Germany Tightens Citizenship Rules to Strengthen National Integration Standards 1

Germany Tightens Citizenship Rules to Strengthen National Integration Standards

Germany is set to abolish a fast-track naturalization pathway that currently allows well-integrated migrants to obtain citizenship after just three years of residency, as part of a broader initiative led by conservative leader Friedrich Merz to make Europe’s largest economy less appealing to foreign migrants.

The federal cabinet is expected to approve the new legislative proposal on Wednesday. The bill, introduced by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, aims to eliminate the expedited citizenship measure that was originally implemented under the government of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The initiative was intended to promote integration and help alleviate Germany’s acute labor shortages by simplifying the path to citizenship for qualified individuals.

“Express naturalisation after three years of residency was a mistake. We are putting an end to it now,” Dobrindt told Bild, a German tabloid. “German citizenship must come at the end of an integration process, not at the beginning,” he added.

Under the existing law, permanent residents who have demonstrated fluency in the German language and achieved exceptional educational or professional success may apply for naturalization after three years. In the absence of such qualifications, individuals may still apply for citizenship after five years, provided they meet standard requirements related to language proficiency and knowledge of German history and society.

Dobrindt, a prominent figure within the Christian Social Union (CSU)—the Bavarian sister party to Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—argued that three years is insufficient time for migrants to fully adapt to life in Germany. He stressed that successful integration takes longer, saying, “Three years are simply not enough to integrate into the living conditions in Germany.”

The interior minister also expressed optimism that the rollback of the fast-track rule would lead to a reduction in asylum applications. He warned that the previous policy created “false incentives,” stating, “We are reducing these pull factors.”

This legislative shift arrives amid a longstanding tension between Germany’s need for skilled labor and growing political pressures to tighten immigration controls. Business associations have repeatedly urged the government to make Germany more attractive to foreign professionals by simplifying bureaucratic processes and improving access to employment.

Meanwhile, high-level talks are scheduled to take place in the Chancellery on Wednesday, where senior figures from the CDU, along with coalition partner the Social Democrats (SPD), will meet to discuss future legislative initiatives and key economic priorities.

Among the items on the agenda are proposals to introduce reduced energy prices for industrial enterprises and implement special tax depreciation incentives for companies investing in Germany. Both policy measures were outlined in the coalition agreement signed earlier this month, aimed at stimulating domestic industry and enhancing Germany’s competitiveness in the global market.

As Germany grapples with demographic challenges and economic headwinds, the new citizenship policy signals a decisive turn in the country’s approach to migration and integration.