Portuguese in Germany prefer dual citizenship to be able to vote

Many Portuguese living in Germany are opting for dual citizenship to be able to vote in general elections and avoid paperwork at a time when Berlin is making the citizenship process easier.

“I have lived and worked in Germany for over eight years and paid taxes here, and what worries me is that I cannot vote, that I cannot have a say in politics and government, and with my taxes I finance the policies of this government,” says Maria Costa.

Diana Gonsalves Osterfeld, who lives in Berlin, also admits that one of the reasons that prompted her to ask for dual citizenship is the right to vote, which she intends to exercise “especially given the national political panorama.”

On January 19, the German parliament approved a law that makes the naturalization process easier and expands access to dual citizenship without having to renounce the original. The government led by Olaf Scholz hopes that in this way the country will be able to attract more qualified labor.

Immigrants legally residing in Germany can apply for citizenship after five years of residence in the country, up from eight years previously. If exceptional integration is demonstrated, for example in language skills, volunteer activities, or academic or professional activities, the term may be reduced to three years.

“Anything that promotes the integration of foreigners, be it reducing the period of stay for applying for dual citizenship or other measures such as free German lessons, should be welcomed,” says José Ponte.

For this Portuguese man, who has lived in Germany since 2003, applying for German citizenship makes practical sense.

“Every time I need to sort out a document or renew a citizenship card or passport, I have to go to Hamburg, where there is a consulate. Having German citizenship, I deal with everything where I live,” he notes.

Leonel Barbosa da Costa, a Portuguese nurse living in Germany, believes that changing the rules for obtaining German citizenship will make life easier for non-EU citizens.

“Extending visas is a difficult and boring task. Many colleagues are sometimes left without a visa and cannot work until they get one,” he emphasizes, regretting that the process takes a very long time.

For Diana Moreira, who has lived in Berlin for 10 years, it was an “easy decision.”

“As for my children, they were born here and were registered under Portuguese citizenship. I think giving them German citizenship could help in the future if they want to study here,” he notes, adding that he is glad to be able to vote.

“I recently learned about the reduction in the minimum period of residence when I was reading the requirements. I guess this makes sense because five years is already quite a long time. Anyone who has lived here for this long should have the right to vote, because it directly affects the lives of these people,” he emphasizes.

Helena Wildgeborene, who first came to live in Germany in 1985 and currently lives in Bremen, admits that she never wanted or needed German citizenship.

“But I’ve also always been upset that I can’t vote. I think it’s very important to vote in the country where you live. It’s more important than ever,” he stresses, welcoming the government’s decision to relax access requirements . for German citizenship.

“Many people are very well integrated and I think they have the right to have German citizenship if they want it or need it,” he emphasizes.

Diana Gonsalves Osterfeld emphasizes that this change is “quite positive” as it promotes “faster integration into society”, but regrets the delay.

“Unfortunately, the processes have already taken so long, at least here in Berlin, that I think this will complicate the situation with citizenship applications even more,” he emphasizes.

Children born in Germany, of whom at least one parent has lived in the country legally for five years or more, automatically receive German citizenship. The term was eight years.

“I would never choose German citizenship over Portuguese, but since there is the possibility of dual citizenship, I thought that I would not lose anything,” says Katarina Vilar Markievicz, who received German citizenship three years ago.

“I lived in Germany for many years and with the birth of my children I thought it would make the school registration process easier,” he says, adding that political instability and the current fragility of the European Union are also weighing on the decision.