‘Brexit IS the trigger’ Remoaners rush to become GERMAN citizens claims city official

Currently 1.2 million British people live in European countries and it appears Britain’s exit from the European Union is an unbearable option for some expats. 

Figures from the German Government show that last year, more Britons opted to become German citizens than ever before in a bid to stay after the divorce.

Udo Moeller, a spokesman for the German city of Hanover, believes at least 50 to 60 British people will undergo citizenship by the end of 2017.

But while their exact reason for wanting to become a German citizen is not recorded, Mr Moeller said Brexit is a significant factor.

He said: “In the talks with the applicants, however, it has always been clear that the British Brexit decision was the trigger for applying for German nationality and to give up British nationality.” 

According to Germany’s State Office for Statistics, most of the British people who signed up to become German, were located in Hanover.

In 2015, five Britons were naturalised, in 2016, it was 26, and this year alone, at least 30 people so far have decided to become German.

Mr Moeller is not the only German official who attributes the significant rise in citizenship claims to Brexit and what it will mean for British people living in Europe.

A spokesman for Celle county in Lower Saxony said all British citizens interested in German citizenship told him Brexit was the reason for the passport exchange. 

In Germany, it takes an average of six months for a person to gain citizenship.

The rights of EU citizens living in Britain and Brits living in EU countries are yet to be fully confirmed as Brexit negotiations continue. 

Earlier this year Theresa May said EU nationals living in Britain can apply for “settled status” if they’ve lived in the UK for five years. 

The number of EU nationals applying for British citizenship nearly doubled in the wake of the Brexit vote, statistics from The Home Office reveal.

There were 28,502 applications for citizenship from EU nationals in the year ending in June 2017 – up from 15,871 in the previous 12 months.

An application for British citizenship costs £1,282 and successful applicants are invited to a citizenship ceremony.