The German Federal Parliament officially abolished a citizenship fast-track program on Wednesday (October 8) that allowed individuals with “particularly good integration status” to obtain citizenship within three years. This move signifies a shift towards a more conservative approach on immigration for this European economic powerhouse that is in need of labor.
The conservative faction led by current Chancellor Friedrich Merz had promised to cancel this legislation during this year’s election campaign, which aimed to reduce the naturalization period from the usual five years to three years.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended this decision in parliament. He emphasized that “getting a German passport must be a recognition of successful integration rather than an incentive for illegal immigrants.”
The fast-track program was initially designed as an incentive to attract highly skilled individuals with high mobility to settle in Germany and alleviate the severe labor shortage. Applicants had to demonstrate their achievements, such as excellent German language skills, volunteer service, or academic success.
However, the abolition of this program has sparked controversy. Green Party member Filiz Polat expressed to legislators, “Germany is competing globally for the best talent, and if these individuals choose Germany, we should do everything possible to retain them.”
Although the conservative party had promised to repeal broader immigration reforms by the previous government while in opposition, the essence of the new citizenship law remains intact. This law stands as a landmark achievement of the coalition government lead by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which Olaf Scholz belongs to, is currently the junior partner in Merz’s coalition government. The party defended the decision, stating that the fast-track program was rarely used, but the core principle of liberalization (easing citizenship requirements and allowing dual citizenship) remains:
The standard citizenship waiting period remains at five years (instead of the previous eight years); non-EU nationals can still hold dual citizenship. Foreigners marrying German citizens can still apply for citizenship after three years of residence, as long as the marriage has lasted for at least two years, unaffected by this exception.
Data shows that out of a record 300,000 naturalizations in 2024, only a few hundred were granted through the fast-track program, indicating its low actual usage.
However, public attitudes towards immigration have drastically soured, partly due to the high levels of immigration putting enormous strain on local services. This shift in societal sentiment is a major driving force behind the conservative action and has propelled the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the top spot in some opinion polls.
(Translated and referenced from reports by Reuters and other media.)