Germany is experiencing a record surge in Turkish citizens applying for German citizenship, with over 22,500 Turks gaining German passports in 2024, representing a 110% increase from 2023. Why the surge? A mix of bureaucratic ease, travel freedom, and dual citizenship reforms.

Germany’s new rules now allow migrants to keep their original nationality and reduce the required residency time for naturalization. Plus, the German passport ranks among the world’s most powerful, offering visa-free access to 131 countries, compared to just 75 with a Turkish one.

Add in Turkey’s rising inflation and political repression, and it’s no surprise many Turks are choosing Germany. However, many still feel emotionally rooted in Turkey, not fully “at home” in their new land.