Germany Tightens Migration Policy: Family Reunification Suspended, Fast-Track Citizenship Abolished

Berlin, May 28, 2025 — Germany is shifting course on migration. The federal cabinet, under the new conservative government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has approved a series of tough new restrictions on refugee family reunification and naturalisation rules, aiming to drastically reshape the country’s approach to immigration.

Family Reunification for Subsidiary Protection Holders Suspended

One of the most controversial measures is the two-year suspension of family reunification rights for migrants with subsidiary protection status — a group that does not qualify as full refugees under the Geneva Convention but cannot be deported due to risk in their home countries.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, around 380,000 individuals currently hold this status in Germany, predominantly Syrians. In 2024 alone, Germany issued approximately 120,000 family reunification visas, many of which could now be affected once the legislation is passed by the Bundestag.

“Our integration capacity is at the limit. Municipalities can no longer meet the growing demand,”
— Alexander Dobrindt, Minister of the Interior

Human rights advocates, including Pro Asyl, warn that this move will intensify family separation trauma and potentially fuel irregular migration.

Germany Ends Fast-Track Citizenship for Foreign Nationals

The Cabinet also voted to abolish the fast-track naturalisation option, previously available to certain well-integrated migrants. The current three-year rule will now be extended to five years as the minimum residency period for eligibility.

This policy reversal comes after Germany recorded a record 200,000 naturalisations in 2024 — the highest in 25 years — prompting concern within the new government over the pace and criteria for granting citizenship.

The only exception to the new rule will apply to foreign nationals married to German citizens, who can still qualify for citizenship after three years of residence and two years of marriage.

A Shift in European Migration Dynamics

These changes align with a wider rightward shift in EU migration policy, as countries across the bloc grapple with balancing humanitarian obligations and growing domestic pressures.

While the German government frames the reforms as necessary for preserving social stability and administrative capacity, critics say they risk undermining Germany’s image as a progressive, immigrant-welcoming democracy.