The number of Syrians residing in Germany has seen a slight decline recently. However, this decline is not due to a large-scale return to Syria, but rather to a significant increase in the number of Syrians acquiring German citizenship, according to the German Ministry of the Interior.
According to data from the Central Register of Foreigners, the number of Syrians residing in Germany by the end of March 2025 was approximately 968,899, of whom 10,729 were obliged to leave the country. However, most of these individuals, 9,649, received temporary residence permits under the "tolerance" policy in place for unenforceable deportation cases.
By comparison, the number of Syrians in Germany by the end of February 2025 was approximately 972,470, a decrease of approximately 3,571 people in just one month.
Naturalization is the decisive factor.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, these figures are not related to the return of Syrians to their country, especially since deportations to Syria have been suspended since 2012. Rather, they are due to the fact that large numbers of Syrians have become eligible for German citizenship. Once naturalized, they are not counted in the foreigners' statistics, even if they retain their original nationality.
In 2023, 75,485 Syrians were naturalized, compared to 48,000 in 2022, a clear indication of the accelerating integration of Syrians into German society. This number is expected to increase with the implementation of the new citizenship law in June 2024, which shortens the waiting period for citizenship.
Criteria for Naturalization
Despite the new facilitations, naturalization is only granted to those who prove their ability to support themselves, are fluent in German, and do not have a serious criminal record or have committed activities that violate the German constitution.
Support for Voluntary Departures
Although there have been no forced deportations to Syria, more than 600 people have returned to Syria since the beginning of 2024 with financial support from the German government, according to the Interior Ministry. The government also refinanced the departure of 87 people under various state programs, with the federal government covering the costs of 77 trips during the first quarter of the year.
However, the ministry emphasized that not all those leaving apply for government support, indicating personal or family motives behind some returns.
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