Germany has ended its fast-track citizenship program, signaling a shift in public sentiment on migration in Europe’s largest economy. The legislation, introduced under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, allowed highly integrated migrants to gain citizenship in three years instead of five.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party had promised during the election campaign to repeal the measure. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told parliament, “A German passport must come as recognition of a successful integration process and not act as an incentive for illegal immigration.”
Other changes to Germany’s citizenship law remain intact. These include dual citizenship rules and a shortened general waiting period from eight to five years, both enacted by the previous Social Democrat-liberal-Green government. While conservatives initially pledged to reverse these reforms, they are now retained.
The Social Democrats, now junior partners in Merz’s coalition, supported the repeal of the fast-track program. They noted that it was rarely used and that the broader liberalization of naturalization remains. Of the 300,000 naturalizations recorded in 2024, only a few hundred were through the fast-track program. It was originally designed to attract highly skilled professionals and globally mobile talent to Germany amid labor shortages.
Candidates for the fast-track program had to demonstrate exceptional integration, including high proficiency in German, professional or scholarly achievements, or voluntary community service. “Germany is in competition to get the best brains in the world, and if those people choose Germany we should do everything possible to keep them,” said Filiz Polat of the Greens.
Public opinion on immigration has hardened in recent years, influenced by pressure on local services and growing concerns about integration. This shift has helped the far-right party Alternative for Germany gain traction, leading in some recent polls.
Despite ending the fast-track pathway, Germany continues to maintain a streamlined naturalization process for long-term residents. Lawmakers emphasized that citizenship remains a recognition of integration and contribution to German society, rather than an incentive for rapid entry.
The repeal reflects a broader European trend of tightening migration rules amid rising public concern, even in countries with significant labor shortages. Germany now faces the challenge of balancing public sentiment with the need to attract skilled workers to sustain its economy.
