Published On 9/10/2025
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Last update: 10:00 (Mecca time)
Yesterday, Wednesday, the German Parliament canceled what is known as “rapid naturalization” that the previous coalition government had approved for foreigners who were well integrated into German society, which reflects the sudden change in the position on immigration within the European country that has a strong economy and suffers from a shortage of workers.
Under the new decision, those wishing to obtain German citizenship must live in Germany for a period of no less than 5 years instead of 3 years as was the case under the abolished system.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told parliament, “The German passport should serve as recognition of the successful integration process and not as an incentive for illegal immigration.”
Of the 300,000 who applied for citizenship in 2024, a record number, only a few hundred were accepted through the fast-track naturalization pathway, which was originally intended to be an incentive for skilled workers to choose to settle in Germany, which suffers from a severe labor shortage.
Candidates must demonstrate achievements such as German language proficiency, volunteer service, or professional or academic success.
Parliament’s approval to abolish “rapid naturalization” came thanks to the votes of the new ruling coalition consisting of the Christian Union, headed by current Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the Social Democratic Party, and thanks to the support of the Alternative for Germany party.
The Christian Union consists of the Christian Democratic Party Meretz and its younger brother, the Bavarian Christian Social Party.
It is noteworthy that the Alternative Party has the second strongest bloc in the Federal Parliament in Berlin.
On the other hand, the Green and Left parties directed notable criticism of this step, as the Parliamentary Director of the Green Bloc, Velets Polat, said that this “reactionary policy” harms integration.
In turn, Firat Kocak from the Left Party accused the Christian Union parties of “through their immigration policy, they are entrenching in society the xenophobia that the Alternative Party promotes.”