09.10.2025 18:40
In Germany, the parliament has abolished the "accelerated citizenship" right, which allowed individuals to apply for citizenship after living in the country for 3 years.
With the amendment made in the Federal Parliament, a 5-year residency requirement has been introduced for all applicants for German citizenship. Thus, the "accelerated citizenship" application, which previously granted citizenship to immigrants who successfully adapted to the country in 3 years, has been abolished. Members of the coalition formed by the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party, along with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is the main opposition, approved the amendment.
THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT IN GERMANY HAD REDUCED THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION FROM 8 YEARS TO 5 YEARS
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated in his speech in the parliament, "Acceptance of citizenship should occur at the end of the integration process, not at the beginning. The German passport should be presented as a sign of successful integration and should not be used to encourage illegal immigration." Opposition members from the Left Party and the Greens criticized Prime Minister Friedrich Merz's coalition government harshly, arguing that the populist changes in integration policy harmed integration efforts and yielded to the anti-immigrant propaganda of the far-right AfD.
The previous government in Germany, consisting of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party, had reduced the residency requirement for citizenship applications from 8 years to 5 years and provided the opportunity for citizenship after 3 years for those who were successful in integration.