Germany ends fast-track citizenship for skilled foreign nationals
New rules retain dual citizenship and standard five-year naturalisation route
DUBAI – Germany has officially ended its fast-track citizenship programme, a policy once designed to reward well-integrated foreign professionals with a German passport after three years instead of the usual five.
The Bundestag voted on Wednesday to repeal the measure, marking a notable shift in the country’s approach to migration and integration.
The law, introduced in 2024 under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, aimed to attract global talent and recognise exceptional integration through advanced German language skills, community service, or outstanding professional or academic achievements. But the new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken a different stance, arguing that citizenship must come as a result of integration, not as a recruitment incentive.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told parliament that a German passport “must be available as recognition for successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration.” The repeal passed comfortably with 450 votes in favour, 134 against, and two abstentions.
Germany’s fast-track citizenship
The fast-track citizenship option was introduced to make Germany more appealing to highly skilled migrants. Eligible applicants were required to demonstrate:
- Advanced German language proficiency
- Evidence of civic or voluntary engagement
- Exceptional professional or academic success
Successful applicants could gain citizenship after three years instead of five. However, the scheme saw limited use. According to ARD public broadcaster, fewer than 1,000 people nationwide applied since its introduction, including just 573 in Berlin, 78 in Bavaria, and 16 in Baden-Württemberg as of mid-2025. Out of roughly 300,000 naturalisations recorded in 2024, only a few hundred came through this route.
Why was it repealed?
The repeal reflects changing public sentiment towards migration in Germany and across Europe. Rising concerns over housing, schools, and local services have contributed to political gains for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which doubled its seats in the 2025 federal election and has called for stricter immigration controls.
Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) campaigned on a pledge to roll back certain liberal migration measures from Scholz’s era, and the fast-track citizenship scheme was a central target. Even the Social Democratic Party (SPD), co-authors of the original law and now junior partners in Merz’s coalition, defended the reversal by noting its limited impact.
“The clause had little effect in practice,” one SPD lawmaker said, adding that the essence of the citizenship reforms – such as dual nationality and simplified procedures – remains intact.
What has changed now?
For immigrants in Germany, the end of the fast-track scheme means a return to more traditional naturalisation timelines:
- Three-Year Fast-Track Option: Abolished. The accelerated route for exceptionally well-integrated residents no longer exists.
- Five-Year Citizenship Path: Remains for those meeting integration and language requirements. This is now the main route for most applicants.
- Dual Citizenship: Continues to be allowed. Applicants can retain their original nationality when becoming German.
- Revocation Policy: No changes have been made to existing citizenship revocation laws.
The rest of the 2024 citizenship reform – which shortened the general residency requirement from eight to five years and allowed dual nationality – remains in effect.
What it means for Germany’s labour market
Germany continues to face acute labour shortages, particularly in healthcare, construction, and technology. Critics warn that repealing the fast-track route sends the wrong message to highly qualified foreign workers at a time when countries like Canada and Australia are simplifying their own citizenship processes.
Filiz Polat from the Green Party said the change risks deterring skilled talent: “Germany is in competition to get the best brains in the world. If those people choose Germany, we should do everything possible to keep them.”
Despite the policy reversal, experts note that Germany’s broader citizenship liberalisation still represents progress compared to its pre-2024 rules, which required eight years of residence and restricted dual nationality. For now, Germany’s door to citizenship remains open – just not as swiftly as before.