A dramatic surge in lawsuits against Berlin's citizenship office highlights significant delays in processing applications. In 2024, 1,662 individuals filed "inactivity lawsuits," a 313 percent increase from 2023. This increase is linked to a new online application system implemented in an attempt to address existing backlogs and understaffing issues within the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA).
While the new system aimed to improve efficiency, it initially caused a temporary halt in processing, creating a backlog of approximately 40,000 applications. Although the LEA processed 21,802 applications in 2024, compared to 8,000 in 2023, concerns remain about prioritization of online applicants over those who applied earlier.
Applicants who experienced excessive delays, sometimes exceeding a year and a half, utilized "Untätigkeitsklagen" (inactivity lawsuits) to expedite their applications. Filing a lawsuit often resulted in quicker processing times, with one applicant receiving notification to pick up their certificate within weeks after filing. German law dictates that such processes should take three months; however, the courts often hold administrative bodies accountable for delays, regardless of reasons such as staffing shortages.
The high number of non-German residents in Berlin (around a quarter of the population) without voting rights underscores the significance of citizenship delays. The delays are seen as creating "massive democratic deficits," as affected residents are excluded from decisions impacting their lives.