Germany ends fast-track citizenship as mood on migration shifts

"Germany's parliament has rescinded a fast-track citizenship programme, reflecting the rapidly shifting mood on migration in Europe's labour-hungry economic powerhouse. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives pledged in this year's election campaign to rescind the legislation, which let people deemed exceptionally well integrated gain citizenship in three years instead of five. A German passport must come as recognition of a successful integration process and not act as an incentive for illegal immigration, interior minister Alexander Dobrindt told parliament."

"The SPD, now junior partners in Merz's coalition, defended their support for the change, saying the fast track was rarely used and the liberalisation's essence remained. Of 2024's record 300,000 naturalisations, only a few hundred came through the fast track, originally planned as an incentive for the footloose and highly skilled to choose to settle in a Germany that suffers from acute labour shortages. Candidates must demonstrate achievements such as very good German, voluntary service or professional or scholarly success."

Germany's parliament rescinded a fast-track naturalisation programme that allowed exceptionally well-integrated individuals to gain citizenship in three years rather than five. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives fulfilled an election pledge by removing the expedited route, with interior minister Alexander Dobrindt arguing that a passport should recognize successful integration and not incentivize illegal migration. The rest of the recent citizenship reform remains intact. The SPD defended the change, noting the fast track was seldom used; only a few hundred of 2024's record 300,000 naturalisations used it. The measure had targeted highly skilled, mobile candidates who must show strong German language skills, voluntary service or professional or scholarly achievements. Public concern over migration pressures has hardened attitudes and boosted far-right support in some polls.

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