More than 52,000 Nazi victims and their descendants naturalized since 2021

The circle of eligible persons was significantly expanded in 2021 through a reform of the Nationality Act. Jews and other people who lost their German citizenship or renounced it before February 26, 1955, in connection with persecution for political, racial, or religious reasons between January 30, 1933, and the end of the war in 1945, are entitled to the German passport. According to the federal government, this also includes those who were "excluded from legal acquisition of German citizenship through marriage, legitimation, or collective naturalization of ethnic Germans" at the time.

Who is being naturalized?

The demand for reparation naturalization has increased significantly in recent years. The Federal Office of Administration recorded a particularly large number of applications in 2024 and 2025. Last year alone, more than 14,000 applications for naturalization under Article 116 of the Basic Law and around 15,500 applications under the expanded regulation, which has been in effect since 2021, were received there. For comparison: in 2022, the office registered a total of around 10,500 applications from both groups. In the first three months of this year, around 5,900 applications were already added.

The hurdles for reparation naturalization are lower than for regular naturalization. For example, no proof of German language skills is required. The authorities assume that those affected lost their citizenship through no fault of their own or were denied it due to discriminatory laws. However, due to often complex flight biographies, obtaining, translating, and authenticating the necessary documents is frequently very time-consuming. Many applicants come from Israel or Great Britain, where numerous Jews had fled after the National Socialists came to power.

Criticism of long waiting times

Thousands of children survived the Holocaust because they were brought to Great Britain on so-called Kindertransports. The federal government emphasizes that the high number of applications and the low number of rejections show that the regulation introduced in 2021 "comprehensively takes into account the interests of the affected persons."

At the same time, Left Party MP Kocak points to delays in the process. He says: "Nazi injustice does not expire - that is why it is so important that those affected finally receive justice." To speed up the process, more capacity and simpler procedures are needed at the Federal Office of Administration. Kocak's second statement also makes clear where he sees a need for action: "Anyone who takes reparation seriously must not make those affected wait for years."

Significance for those affected

The 2021 reform builds on a long tradition of German reparation policy. Even before that, victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants could be naturalized under facilitated conditions. However, the legislative amendment significantly expanded the circle of eligible persons and included, among others, those who were excluded from acquiring citizenship by discriminatory Nazi legislation.

Overall, the figures now presented show that the expanded offer is meeting with great demand. However, processing the applications remains a challenge – both in terms of personnel capacity at the Federal Office of Administration and with regard to the often difficult documentation situation. Observers also interpret the increase in the number of applications as a sign that those affected and their family members are increasingly aware of and taking advantage of the offer.