Reuters has learned about the record number of German citizens granted in 2025

The German authorities granted citizenship to a record number of people in 2025 — 332.5 thousand people, Syrian citizens have been leading these lists for the fifth year in a row, the Reuters news agency reported on June 3, citing a report by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.

It is noted that last year, every fifth immigrant who received German citizenship was a Syrian. After the Syrians, the largest groups who received citizenship were Turks (10%, or 34.1 thousand people) and Russians (6%, or 19.7 thousand people).

The total number of people who have obtained German citizenship is 14% higher than in 2024. The Statistical Office of the Federal Republic of Germany explains the increase in the number of applications by the reforms carried out in June 2024, which reduced the residence requirements for citizenship from eight to five years, and also allowed people to have dual citizenship.

Visa pressure: EU demands Serbia to reduce the issuance of residence permits to Russians by 50%

Brussels has threatened Belgrade with restrictions due to its migration policy towards Russia.

The Tagesschau newspaper reported on January 2 that the Christian Social Union (CSU) party, part of the ruling coalition of Germany, called for a tougher migration policy and demanded the deportation of most Syrian refugees from the country. The draft resolution stated that the majority of Syrian refugees should be sent back to their homeland.