The German parliament votes to abolish the fast-track naturalization law
The German parliament, the Bundestag, voted to abolish the fast-track naturalization option that was approved during the tenure of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democratic government (SPD). This decision was passed easily, representing the fulfillment of a key electoral promise by the current Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Among the members present, 450 voted in favor of the repeal, 134 against it, while two abstained from voting. The decision received rare support from both the Christian Democratic Union and the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), in an unusual moment of consensus between the ruling coalition and the opposition. The party document stated that obtaining citizenship should be 'the end of the integration process, not the beginning,' although the previous law required proof of exceptional integration before granting fast-track citizenship.
The fast naturalization law was introduced in July 2024 as part of a comprehensive reform aimed at updating immigration policies in Germany. According to the old system, immigrants had to reside for eight years before applying for citizenship. The new reform has reduced the period to five years and allowed dual citizenship for non-EU nationals. It also provided a faster option after just three years for those with advanced proficiency in the German language and proof of strong integration into society.
However, government reports indicated that the number of applicants through this pathway was very low. The public broadcaster ARD reported that local immigration offices recorded extremely low numbers of those obtaining citizenship through the fast track. Critics argue that the problem was not in the number of applicants, but in the message that this decision sent to skilled workers and professionals considering moving to Germany.
Opposition politicians and immigration experts have strongly condemned this decision, warning that it could deter highly skilled migrants at a time when Germany is facing a labor shortage and demographic decline. Felix Banachak from the Green Party stated that this decision 'sends the wrong message at a time when we need all our talents — whether a person has lived here for three years or three generations.'