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Facts on Immigration and Integration in Germany
“Integration is one of the major tasks and challenges
of our time.” Chancellor Angela Merkel in
her first major policy statement before the Bundestag on November 30,
2005.
In recognition of this, the office of the Federal Government Commissioner
for Migration, Refugees and Integration, has for the first time been put
under the direct auspices of the Chancellor’s office.
Multifaceted Population
Out of 82.6 million people living in Germany, 7.3 million (8.9 %) are
people with citizenship from some 41 countries. Among the whole population
there are 15 million people who migrated or are descendents of migrants.
Turkish immigrants and their descendants make up the largest group with
1,88 millions. Next are Italian (601.300) and Yugoslavian (568.200).
(click image to enlarge)
At the end of 2003 one third of the foreign population had been living
in Germany for more than 20 years. More than two thirds of the foreign
children who live in Germany were born in Germany.
Since 1970 about 3.2 million foreigners have attained German citizenship.
(click image to enlarge)
Links
 Facts
About Germany (Foreign Office publication)
More
statistics from the Interior Ministry
Timeline of Immigration
Immigration in Germany has a long history. It began with the Edict of
Potsdam in 1685 which granted 44,000 Huguenots from France refugee status
in Germany.
The majority of Germany’s present-day migrant population came to
Germany in the mid 1950’s and in late 1973 as Germany sought a larger
workforce to support its bourgeoning economy. Recruitment for workers
focused on Italy, Spain, Portugal, former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Tunisia
and Morocco. Many of the “guest-workers” stayed in Germany
and eventually brought family members to join them.
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Employment: Italian guest workers in Bad Godersberg
in 1962. |
Link
Interior
Ministry information on labor recruitment
Because the Basic Law guarantees protection to those suffering political
persecution in their home countries, many victims of political persecution
have sought refuge in Germany.
Links
Interior
Ministry information on asylum and refugees
Facts
About Germany
Immigration
Timeline (1685-2005)
Jewish immigration to Germany
As an expression of taking responsibility for its past, Germany enacted
specific legislation in 1991 to facilitate the immigration of Jews from
the former Soviet Union. As of January 2005 it is governed by the new
Immigration Act.
Over the past decade more than 190,000 people from the former Soviet
Union immigrated to Germany. Today, with more than 100,000 Jews, Germany
is home to the third largest number of Jews and has the fastest growing
Jewish population in Europe.
Links
Facts
About Germany
Publication from the Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and
Integration(PDF)
Central
Council of Jews in Germany
Germany Info:
Jewish Life in Germany
Germany has addressed the restoration of citizenship in the Basic Law:
“Former German citizens who between January 30, 1933 and May
8, 1945 were deprived of their citizenship on political, racial, or
religious grounds, and their descendants, shall on application have
their citizenship restored. They shall be deemed never to have been
deprived of their citizenship if they have established their domicile
in Germany after May 8, 1945 and have not expressed a contrary intention.”
German Immigration Policy
Nationality Act
The new nationality law came into force on January 1, 2000 allowing for
the first time a child born in Germany to foreign parents to aquire German
nationality on the basis of ius soli (the place of birth principle)
when certain requirements are met. The law also shortened the length of
time in which a foreigner must have lived legally in Germany in order
to attain German citizenship. By the end of 2003 about 660,000 foreigners
had become naturalized German citizens due to the new law. By comparison,
in the 1990s, fewer than 100,000 people a year were naturalized in Germany.
Links
More
information on the Nationality Law from the Interior Ministry
A Manual for Germany
Immigration Act
The Immigration Act went into force on January, 1, 2005. For the first
time it provides a single legislative framework for managing immigration
in Germany. One of the most significant parts of the law is the Residence
Act, which regulates the residence status and integration of foreigners.
Text of the Residence Act (PDF)
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Study: Language classes are among the integration
courses offered. |
The Immigration Act has several main purposes and areas which it regulates.
Among them are:
- simplifying the legislation on residence as a whole
- promoting the integration of non-EU foreigners by offering federally
funded integration courses, including language instruction, and making
attendance mandatory in some cases
- accelerating the asylum procedure
Links
Foreign
Office information on the Immigration Act
Interior
Ministry information on the Immigration Act
Questions
and Answers from the Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and
Integration (PDF)
Authorities
Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration
This office was first established in 1978. Under the new government it
was for the first time put directly under the auspices of the Chancellor’s
office. Prof. Dr. Maria Böhmer was named to the position in November
2005.
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Commissioner Maria Böhmer |
Among the commissioner’s main tasks are:
- to support the integration of foreigners whose country of permanent
residence is Germany and to support the German Government in developing
its integration policy
- to advance the conditions for foreigners and Germans living together
- to prevent discrimination of foreigners
The commissioner’s office has published “A
Manual for Germany,” available in six languages besides German
and English, to help those newly arrived in Germany integrate into society
successfully.
Links
Federal
Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (in German only)
Residence
Act text (PDF).
Federal
Office for Migration and Refugees (in German only)
Federal
Government Commissioner for Matters Relating to Resettlers and National
Minorities (in German only)
Immigration
Law and Policy – 110-page publication from the Interior Ministry
containing further information (PDF)
Living Conditions for Immigrants
in Germany
Education
Employment situation
Housing conditions
In Germany, while you can also find concentrations of minorities in certain
parts of certain cities, these concentrations are not equivalent to ghettos
of poverty and disenfranchisement of minorities. To further improve conditions
German local governments have already begun to change social housing policy
to prevent “ghettoization”.
Additional Resources
Interior Ministry: Foreigners, Refugees and Asylum
European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) -
site includes the Annual Report 2005: Racism and Xenophobia in the EU
Member States - trends, developments and good practice
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