Germany’s new black-red coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD) plans to reverse one of the most symbolic reforms of the previous government: the “Turbo-Einbürgerung”, or fast-track naturalization.
Under the upcoming changes, foreign residents will once again need to live in Germany for at least five years before being eligible for German citizenship.
The Bundestag is expected to vote on the reform on Wednesday afternoon, with the measure likely to pass.
The move marks a clear political shift away from the more liberal migration policies of the former “traffic light” (Ampel) coalition.
End of the three-year fast track introduced by the Ampel government
Last year, the Ampel coalition had shortened the waiting time for well-integrated immigrants, allowing citizenship applications after just three years under certain conditions.
To qualify, applicants had to demonstrate:
- exceptional professional or academic performance,
- volunteer or civic engagement,
- excellent German language skills, and
- full financial independence.
The goal was to reward integration success and make Germany more attractive to skilled foreign workers.
Now, the new CDU/CSU-led Interior Ministry underlines that citizenship should be “the final step of integration, not a tool to promote it.”
Under the proposed reform, all applicants — regardless of achievements or engagement — will have to wait a minimum of five years before applying for a German passport.
CDU/CSU: “Correcting the Ampel’s mistake”
Steffen Bilger, the CDU/CSU’s parliamentary managing director, said the new law “corrects a mistake” made by the previous government.
“German citizenship must represent the endpoint of successful integration, not the beginning of it,” Bilger explained.
The Union argues that a longer time frame ensures that new citizens truly understand and share German values.
Critics argue the move could make Germany less attractive to foreign professionals, but Bilger dismissed the concern, saying the five-year rule would not discourage qualified workers from coming to Germany.
AfD demands even stricter requirements
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has criticized the reform from the opposite perspective, saying it does not go far enough.
AfD migration policy spokesman Gottfried Curio called the CDU/SPD proposal a “sham package,” pointing out that before the Ampel reform, naturalization was only possible after eight years, or five years in exceptional cases.
His party wants to return to that stricter standard, arguing that reducing the waiting period to five years “fails to deliver the promised migration turnaround.”
Greens and Left call the reform “a step backward”
The Greens and The Left (Die Linke) strongly oppose the changes.
Green Party co-chair Banaszak said the new proposal “sends the wrong signal” at a time when Germany urgently needs skilled workers and should encourage integration, not delay it.
“The fast-track citizenship reform made Germany more open, fair, and modern,” he told the press.
“It opened doors for people who worked hard to integrate. Rolling it back means going back to a mindset where belonging is viewed with suspicion.”
Left Party warns of unfair consequences
Clara Bünger, migration policy spokeswoman for Die Linke, criticized the lack of transitional rules for applicants who already filed under the previous law but have not yet received a decision.
She warned that due to lengthy bureaucratic delays, many would be unfairly caught by the new regulations.
Bünger also condemned the growing income-related barriers in some German states, where applicants who receive partial social assistance — including the disabled, caregivers, or parents — are excluded from naturalization.
“These restrictions are deeply unjust,” she said. “Citizenship should not depend on income. Integration must be treated as a right, not a privilege.”
A turning point in Germany’s migration debate
The rollback of the fast-track policy is part of the new coalition’s broader “migration turnaround” agenda, which already included suspending family reunification for refugees without asylum status.
With this reform, Germany’s citizenship policy returns to a more traditional, conservative framework, signaling a decisive shift in how integration and belonging are politically defined.
