German Government Scraps Three-Year Fast-Track Citizenship
October 12, 2025
9:07 am
Germany has scrapped its three-year fast-track citizenship program for foreign residents, ending a policy once designed to reward rapid integration and attract global talents.
The decision, announced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, extends the minimum naturalization period to five years for all applicants, signaling a firmer stance on immigration after months of rising political tension over migration and integration.
Officials said the move comes amid growing public unease across Europe about the strain migration places on housing, education, and social services. While Germany remains open to new citizens, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that citizenship must “come as recognition …
