Germany to offer UK expats dual nationality

Published:  30 May at 6 PM
Want to get involved? Become a Featured Expat and take our interview.
Become a Local Expert and contribute articles.
Get in touch today!
As UK expats rush to claim overseas citizenship, Germany looks likely to offer dual nationality to its younger British expat community.

Younger UK expats living and working in Germany and other EU states may be able to claim the lifeline of dual nationality, according to a statement by German vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. The vast majority of UK expats working within the EU voted Remain in last June’s referendum, influencing the German government’s decision to find a way to help them to stay., with the country’s economic minister also in agreement with giving British expatriates the opportunity to claim German citizenship.

Gabriel stated the Social Democrat Party had now accepted the UK fully intends to leave the EU, thus reconfirming his support for dual nationality for young UK citizens who wish to stay in Germany. Young Britons, he said, know their future is at stake, adding the German government should not pull up the drawbridge.

Gabriel’s stance is supported by the country’s Green Party, with leader Rebecca Harms saying the eight-year residence requirement for citizenship applications should also be relaxed. In the meantime, the number of Brits working and living in EU member states and applying for citizenship has surged to an all-time high.

Ireland and Belgium are the most popular countries, but citizenship applications for other EU member states are also on the rise. Foreign ministries across the bloc are now under pressure, with Ireland pleading with would-be citizens to slow down for a while. The EU institutions in Brussels and various NATO offices together employ around 24,000 British expats, and 1.3 million Brits are estimated to be living in other EU member states. Canada is another favourite for citizenship applications by British expats whose fears for their futures are hitting home as Brexit creeps ever closer.
Like this news?

Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

Tell us Your Thoughts On This Piece:

Your Name *
Email * (not published, needs verification one time only)
Website
Type:
  • Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • RSS feed
  • Facebook

Latest Headlines

News Links

News Archive