Germany repeals little-used fast track citizenship scheme

A survey by German media recovered that less than 1,000 radical had applied to the programme.

Germany has ended a fast-track programme that fto highly qualified foreigners use for citizenship aft 3 years of residence alternatively of the modular five.

The Bundestag, the German parliament, voted down the measurement connected Wednesday, according to Germany’s ARD nationalist broadcaster.

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The programme had lone been successful spot since 2024 and was utilized by conscionable a fewer 100 applicants, but it was politically unpopular contempt Germany’s declining population.

The ballot connected Tuesday made bully connected an predetermination committedness from Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this twelvemonth that his centre-right Christian Democratic Union would repeal the fast-track programme.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the measurement needed to spell due to the fact that it had devalued German citizenship.

“The German passport indispensable beryllium disposable arsenic designation for palmy integration and not arsenic an inducement for amerciable migration,” Dobrindt told reporters connected Tuesday.

The repeal was supported by parties similar the far-right AfD, the largest absorption enactment successful the Bundestag.

The AfD is well-known for its anti-immigration stance and has antecedently called for the “mass deportation” of immigrants.

The enactment was 1 of the biggest winners successful the national predetermination successful February, doubling its fig of seats successful parliament compared to the past predetermination successful 2021.

Ferat Kocak from The Left enactment told reporters that the German authorities was making “AfD’s hatred socially acceptable”, according to ARD.

A survey by ARD Capital Studio successful July recovered that conscionable 573 radical successful Berlin had applied for the fast-track citizenship since 2024, representing conscionable 1.02 percent of each citizenship applications.

Berlin was followed by 78 radical successful Bavaria and 16 radical successful Baden-Wurttemberg arsenic of April 2025, according to the survey.

The fast-track programme was included successful a bid of reforms to German citizenship rules introduced past twelvemonth by the erstwhile chancellor Olaf Scholz. It required applicants to show precocious German connection proficiency and “proof of being well-integrated into German society”, according to German quality outlet DW.

While it was cancelled, different changes made by the Scholz authorities stay successful place.

They see cutting down residency requirements from 8 years to 5 for modular citizenship applications and relaxing rules connected dual citizenship, DW said. Citizenship applicants indispensable besides amusement they person mid-level German connection skills and the quality to enactment themselves and their household successful Germany.