German interior minister hits out at decision to drop personal interviews for citizenship

German Interior Minister Opposes Scrapping Citizenship Interviews

Alexander Dobrindt’s remarks criticizing the simplification of the naturalization process follow reports that Berlin intends to double the number of foreigners granted German citizenship to 40,000 by the end of 2025.  To meet this goal, the German State Immigration Office (LEA) has introduced a new practice: whereas applicants previously had to attend in-person interviews, the procedure is now digital. Dobrindt argued that the agency should prio…

German interior minister hits out at decision to drop personal interviews for citizenship

The decision to drop personal interviews in Germany’s citizenship application process is wrong, according to the country’s interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt.