Germany is making important changes to its citizenship policy in 2025. Find out which naturalization procedure has been abolished, why the government decided to end this path to citizenship, which procedure remains relevant, and how these changes will affect immigrants planning to apply for citizenship

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In 2025, the German government made significant changes to immigration policy, in particular, it abolished the three-year fast track to citizenship. Despite this, there are still opportunities for naturalization under standard rules and the preservation of dual citizenship, which allows immigrants to better integrate without losing their connection to their homeland.

Read about the changes in the procedure for obtaining German citizenship in 2025 in this article.

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What procedure for obtaining German citizenship was abolished?

The fast track to naturalization, introduced in 2024, allowed immigrants to apply for citizenship after three years of residence in Germany, provided that they had a high level of integration. The criteria included:

- Knowledge of the German language at a level not lower than C1.

- Active participation in public life (volunteering, professional achievements, studies).

- Demonstrate commitment to Germany's democratic values.

This path was popular among students, academics and professionals who had already integrated deeply into German society. However, the new coalition believes that this period is too short for comprehensive integration, so it was abolished.

Why exactly did these changes to the procedure for obtaining German citizenship occur?

Germany's new immigration policy was formed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). They decided to change the course set by the previous SPD-Green-FDP government, which sought to make citizenship more accessible.

What is the current procedure for obtaining German citizenship?

Despite the abolition of the accelerated procedure, the standard five-year period of permanent residence as a condition for naturalization remains. In addition, immigrants can obtain dual citizenship even if they are not citizens of EU countries. This was made possible by the 2024 reform, which is now enshrined in the new coalition.

This decision is particularly important for representatives of large diasporas, in particular the Turkish one, which has long demanded the right to keep the passport of its country of origin.

Will naturalized persons be deprived of citizenship?

Another principle point is the guarantee that citizens with dual citizenship will not be deprived of it, even in cases of suspicion of involvement in extremist organizations. Instead, the government plans to strengthen deportation measures against non-citizens who act contrary to constitutional values.

What do these changes mean for immigrants?

- The fast track is no longer valid - get ready for the standard 5-year period.

- Dual citizenship is preserved - a great advantage for immigrants from outside the EU.

- The naturalization process remains open, but requires careful preparation, especially regarding language skills, legal awareness and integration.

Germany is moving to a more balanced approach to citizenship issues. Despite the loss of the ability to quickly obtain a passport, the new rules retain key achievements of the immigration reform. It is important for potential applicants to follow the updates, prepare documents and actively work on integration.

Get advice from a migration lawyer to go through the procedure for obtaining citizenship in Germany without unnecessary problems.

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As a reminder! The procedure for obtaining a work visa to Germany is quite complicated and requires the preparation of a large package of documents. We have already told you why an expat may be denied a permit and what to do to prevent this.

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Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Germany;

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