ties that may have been disrupted due to previous restrictions.
What Are the Conditions?
Every country has the right to freely determine the conditions that applicants must meet to become its citizens. For instance, Germany requires proof of integration into German society, such as stable employment and income, knowledge of the German language, and respect for German laws.
On the other hand, for those wishing to reacquire Serbian citizenship, it will be necessary to meet all legal conditions prescribed by the relevant law of the Republic of Serbia, such as, among others, being over 18 years of age, having business ability, and submitting a written statement that they consider Serbia their country. The process of acquiring Serbian citizenship is strictly formal and involves taking clearly defined steps. The procedure begins with submitting an application for reacquisition of citizenship to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following this, there is a multi-month procedure during which the competent authority checks the fulfillment of all necessary legal conditions. Finally, if it is determined that all conditions are met, the process concludes positively with the issuance of a decision on citizenship acquisition.
It is essential to highlight that the most significant benefit of this process is that all who wish to reacquire Serbian citizenship are not obliged to renounce their existing citizenship at the time of applying for reacquisition of Serbian citizenship.
In Summary…
Reforms in German legislation represent a significant step towards greater integration and equality of foreigners who have decided to settle in Germany. Serbian citizens, as well as many others aspiring to obtain German citizenship, now have the opportunity to retain their original citizenship while acquiring German citizenship, giving them the best of both worlds. They also have the option to reacquire Serbian citizenship if they have renounced it. This change will undoubtedly have long-term positive effects on the lives of many people and strengthen the ties between Germany and Serbia.
The new regulation enables Serbs to maintain their cultural, family, and professional ties with Serbia while enjoying all the advantages of German citizenship. This measure is expected to have a positive impact on the German economy and society, as it will attract and retain qualified workforce that can significantly contribute to the country’s development.
