German Policy on Foreigners : Germany

German Policy on Foreigners is governed by two principles: integration of those foreign workers and their family members who are living here permanently and strict limitation of further immigration from countries outside the European Union.

Nearly half of the foreigners residing in Germany have lived here for at least ten years; 29 percent have already lived here for 20 years or more. Of the foreigners who have resided here for at least ten years, just under one million are under the age of 25; two thirds of them were born here. Especially for those foreigners who were born in Germany, acquisition of German citizenship is to be made noticeably easier.

A wide variety of measures serve to promote the integration of foreigners who have been living in the Federal Republic for a long period of time. These include special language courses and social counseling services specifically for foreigners.