Why are Turks racing to obtain German citizenship?
In 2024, the number of Turks who obtained German citizenship doubled, reaching 22,525 individuals, an increase of 110% compared to the previous year, making Turkey the second country after Syria in terms of the number of citizens who obtained a German passport.
Many Turks believe that German citizenship grants them greater freedom and practical advantages, whether in work or daily life. "Getting residency here is tough, and citizenship makes everything easier," said Alaz Sommer, a lawyer living in Berlin who is completing his doctorate in constitutional law.
Burak Kijili, an IT expert who has been living in Germany since 2016, confirmed that obtaining German citizenship was not only due to the travel benefits of a strong German passport, but also because he wanted to have a political voice in the country he lives in. According to the Global Passport Index for 2025, Germany ranks fifth in terms of passport strength, allowing its holder to enter 131 countries without a visa, compared to only 75 countries for Turkish passport holders.
One of the main drivers behind this increase is the legal reform enacted by Germany in June 2024, which allowed dual citizenship. This change made it more attractive for many Turks, as they could retain their Turkish citizenship alongside the German one. Previously, immigrants had to give up their original citizenship, which deterred many from applying for German citizenship due to family, economic, and emotional ties to Turkey.
The complex bureaucratic procedures in Germany were another factor that drove Turks to seek citizenship. The new law reduced the required residency period for naturalization from eight years to just five, making it easier for many. However, the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz abolished the three-year exemption that was granted to some special cases. Political and economic factors within Turkey also played a significant role in this shift. Alaz Sommer pointed out that he did not feel he could practice academia freely in Turkey, which drove him to emigrate. Burak Kijili said he would not have had a good life if he had stayed there. Turkey has witnessed a deterioration in political freedoms and human rights in recent years, in addition to a severe economic crisis. The value of the Turkish lira has significantly declined, where the euro was equal to 2.3 lira in 2015, while today it is about 46 lira.
Despite all this, many Turks did not feel a complete belonging to Germany after obtaining citizenship. Sommer said, "Germany has never become a homeland for me. Even if I say I am German, people will laugh — rightly so." He pointed out that he faced discrimination, especially in the rental market, where he received no response when using his real name, but things changed when he used a non-Turkish name. For his part, Kijili expressed a similar feeling: "All my loved ones are in Turkey, I have never lost contact with it, and I will continue to travel back and forth. I will still consider Turkey my homeland, and I really do not feel like I am at home here."