Turkey Welcomes Germany's Dual Citizenship Law

Turkey has welcomed favorably the new dual-citizenship law in Germany, which took effect on Saturday.



In a written statement on Monday, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the new law, which permits German citizens to hold two passports. 



"We believe that the comprehensive citizenship law, which is recognized by many European countries, will lead to stronger social harmony in Germany," says the statement.



The dual citizenship law allows children of immigrants born in Germany to be eligible to have another passport. 



Previously, children of immigrants had to decide before their 23rd birthday whether to give up their nationality of origin, i.e. their parents', in order to obtain German citizenship. EU and Swiss nationals were allowed to have dual citizenship.



With the new law, young people, at 21 years of age, who have lived in Germany for at least eight years or have attended school for six years, can have a German passport while still keeping the one from their country of origin.



The law concerns only those born after 1990.



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