German lawmakers on Friday approved a bill making it easier to acquire German nationality and expanding dual citizenship options. The draft law is largely intended to alleviate the labour shortage plaguing Europe’s largest economy.

The bill, proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government and ratified by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, now allows foreigners to apply for German citizenship after five years of residency, down from the previous eight years.

The new rules would also enable more people to hold dual nationality. This benefits Germany’s substantial Turkish community of about 1.5 million nationals, in particular.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/885340/germany-relaxes-citizenship-requirements