Germany Abolishes Accelerated Path to Citizenship: New Rules and Future Outlook
Germany has officially abolished the previous opportunity for foreigners to obtain citizenship through an accelerated process, which was earlier available to those residing in the country for less than three years.
This decision was supported by the Bundestag on October 8 and marks a significant step in reforming the country’s immigration policy towards a more prolonged and thorough integration process.
Previously, the German government allowed citizenship to be granted after three years if applicants demonstrated a high level of integration, including success in education and employment, active participation in community life, and proficiency in German at level C1, alongside a clean legal record.
Such policy aimed to attract FDI and skilled migrants more swiftly, but over time, Western policymakers have recognized potential risks to the migration system.
The new laws require a minimum of five years of residence for naturalization, extending to up to ten years if violations or falsehoods are identified during the application process.
Stricter requirements regarding social and linguistic adaptation are also introduced to provide a more controlled and structured naturalization procedure.
This initiative seeks to reduce illegal migration and improve the integration of newcomers into German society, though it has sparked debates over its impact on attracting highly skilled professionals from abroad.