Germany has made the process of naturalization simpler after the Bundesrat, or upper house, approved the reform of citizenship laws on Friday, and also moved to simplify repatriations. The naturalization reform allows people to become German while retaining their original citizenship. People will be able to apply for citizenship after living in Germany for five years rather than eight years. Children of parents from abroad will also be granted German citizenship at birth if one parent has been legally resident in Germany for five years rather than eight. If applicants demonstrate “special inte…