BERLIN—In a decisive move signaling a fundamental change in Germany’s immigration approach, the nation’s parliament has voted to repeal a controversial law that allowed well-integrated migrants to obtain citizenship in as little as three years. The repeal, spearheaded by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre-right government, reflects mounting political pressure and public unease over the current rate of migration.
The measure, which had been introduced by the previous centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD)-led government, reduced the minimum residency requirement for naturalization from five years to three for those demonstrating “strong integration”—such as high language proficiency and financial independence. The SPD had championed the fast-track rule as a crucial tool to attract highly needed overseas workers to address Germany’s deep labour shortages.
Merz Government Fulfills Campaign Promise
Chancellor Merz’s centre-right CDU government, which took office in May, made reversing this liberalization a core pledge of its platform to tighten immigration controls.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized the government’s stance before the parliamentary vote. “The German passport will be available as recognition of successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration,” he stated, arguing that the three-year period was too short to ensure sustainable integration into German society.
The vote passed overwhelmingly with 450 lawmakers in favor of the repeal and 134 opposed. Support came not only from the ruling CDU but also from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as well as the SPD itself, which is now a junior partner in Merz’s coalition. The SPD defended its vote by arguing that the fast-track provision was “rarely used” since its introduction.
Key Reforms Remain Despite Rollback
Despite the repeal of the fast-track route, the Merz government has chosen to retain other key citizenship reforms passed by the previous administration, preserving a balance between control and economic necessity:
- Standard Residency Requirement: The general minimum residency requirement for citizenship remains reduced from eight years to five years.
- Dual Nationality: The provision allowing dual nationality in most cases for non-EU citizens will also remain in place.
- With citizenship rules potentially tightening or changing, securing your Permanent Residence status is more important than ever to ensure your right to stay in Germany is protected.
The political move comes amid an intensified national debate over migration, with analysts suggesting the government’s firmer stance is a strategic response to counter the increasing popularity and influence of the anti-immigrant AfD, which secured a strong second place finish in February’s general election. The repeal sends a clear signal that, under Chancellor Merz, the German passport is being redefined as the end result of a sustained integration process.
