Germany's new citizenship law came into effect on Tuesday, introducing a requirement for applicants to affirm the state of “Israel’s” right to exist.

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration, elected in 2021, had promised to facilitate dual nationality, reducing the waiting period for new citizens to obtain a German passport to five years.

Historically, Germany did not permit dual citizenship for first-generation migrants. However, the recent surge in far-right, anti-immigrant sentiments prompted Berlin to reinforce the citizenship criteria, emphasizing a strong commitment to German values.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser highlighted the dual objectives of the new law.

“Anyone who shares our values and makes an effort can now get a German passport more quickly and no longer has to give up part of their identity by giving up their old nationality,” Faeser stated.

She added, “But we have also made it just as clear: anyone who does not share our values cannot get a German passport. We have drawn a crystal-clear red line here and made the law much stricter than before.”

The interior ministry elaborated, “New test questions have been added on the topics of anti-Semitism, the right of the state of Israel to exist, and Jewish life in Germany.”

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The test will not include a requirement for potential citizens to acknowledge the right of a Palestinian state to exist.