Germany has formally banned the 3-year fast-track nationality pathway for well-integrated settlers.
The decision affected a route that allowed immigrants deeply integrated into German society to apply for citizenship after just 36 months.
The action was verified as part of the coalition consensus among the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
The policy, launched by the past SPD-Green-FDP authority, Germany’s former ruling coalition comprising the SPD, the Green Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), will no longer be obtainable under the new alliance.
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A Controversial Guideline Now Abolished
The 3-year pathway was aimed at immigrants with C1-level German language skills and a robust history of contributing to the German community, perhaps through educational accomplishments, volunteering, or occupational success. It was broadly viewed as compensation for outstanding integration actions.
Hence, it experienced major criticism from conservative legislators who acknowledged the procedure was too simple. Members of the CDU and CSU labeled the guideline as “turbo naturalization,” stating that three years was too short to assess an individual’s complete integration into German life.
Currently, the new CDU and CSU-SPD administration have dropped the policy.
Five-Year Route Remains The Criteria
Although the fast-track alternative is no longer available, the five-year nationality pathway, launched in 2024, remains in effect. This naturalization route is currently the measure and is regarded as a modernized yet balanced policy for citizenship in Germany.
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To be eligible, candidates are required to:
- Have settled in Germany for five years, complete.
- Indicate B1-level German language skills.
- Indicate they are socially integrated via job, study, or active community participation.
- This route had superseded the previous eight-year law, making nationality more accessible while retaining fundamental integration criteria.
Dual Citizenship Is Not Impacted
One of the significant modifications from 2024 is that the lawmaking of dual nationality for non-EU citizens will not be changed. This was verified in the new coalition deal.
Before 2024, Germany did not commonly allow immigrants outside the EU to retain their main citizenship upon naturalization. That limitation has now been taken out.
The Turkish diaspora and several others have long supported this modification, and the new authority’s dedication to maintaining dual citizenship is seen as a win.
No Withdrawal Of Citizenship For Dual Citizens
The union also agreed not to seek guidelines to revoke German nationality from dual citizens, even in extreme or anti-democratic situations.
The CDU/CSU had previously suggested stripping nationality from dual citizens who advocate for terrorism, antisemitism, or anti-democratic ideologies. However, the SPD countered this.
Instead, the coalition stated that it would consider more stringent deportation standards for non-nationals engaged in such actions without impacting people who have already become nationals.
