Want to be a German – be one!
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) – which is responsible for citizenship matters – is considering several models of naturalization. Let us examine each of them in detail.
The simplest model of acquiring citizenship is by descent (Abstammungseinbürgerung): a child is automatically considered German if born to at least one German parent. If the second parent is a foreigner, the child must choose one of the citizenships by the age of 23.
The next model – by place of birth (Geburtsortseinbürgerung) – applies to citizens of the EU (as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway): a child born on German territory receives German documents until the age of 18, when, again, they must decide their subsequent fate.
The third model – naturalization by entitlement (Anspruchseinbürgerung) – is particularly relevant for immigrants from the former USSR.
According to the provisions of the Ministry of the Interior, enshrined in the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, StAG) of 1999, the main prerequisites for obtaining German citizenship are:
– legal residence in Germany for 8 years (or seven, in case of successful participation in integration courses; moreover, the term may be even shorter if the applicant actively engages in volunteer work (ehrenamtliche Tätigkeit);
– sufficient knowledge of the German language, knowledge of the country (both confirmed by passing special tests);
– an oath of loyalty to the democratic values and the rule of law of the Federal Republic of Germany (in written and oral form);
– securing one's own livelihood without material support from the state (Sozialhilfe, ALG II);
– no criminal record for serious offenses;
– willingness to renounce previous citizenship.
The last point seems to many the most difficult when making a fateful decision. However, it is worth looking at the "fine print" of the law. The fact is that the concept of Mehrstaatlichkeit (multiple citizenship) has not yet been abolished, despite the scandalous case at the beginning of the 21st century, when hundreds of thousands of Turks with two passports were stripped of German citizenship. Mehrstaatlichkeit still exists and is applied in cases where the applicant for German citizenship cannot obtain a certificate of renunciation of previous citizenship. This primarily applies to officially recognized refugees (Flüchtlinge), as it is assumed that their visit to the national consulate even for a certificate involves a risk to life or freedom.
Persons over 60 years of age, as well as those able to prove "economic damage" from such an action, are exempt from providing the relevant confirmation. Unfortunately, the concept of economic damage does not include loss of property and real estate in the home country, but according to the Ministry of the Interior, it implies "unacceptably high costs, exceeding one month's gross income, starting from 1280 euros."
Again, unfortunately, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan do not fall into this category: in these countries, the fee for renouncing citizenship is 185, 220, and 200 euros, respectively. Uzbeks will pay 150 euros for the relevant certificate, Tajiks 350, plus everywhere there will be an additional fine for an expired passport ranging from 50 to 100 euros.
The certificate of renunciation of citizenship (issued by the embassy upon presentation of the certificate of consent to naturalization, Einbürgerungszusicherung, after payment of the fee within 3-6 months) must be submitted to the naturalization office (Einbürgerungsstelle) together with documents, the list of which varies from state to state.
The following minimum is unchanged: a completed application form, a certificate from the employer stating income, a handwritten (not computer-generated) autobiography, a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis), a receipt for payment of the processing fee (255 euros per adult and 51 per child). If a child is applying for citizenship without parents, the fee is the same as for an adult; for children under 16, the application is submitted by the parents.
Language leads to the passport
According to some experts, it is the difficulty of the language test that applicants for German citizenship must pass that has caused a significant decline in the level of naturalization in recent years. But is this test really that difficult? We offer our view on this issue, and let the reader decide.
Applicants for German citizenship taking a special language test are not required to have perfect command of German, but rather, according to the Ministry of the Interior, "everyday understanding, the ability to communicate with fellow citizens and adequate perception of news information." This wording implies that a person should be able to conduct a simple conversation – in daily life and with colleagues at work, read letters from official bodies and respond to them, and also follow events in the country and the world through newspapers, television, and radio.
The language test is taken at "folk high schools" (Volkshochschulen) – not necessarily at the place of residence, but depending on the schedule and availability of places in the group of test takers. The addresses of schools can be obtained from the staff of the naturalization office (Einbürgerungsstelle), who will also issue the appropriate referral. The cost of the exam varies by region; for example, in Berlin it is 23 euros, in Bonn 50. Attending three-hour preparatory seminars at the same "folk high schools" will cost between 6 and 10 euros. But it is quite possible to prepare for the test independently.
It consists of two parts – written and oral. The first task is timed for 30 minutes and aims to determine the level of text comprehension. In the 'selective understanding' section, the test taker is asked to choose a text that is semantically appropriate for a given condition, for example, one of three newspaper ads that might be useful for someone intending to take old furniture to a landfill. 'Detailed understanding' is a task of arranging theses that appear (or do not appear) in the given text. 'General understanding' is the need to choose or come up with a title that would suit a certain newspaper article. The final item of the written part of the test is a task to compose an official letter, for example, to the housing management in case of a ceiling leak.
