Germany's fast-track citizenship program scrapped; immigrants can only obtain citizenship after five years

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: According to German Radio, the government led by Friedrich Mertz has decided to scrap the three-year citizenship period for immigrants who have integrated into German society, and from now on, it will only be possible to obtain a German passport after five years of successful residence and integration.

 

The amendment was passed in the German Federal Parliament with the support of a majority of the Christian Democratic, Christian Social, Social Democratic and far-right parties, and the AfD. The previous law, which opponents called "turbo citizenship," lasted only 15 months and, according to reports, several hundred people benefited from it.

 

The previous coalition government led by Olaf Schulz introduced the accelerated process in order to address a shortage of skilled workers. However, strict criteria were set for applicants, including proof of integration achievements through employment or volunteering and a high level of German language proficiency.

 

The current government believes that sustainable integration takes time. “German citizenship should not be a reward for immigration or residence, but should be the result of success in life, work and acceptance of the country’s values,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in defense of the plan.

 

However, opposition parties criticized the cancellation of the program. Polat, a member of the Green Party, called the move retrograde and damaging to the integration process and the country’s economy. Diakoni, another member of the Green Party, also called it a missed opportunity, stressing that instead of encouraging integration, new obstacles had been created.

 

Experts also have different views. Klot, the head of the Council of Experts on Integration and Migration, called the decision reasonable and said the perception that citizenship was easy to obtain needed to be corrected. But Broeker, an immigration researcher at the Institute for Employment Research, warned that the move could reduce the incentive for skilled migrants to come to Germany.