In a major policy reversal reflecting the country’s hardening attitude toward migration, the German Parliament (Bundestag) has voted to repeal the fast-track citizenship route for highly integrated foreigners. The move eliminates the option for exceptional migrants to apply for naturalization after just three years of residency.
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The repeal, pushed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s new centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) government, replaces the accelerated three-year pathway with a standard minimum residency requirement of five years for all applicants.
The End of ‘Turbo-Naturalization’:
The fast-track provision was a key element of the previous government’s effort to modernize Germany’s immigration laws, designed specifically to attract and retain highly skilled foreign workers. To qualify for the three-year path, migrants had to demonstrate:
- Advanced German language proficiency (C1 level).
- Financial independence and the ability to support themselves.
- “Special integrational achievements,” such as notable academic success, high professional performance, or significant volunteer work.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, defending the repeal, stated that the change was necessary to reinforce integration standards. “The German passport must be available as recognition of successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration,” he told parliament.
Political Context and Public Mood:
The decision fulfills a central campaign promise by Chancellor Merz, whose party campaigned on a platform of tightening immigration controls amid rising public concern over the strain of high migration levels on local services. The move is also widely seen as an attempt to counter the surging popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been a vocal critic of liberal migration policies.
Critics of the repeal, primarily from The Left and the Greens parties, argued that the abolition of the three-year path removes a vital tool for encouraging civic participation and rewarding genuine, high-level efforts toward integration, potentially hindering Germany’s ability to compete for top global talent.
What Remains of the Reform:
Despite the repeal of the fast-track option, key parts of the original modernization law remain intact, signaling that Germany is still committed to attracting foreign professionals:
- Standard Residency: The minimum residency requirement for standard naturalization remains reduced from eight years to five years.
- Dual Citizenship: The right for most applicants to hold dual nationality (multiple citizenships) has been preserved.
For the small number of highly-integrated applicants who would have qualified for the three-year route, the new standard is now the five-year residency requirement. The only major exception for a three-year period remains for spouses of German citizens, provided the marriage has lasted at least two years.
