Germany’s parliament approves easing citizenship laws

German lawmakers have approved legislation to ease the rules on gaining citizenship and end a ban on holding dual citizenship.

The legislation will allow people to become eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany or three in case of “special integration accomplishments”, rather than the eight or six years at present.

German-born children will automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, down from eight.

Dual nationality, customarily allowed only for citizens of other European Union countries, will be permitted, letting tens of thousands of German-born Turks become voters.