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Published 2026-06-13

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Summary: A new survey indicates that a large majority of people who became German citizens in 2025 retained their original nationality, highlighting ongoing acceptance of Germany’s dual citizenship reform. Syrians were among the largest groups naturalized in 2025.

What We Know

  • More than 85% of new German citizens opt to keep their original nationality one year after Germany’s dual citizenship reform.
  • Germany changed laws to allow dual citizenship, enabling retention of original nationality for new citizens.
  • The reform appears to be influencing the citizenship choices of newcomers, with many choosing dual citizenship.
  • Syrians were reported as the largest group to receive German citizenship in 2025, followed by people from other unspecified origins in the available material.
  • The findings come from a Mediendienst Integration survey reported in multiple outlets.

What’s Still Unclear

  • Exact cohort details for the 85% figure (whether it applies to all 2025 naturalizations or a specific subgroup).
  • Precise sample size and methodology of the Mediendienst Integration survey.
  • Breakdown of nationalities beyond Syrians for the 2025 naturalizations.
  • Geographic distribution of new citizens within Germany.

Context

The German government introduced reforms to allow dual citizenship, permitting new citizens to retain their original nationality. This marks a shift in how Germany approaches citizenship for migrants, with potential long-term implications for integration, civic participation, and immigrant communities.

Why It Matters

The trend toward dual citizenship can affect personal identity, legal rights, and civic engagement. It may influence immigration policy debates, diaspora connections, and the broader discourse on integration in Germany.

What to Watch Next

  • Follow-up surveys confirming whether the 85% figure holds across later cohorts or changes over time.
  • Policy analyses assessing the long-term effects of dual citizenship on participation and integration metrics.
  • Detailed nationality breakdowns of new citizens in 2025 and subsequent years.
  • Assessment of any administrative or bureaucratic changes tied to dual citizenship processing.

FAQ

Q: What does dual citizenship mean in this context?
A: It refers to individuals who become German citizens while retaining their original nationality under Germany’s reform that permits dual status.

Q: Which group led naturalization in 2025?
A: Syrians were reported as the largest group among new German citizens in 2025, with other nationalities following.

Related coverage

Source Transparency

  • This article is based on a short preliminary brief and may not reflect the full details available in ongoing reporting.
  • Source links are provided in the Sources section where available.
  • A limited open-web check was used to clarify key details when possible; unclear items remain clearly marked.

Original brief: More than 85% of migrants who became German citizens last year chose to keep their original nationality as well, according to a new survey following Germany’s dual citizenship reform.

Syrians were the largest group to receive German citizenship in 2025, followed by people from…

Sources


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