Naturalization boom: Gladbeck, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen in the state of emergency

Naturalization boom: Gladbeck, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen in the state of emergency

Published: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 07:09

naturalization applications in the upswing: a sign of integration

The reform of the naturalization law has led to a noticeable increase in applications for German citizenship in the cities of Gladbeck, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen. This increase not only has an impact on the administration, but is also a sign of the will to integrate many people with a foreign passport.

The background of the reform

Due to the recent change in the law, the conditions for naturalization have improved significantly. People who come from abroad can now apply for citizenship after five years in Germany. In exceptional cases, this is even possible after three years. These changes set a clear signal for more participation in society and strengthen the right to integration.

situation in the affected cities

in Bottrop, the number of applications in the first half of the year doubled from around 400 in 2022 to around 800. However, this significant increase poses major challenges for the city administration employees. In Gelsenkirchen, too, the city registers an increase in the applications, even if the number of actual naturalizations remains behind the expectations. The offices are working hard to process the applications, but the increasing demand leads to long waiting times.

The challenge for the offices

With the increase in applications, there is also an increased amount of work for the responsible offices. A spokesman from Bottrop reported that the staff can hardly be after processing. In Gladbeck, all dates are already booked up to the middle of next year. Applications are therefore often only processed with a waiting time of over a year.

importance of development

This rush to naturalization not only shows the interest and desire of many migrants to become part of German society, but at the same time represents a challenge for the administration. It is important that the cities provide the necessary resources in order to meet these trends and to drive the integration forward.

Overall, this increase in applications reflects the cohesion and commitment in society, which is of great importance for social interaction. The increased demand for citizenship is not only a bureaucratic challenge, but also an opportunity for an open and various society.

- Nag