German passports are now available for migrants at the click of a mouse

The German traffic light coalition government aimed to "simplify the naturalization process for migrants" while preventing extremists from obtaining citizenship. Since the 2024 amendment, naturalization rates surged, with 292,000 people acquiring German passports last year, predominantly due to reduced in-person screenings.

In Berlin, the naturalization rate quadrupled, with over 20,000 migrants becoming citizens in just the first half of 2025, thanks to a fully digitized application process. This eliminated the need for personal interviews for many applicants.

However, officials in other federal states argue that personal interviews are crucial for verifying identities and preventing extremists from being naturalized. In contrast, states like Hesse, Bavaria, and Hamburg have varying requirements for personal appearances in the naturalization process.