The oral part of the exam lasts 15 minutes and includes three items: getting acquainted with the examiner, describing a given picture, and discussing a given everyday topic. All tasks are evaluated by assigning points, with a maximum of 60. The exam is considered passed by those who score at least 60% of the possible points – that is, 36.
It is important to note: not all applicants for German citizenship must undergo language testing. A significant portion of applicants is exempt:
– holders of Goethe-Institut certificates at levels B2 and C1;
– holders of the 'Kleines deutsches Sprachdiplom' from any language college;
– holders of a certificate from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) of successful participation in integration language courses;
– persons who have successfully attended a German school of any level for four years;
– holders of a German diploma of higher or vocational education;
– persons with certain diseases of the nervous system or motor disorders that prevent them from focusing on monotonous activity for 45 minutes.
Do you know your country?
Since 2008, applicants for German citizenship are required to take a civics test (Einbürgerungstest). The civics test is structured around four thematic groups and is designed to assess migrants' familiarity with the democratic values of Germany, the principles of the rule of law, equality, tolerance, and freedom of expression, as well as some aspects of the country's history.
What words does the national anthem of the FRG begin with? In what years were the Nazis in power in the country? What event symbolizes the end of World War II?
Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble, who headed the Ministry of the Interior at the time the test was approved, is confident that passing the civics exam is 'much easier than the theoretical driving test' and that answering the questions correctly does not require higher education, but merely 'elementary familiarity with surrounding realities.' And he is undoubtedly right.
Judge for yourself. Is it difficult to determine (given four answer options for each question) that freedom of expression in Germany does not permit the wearing of Nazi symbols? Or that the opposition in parliament does not appoint ministers, but controls the work of the ruling coalition? Or that cohabitation of same-sex peers is not subject to criminal law, unlike the joint existence of a 50-year-old playboy with a 13-year-old girl without her consent?
The questions are indeed elementary. Moreover, the citizenship applicant does not need to answer all 310 questions developed by specialists from the Institute for Continuing Education at Berlin's Humboldt University, but only 33, which the computer selects randomly. To 'be considered German' (in addition to the other conditions), it is enough to correctly mark just 17 times.
In case of failure, the test can be repeated as often as desired. The correct answers are available on the Internet – print them out and memorize. Nevertheless, certain aspects of the test are alarming. They mainly concern the section that examines the realities of individual federal states – here, the developers made very significant errors that, in the long run, make it simply impossible to clear the exam hurdle. There are only about ten such questions from each region.
Inaccuracies are obvious even upon a very cursory glance at the test. The color of the flag of Lower Saxony? None of the proposed options fit: there are four colors there, a white horse complements the black-red-gold hue of the German flag. The same Lower Saxony: where can one get comprehensive information on political topics? At the state center for political education, at the local regulatory authority, at the consumer protection association, or at the church? Naturally, we choose the first option. And we find that the center for political education in this federal state ceased to exist in 2004 for reasons of economy...
In North Rhine-Westphalia, registering a dog is proposed at the health authority, the regulatory authority, and the registration office. In reality, in the Rhineland, the tax authority is responsible for dogs. And there is no minister for religious affairs in the government there, although the questionnaire suggests crossing out the foreign minister from the cabinet.
Not only the 'regional' questions are poorly developed. Who do you think you must let into your apartment upon demand? The postman? The police? A church representative? The landlord? No matter how many options you give – nobody! Intrusion into private (rented) premises without the consent of one of the parties is a violation of the constitutional right to privacy. When trying to answer some questions, an error is pre-programmed.
However, in other respects as well, the questionnaire leaves much to be desired. For example, in that it could have not limited its effect only to foreigners ready for naturalization, but rather become the basis of a secondary school curriculum. After all, only 25% of native residents surveyed by the sociological service Emnid were able to pass this test. By the way, each applicant for German citizenship can try this in advance themselves, using, for example, the portal of one of the country's major newspapers (e.g., Süddeutsche Zeitung or Berliner Morgenpost), as well as on the Ministry of the Interior website: www.bmi.bund.de.
Participation in the test costs 25 euros. Duration – 60 minutes. It is taken at 'folk schools'. Those exempt from the obligation to take the Einbürgerungstest are girls and boys under 16, those who have received secondary education in Germany, as well as persons unable to participate in the exam due to advanced age or illness (upon presentation of a medical certificate).
Vladimir FILIMONOV,
«Русская Германия».