Becoming and belonging? ‘Immigration procedures are less about identity and more about transaction’
Interview
What does it feel like to become a citizen in a new country? For her PhD research, Hannah Bliersbach immersed herself in the world of immigration. She interviewed dozens of new citizens in Germany and Canada and found that citizenship is, above all, a transactional process.
How did you come to this topic?
‘During my research master in Political Science and Public Administration in 2017, I had the opportunity to explore citizenship and migration as part of my master thesis. I was born in Germany and wanted to know what it would take to become Dutch, but to do so I would have had to give up my German citizenship. I noticed I had quite an emotional reaction to that, which surprised me. In Germany we’re not particularly patriotic, and as an EU citizen I had the same rights. Still, I didn’t want to go through with it. So I started wondering: what must it be like for someone who actually goes through that process?’
So your PhD is about that now?
‘Yes, it’s about the journey people take towards citizenship—both the administrative side and the personal one: identity and the feeling of belonging. What kinds of agreements are involved, what paperwork is required, and how much time does it take? Do you feel connected to a country and want to formalise that? Or is a passport more like a tool or weapon against those who don’t see you as German?’
In-depth interviews
This research is based on 42 in-depth interviews with new German citizens (15), Canadian naturalised citizens (15), German naturalisation officials (9), and three civil servants working for the Canadian government.
And you chose to compare Germany and Canada—why?
‘Because of the contrast. Canada openly identifies as a country of immigration. It has a different narrative, a different immigration policy. Germany has a long history of both emigration and immigration—think of the so-called guest workers in the 1960s and 70s from Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Switzerland had a strategy to make sure those workers didn’t feel too much at home. They would be asked to move regularly so they wouldn’t build a connection to one place, so they’d go back. Germany didn’t. There was this assumption: why would anyone want to stay? But when you live somewhere long enough, a sense of connection starts to form naturally.’
What stood out to you in your research?
‘In both countries, it was clear: as a new citizen, you’re expected to contribute economically— if you don’t work, becoming a citizen is nearly impossible. Staying at home with your children isn’t viewed as real work, because that’s unpaid. Money is the guiding principle, and at least that’s transparent. 'Citizenship is something I earned', said the economic migrants I spoke to in Canada. It wasn’t about an emotional sense of belonging or wanting to be there. It changes how people view citizenship. It’s less about identity and more about transaction. And as a result, people feel less attached to the country.’
What were the differences between Germany and Canada?
‘Canada offers many (economic) pathways to permanent residence and citizenship, but getting permanent status isn’t easy. You get points based on your education, marital status, health, and age. You’re essentially reduced to a number, and the process is mostly digital. In Germany, by contrast, you have to show your face, and you’re assigned a caseworker who’s responsible for your file. That person is also held accountable if something goes wrong. People in Germany often struggled with the bureaucracy. In Canada, the frustration was more with the system, whereas in Germany it was more with the individual caseworker.’
Do you think these new citizens feel at home in their new countries?
‘That’s hard to say—it really depends on the person. In Canada, people speak very openly about race; in Germany, that’s much less common. Is someone of Turkish descent considered white or not? The interviewees said 'people don’t see me as German when they look at me', but they wouldn’t talk about race or ethnicity. In Canada, someone might say: I’m black and that impacts how I feel about belonging. The language used was completely different.’
What are the key findings of your research?
‘Being legally recognised as a citizen doesn’t automatically mean you feel at home in a country. Being accepted as a citizen is something else entirely.
- If a state aims to build a nation where people feel they belong, the welcome cannot be purely economic. If it is, it starts to feel transactional—and competitive. One Canadian interviewee joked it felt like The Hunger Games. You have to make it, and that means others won’t. What’s needed is inclusivity, not rivalry.
- If Germany really wants to maintain a personal approach, it needs a structured system with proper oversight and manageable workloads. At the moment, caseworkers are under enormous pressure and hold a lot of discretionary power—which can lead to unjust decision-making.
By the way, no one regretted becoming a citizen. Every new citizen said that their lives really had improved. We need to think more carefully about how we grant citizenship. It's important to talk about inclusion and to see citizenship as a tool for improving both individual lives and communities.’
Hannah Bliersbach's PhD defence took place on 13 May.
This research was conducted as part of Leiden University’s research program Social Citizenship & Migration.