Pakistan approves dual citizenship for nationals in Germany

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has officially approved dual citizenship for its citizens living in Germany, providing relief to thousands of overseas Pakistanis.

Under the new policy, Pakistanis who acquire German citizenship in Germany will no longer be forced to surrender their Pakistani citizenship.

The decision comes under the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951 and comes after the country’s dual citizenship policy was expanded.

Berlin has now joined the list of 21 countries where Pakistanis can acquire dual citizenship, joining the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Egypt, Jordan and others.

A senior official of the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment said that “this move is in the interest of Pakistani citizens in Germany, now Pakistanis who acquire German citizenship can retain their Pakistani citizenship without compromise.”

Officials stressed that the decision is based entirely on Pakistan’s own laws and policies. It does not require any changes to German legislation.
The move is expected to provide stability to the Pakistani community in Germany, allowing them permanent legal status, better job opportunities and social security, as well as protection of property, inheritance and other civil rights in Pakistan.

Currently, Germany hosts a large and organized Pakistani community of over 150,000 people, most of whom arrived in the past two decades through education, employment, and family reunification programs. The country’s industrial and technological economy has fueled a significant increase in skilled Pakistani youth seeking work and opportunities.

Pakistani professionals are now key players in sectors such as IT, engineering, mechanical and electrical industries, automotive, nursing, healthcare, research, university teaching and technical trades. Additionally, Pakistanis are prominent in the food delivery, logistics, transport and construction sectors, gaining a reputation as a reliable and disciplined workforce.

Pakistani-owned restaurants, supermarkets, logistics companies, taxi services, import-export businesses, IT start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises are flourishing in major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne and Düsseldorf.

Experts note that these businesses not only strengthen local economies but also promote trade relations between Germany and Pakistan.