Wednesday, November 26
By the end of October, Berlin’s administrative court received nearly 2,000 lawsuits over delayed citizenship applications. That is 20% more than all of 2024 and 33 times higher than in 2022.
The so-called “inactivity lawsuits” target the State Office for Immigration (LEA), which has struggled to process applications within the legally mandated three-month timeframe. These cases now comprise roughly 10% of all proceedings at the administrative court.
The backlog stems from approximately 40,000 legacy applications transferred from districts in January 2024, combined with nearly 75,000 new applications filed between January 2024 and October 2025. The surge in applications follows recent legal changes allowing earlier naturalisation and dual citizenship, while political discussions about potential Syrian refugee deportations have prompted many to secure their status.
President of the Administrative Court Erna Viktoria Xalter raised concerns with Justice Senator Felor Badenberg (CDU), who subsequently urged Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) to provide solutions to the procedural backlog.
Interior administration maintains that the State Office for Immigration works efficiently despite the delays, adding that law firms that actively solicit clients by promising faster processing through lawsuits may actually cause further delays, as the administrative court must first verify eligibility requirements.
The State Office for Immigration has strengthened its legal department with three additional staff members to handle the rising caseload.
