Anamika Datta comes from India and is one of a small group of people
selected to attend the central naturalization ceremony in Berlin.
There would not have been enough room for all of
Berlin's new citizens.
This is a special day for many.
I never felt like a foreigner or an Indian.
I was a Berliner.
Since day one.
At the moment, mostly Syrians are applying for citizenship, now
that they have fulfilled the mandatory eight years of German
residency.
For doctor Najat Abed Alsamad it has been hard going.
She fought to have her professional certification
recognized, while at the same time learning a new language and
securing her livelihood.
But she thinks it was worth the effort.
I feel safe here in Germany.
My situation is stable.
I have an apartment, a job, friends and a pleasant neighborhood.
More and more German residents are requesting citizenship.
Applications are piling up at the authorities.
But many would rather not give up their current nationalities.
After six years, I submitted the application and then waited
for a response.
Then they decided.
I got a confirmation letter which said that I had to renounce
my Ghanaian passport.
That was difficult, but I had no choice.
If the law passes, the naturalization process is set
to speed up next year.
Many candidates can apply after just five years of residency
instead of eight.
Anamika Datta also had to give up her previous citizenship.
Until now, this has prevented many people from applying.
But with the new naturalization law, dual citizenship
will be possible.
Anamika Datta says she would not have taken dual citizenship anyway.
For me, it's a question of making a decision and sticking to it.
Even if you can vote, I think it's better to vote where you live.
That way you can make a difference.
She says, India is in her heart, but Germany is the country where
she wants to live.