Germany Scraps Fast-Track Citizenship as Migration Debate Intensifies

Germany has officially ended its fast-track citizenship scheme, signaling a tougher stance on migration amid growing political and public pressure. The policy, which allowed exceptionally well-integrated foreigners to obtain citizenship after three years instead of five, was revoked by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative government.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the decision ensures that “a German passport must be a reward for successful integration, not an incentive for illegal immigration.” While the broader citizenship law—introduced under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz—remains largely intact, the removal of the fast-track option marks a symbolic shift in Germany’s migration policy.
Supporters of the previous system argued it encouraged talented professionals to settle in Germany, which faces chronic labor shortages. However, Merz’s government insisted the measure had limited impact, with only a few hundred of the 300,000 naturalisations in 2024 occurring under the fast-track route.
The change reflects a broader European trend toward tightening immigration rules, as rising public concern over migration pressures fuels support for far-right parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has surged in national polls.