Berlin’s Administrative Court reports an unprecedented surge in so-called Untätigkeitsklagen (inactivity suits) filed by naturalisation applicants. Data released on 27 November show roughly 2,000 cases lodged between January and October 2025—up 20 % on already record 2024 levels and now representing one in ten court filings.
The spike follows Germany’s June 2024 reform that permits dual citizenship after only five years of residence. While the policy attracted global talent, the capital’s under-staffed Landesamt für Einbürgerung (LEA) could not keep pace, with some applicants waiting more than 18 months for an appointment. Court president Erna Viktoria Xalter has appealed to Berlin’s justice and interior senators for emergency staffing; three extra litigators were hired this month, yet backlogs persist.
![Berlin sees record 2,000 lawsuits over citizenship delays as backlogs grow]()
For employers running localisation programmes, the bottleneck undermines retention: assignees who planned to secure a German passport—and the EU mobility that comes with it—now face unpredictable timelines. Delayed naturalisation also postpones eligibility for public-sector roles and certain security clearances.
Practical steps: HR should advise candidates to budget at least 12-18 months for citizenship processing and explore fast-track options in other Länder with lighter caseloads. Legal teams may consider filing Untätigkeitsklage after the statutory three-month silence period, although this adds court fees (~€500) and does not guarantee priority processing.
The spike follows Germany’s June 2024 reform that permits dual citizenship after only five years of residence. While the policy attracted global talent, the capital’s under-staffed Landesamt für Einbürgerung (LEA) could not keep pace, with some applicants waiting more than 18 months for an appointment. Court president Erna Viktoria Xalter has appealed to Berlin’s justice and interior senators for emergency staffing; three extra litigators were hired this month, yet backlogs persist.
For employers running localisation programmes, the bottleneck undermines retention: assignees who planned to secure a German passport—and the EU mobility that comes with it—now face unpredictable timelines. Delayed naturalisation also postpones eligibility for public-sector roles and certain security clearances.
Practical steps: HR should advise candidates to budget at least 12-18 months for citizenship processing and explore fast-track options in other Länder with lighter caseloads. Legal teams may consider filing Untätigkeitsklage after the statutory three-month silence period, although this adds court fees (~€500) and does not guarantee priority processing.
