The situation is particularly pronounced in Munich, where applications have doubled since the reform took effect in June 2024.
The revised Nationality Act, implemented on June 27, 2024, reduced the residency requirement for naturalization from eight to five years, provided applicants meet specific criteria. These include financial self-sufficiency and proof of integration. However, the backlog of applications has grown significantly across the state, with no signs of slowing.
In Munich, the number of pending applications has surged to approximately 32,500. A spokesperson for the city administration reported that the number of applications had doubled since the law came into force. While the local authority registered about 10,300 applications in 2023, the figure rose to 20,600 in 2024. The average processing time in Munich currently stands at around 18 months.
Other cities in Bavaria are facing similar challenges. In Nuremberg, roughly 7,000 applications remain unprocessed, a figure close to the total number submitted in 2024. In 2023, the city recorded 4,300 applications, with an additional 2,200 filed in the early months of 2025. Nuremberg’s processing time is shorter, averaging six months.
The reform, passed by the previous federal government composed of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, was intended to accelerate the naturalization process. However, the newly formed coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD has announced plans to roll back the changes, potentially returning to the previous, stricter requirements.
Cities such as Würzburg, Regensburg, Bamberg, and Augsburg are also experiencing large numbers of open applications, often in the thousands. Processing times vary widely: while Regensburg completes cases within four to six months, Würzburg reports delays of up to 18 months.
Municipalities cite several factors contributing to the delays. The most pressing include the sheer volume of applications filed in 2024, ongoing staff shortages, and limited progress in digitizing administrative processes. Additionally, verifying applicants’ identities remains difficult in many cases due to missing documentation, especially for individuals from countries such as Somalia and Eritrea, where official records are often unreliable or unavailable.
The situation has placed increased pressure on local administrations, which are struggling to manage the influx with limited resources. Without further reforms or support measures, processing bottlenecks are likely to persist.
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