What Nigerians should know as Germany’s new citizenship law launches

More Nigerians will be looking to become German citizens now that the European country just launched a new law granting dual citizenship and naturalisation to Nigerians and other non-EU immigrants after five years of residence.

This legislative change is part of Germany’s efforts to attract skilled workers around the globe and make the country more appealing for long-term settlement.

Key changes and benefits

Under the new law, Nigerian immigrants can now apply for German citizenship after five years of legal residence in the country, rather than the previous eight or six years, and those who are “exceptionally well integrated” may qualify after just three years.

Additionally, children born in Germany to at least one parent who has legally resided in the country for five or more years will automatically receive German citizenship.

The new policy also simplified language requirements, allowing older immigrants over the age of 67 to pass an oral German language test instead of a written one.

These changes are designed to make Germany a more attractive destination for skilled migrants by offering a straightforward path to citizenship while addressing labour shortages in various industries.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, representing the Social Democrats, introduced the bill, which gained support from the Free Democrats and the Green Party, the ruling coalition government. Scholz emphasised the inclusive nature of the new law, stating, “With the new citizenship law, we are saying to all those who have often lived and worked in Germany for decades, who abide by our laws, who are at home here: You belong to Germany.”

Visa specifics for Non-EU skilled sorkers

The visa associated with this new law is valid for one year and does not require applicants to have a work contract at the time of application. This allows Nigerians one year to find a job, after which they can convert their visa to a different type of residence permit if they wish to stay in Germany.

Part-time jobs currently offer wages around 13 euros per hour, providing a viable option for initial employment.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, applicants must have an academic or professional qualification recognised in Germany and meet a minimum points requirement of six points, as well as possessing at least 12,000 euros in funds.

Points can be accrued in various ways. If an applicant’s spouse is also applying, they both receive one point. Applicants who have stayed in Germany for at least six months in the past five years earn one point.

Age is also a factor. Those under 35 years old and those between 35 to 40 years old each receive two points. Language skills are valued, with German level B2 and above earning three points, German level B1 earning two points, and English level C1 and above earning one point.

Education and work experience also contribute to the points system, with qualifications recognised by Germany granting four points, five years of work experience in the applicant’s field within the last seven years granting three points, and two years of work experience in the field within the last five years granting two points.

Leaving the doors open

Germany continues its effort to draw more foreigners in to work and build its manpower and strengthen its labour force.

The country’s population grew 1.3 percent (+1,122,000 people) in 2022, after a small increase of only 0.1% in the previous year (+82,000 people). A good 84.4 million people were living in Germany at the end of 2022, according to the Federal Statistical Office, due to a substantial increase in net immigration.

At the end of 2022, approximately 351,000 people from Nigeria and other countries outside the European Union (EU) who had a temporary residence title for employment purposes were registered in Germany in the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR).

The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that the number of labour migrants who came to Germany from non-EU countries has risen steadily since 2010, when it stood at 85,000. In 2022, by contrast, the number of labour migrants rose by 56,000 or 19 percent.

Meanwhile, other nations including Canada and the UK and other popular destination sites for Nigerian travellers tighten restrictions regarding foreign nationals to cut migration costs and manage resources.