Germany has officially ended its fast-track citizenship route for skilled foreign nationals.
The development came after the Bundestag, the German parliament, voted down the law that mandated a fast-track citizenship route scheme.
The Parliament, under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, scrapped the three-year pathway, which was introduced just last year to lure top global talent.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the fast-track citizenship route for skilled foreign nationals was a cornerstone of the 2024 naturalization reforms enacted by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
The fast-track citizenship route scheme was designed to accelerate the process for “exceptionally well-integrated” professionals, such as engineers, scientists, and IT specialists who demonstrated C1-level German proficiency, civic engagement, or outstanding workplace contributions.
To qualify, applicants needed advanced proficiency in the German language, evidence of civic engagement or voluntary service, and notable professional or academic achievements.
The programme allowed eligible applicants to gain citizenship after just three years of residency, down from the standard five.
However, critics within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) argued it diluted the value of German nationality, with Merz’s campaign explicitly vowing to dismantle it.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the measure needed to go because it had devalued German citizenship.
“The German passport must be available as recognition for successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration,” Dobrindt told reporters on Tuesday.
Also, the repeal of the citizenship program was supported by parties like the far-right AfD, the largest opposition party in the Bundestag.
The AfD is well-known for its anti-immigration stance and has previously called for the “mass deportation” of immigrants.
The party was one of the biggest winners in the federal election in February, doubling its number of seats in parliament compared to the last election in 2021.
However, members of the opposition party have said that scrapping the fast-track route could make it harder for Germany to attract skilled migrants at a time when other countries like Canada and Australia are offering smoother paths to citizenship.
Filiz Polat from the Green Party stated: “Germany is competing for the best minds in the world. If those people choose Germany, we should do everything possible to keep them.”
Meanwhile, a survey by ARD Capital Studio in July found that just 573 people in Berlin had applied for the fast-track citizenship since 2024, representing just 1.02 percent of all citizenship applications.
Berlin was followed by 78 people in Bavaria and 16 people in Baden-Württemberg as of April 2025, according to the survey.
While it was cancelled, other changes made by the Scholz government remain in place.
They include cutting down residency requirements from eight years to five for standard citizenship applications and relaxing rules on dual citizenship, DW said. Citizenship applicants must also show they have mid-level German language skills and the ability to support themselves and their family in Germany.
What This Means for Immigrants in Germany
The end of the fast-track option means the path to German citizenship now looks a little different. Here’s how the new rules play out in practice:
3-Year Fast-Track Citizenship: This route has been removed. The special provision for well-integrated residents no longer exists, so everyone must now follow the regular timeline.
5-Year Citizenship Route: The standard five-year path remains for those who meet language and integration requirements. This continues to be the main way for most immigrants to qualify.
Dual Citizenship: This is still allowed. Immigrants don’t have to give up their original nationality when becoming German, which is an important feature that continues under the current law.
Citizenship Revocation: The government is not pursuing stricter revocation policies. This means applicants can keep their original citizenship without added pressure or risk.
