Bundestag Approves the Repeal of Germany’s Fast-Track Citizenship

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Germany is pivoting from migration liberalism toward a more restrictive stance. After a period of openness and record naturalisations, authorities have decided to tighten the rules for acquiring citizenship. Parliament has approved the repeal of the fast-track path to a German passport, Reuters reports.

In spring 2024, the previous government enacted a law that radically reshaped the integration approach: it cut residency from eight to five years, legalised dual citizenship, and partially eased rules for children of foreign nationals. It also introduced a three-year fast track for applicants with C1 German, stable employment, and proven integration. The idea was to attract and retain high-skilled professionals.

The CDU/CSU parties criticised the reform and pledged to scrap at least the fast-track route. After the change of government, this commitment was written into the coalition agreement signed by CDU, CSU and SPD. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also vowed to tackle illegal migration and said Germany would deny entry at the border even when asylum is requested.



The amendment bill was submitted to the Bundestag in late May 2025 and approved in October. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt argued that a German passport should be the result of successful integration, not an incentive for irregular immigration. SPD representatives noted the option was rarely used: while 2024 set a record of roughly 300,000 naturalisations, only a few hundred relied on the fast track.

Filiz Polat of The Greens countered that Germany competes for top global talent and should do everything to keep such specialists. Still, most lawmakers backed tighter rules. Public attitudes toward immigration have deteriorated sharply in recent months, helping the far-right Alternative for Germany to top some polls.

The rest of the landmark citizenship law championed by the previous SPD–FDP–Greens government under Olaf Scholz remains intact for now. That may prove temporary, as conservatives had planned to roll back dual citizenship and the shorter five-year residency. For the time being, migrants can still qualify after five years.



As of 2024, 8–12 million foreign nationals in Germany potentially met eligibility criteria. Naturalisations were rising: 169,000 in 2022, 200,000+ in 2023, and nearly 292,000 in 2024—up 46%, a surge linked to legal changes. Destatis recorded the highest level since 2000.

Top nationalities in 2024 were Syrians (83,000), followed by Turkish (22,500) and Iraqi nationals (13,500). Russian naturalisations jumped 551% from 1,995 to 12,980, largely due to allowing retention of the first passport. Only 7% of new citizens used any accelerated procedure. Most (86%) followed the standard track or qualified via family. The average residency before naturalisation was 11.8 years overall, 14.5 years for Russians, and 23+ years for Turks.

Further tightening is on the table. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has already presented a package including “return hubs” in third countries for people slated for deportation who cannot immediately return home, and indefinite detention for foreign nationals deemed dangerous or convicted of crimes. These contentious proposals face uncertain prospects, but they underscore Germany’s broader shift to stricter regulation, a trend gaining traction across the EU and beyond.