(MENAFN) The German parliament on Wednesday abolished the fast-track citizenship option for immigrants, passing legislation backed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative coalition. The law now sets a uniform five-year residency requirement for all citizenship applicants, replacing the previous three-year pathway for immigrants demonstrating exceptional integration.

The legislation received support from Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), their coalition partner the Social Democrats (SPD), and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, “Naturalization must come at the end of the integration process, not at the beginning. The German passport must be recognition for successful integration, not an incentive for illegal migration.”

The SPD, which introduced the fast-track option under its previous government, accepted the change as part of coalition negotiations with the CDU/CSU. SPD deputy parliamentary group leader Sonja Eichwede highlighted the low number of fast-track cases and stressed the importance of maintaining the dual citizenship option over the accelerated pathway.

Opposition parties The Left and the Greens criticized the move, arguing that it undermines integration efforts and panders to the AfD’s anti-immigrant agenda.

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