Germany is preparing a new law that will make it easier for foreigners to obtain German citizenship. It is one of the measures as part of the broader immigration policy reform aimed at increasing the total workforce. The draft law, which will be presented to the Bundestag in the coming months, will make it possible to apply for citizenship after five years of residence in the country, instead of the current eight.

Those who express a desire for rapid integration, for example if they learn German, will be able to submit an application already after three years, writes tportal, reports N1 Croatia. The ban on dual citizenship for immigrants from non-EU countries will also be lifted, meaning that immigrants will no longer have to give up the citizenship of their home country. Currently, only people with EU passports or those with one parent from Germany are entitled to citizenship.

The German government introduced its version of the "green card" at the end of last year, making it easier for skilled workers to enter the country even if they don't have a prior offer from a German employer. But they must meet at least three of the four criteria. It is about having a university degree or professional qualification, work experience of at least three years, knowledge of the language or previous residence in Germany and that they are under 35 years old.

The announced reform is the most sweeping overhaul of German citizenship rules since 2000, when children of immigrants to Germany first became automatically eligible for citizenship.

The coalition government is implementing a range of socially progressive policies in a bid to attract 400.000 skilled foreign workers each year to balance an aging population and labor shortages.