Bundestag decides to end Naturalization
The Bundestag passed the law amending the nationality law with a clear majority at the beginning of October. The CDU/CSU, SPD and AfD voted in favour of abolishing Naturalization. The Greens and the Left Party voted against.
With this decision, the governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD are implementing a plan from their coalition agreement: the withdrawal of Naturalization after three years, which was only introduced by the traffic light coalition in June 2024. It was intended as an incentive and reward for particularly well-integrated immigrants.
The prerequisites for Naturalization naturalization were three years of legal residence in Germany, outstanding integration achievements - such as professional success or many years of voluntary work - and very good language skills at C1 level. In addition, all the same requirements applied as for regular Naturalization after five years.
What role does the Federal Council play in legislation?
The Bundesrat did not object to the Bundestag's decision. This concludes the parliamentary process - the abolition of Naturalization after three years has finally been decided.
Explanation: The Bundesrat is one of the three central legislative bodies in Germany alongside the Bundestag and the Federal Government. The 16 federal states are represented in it, usually by their prime ministers or state ministers. The Bundesrat participates in the legislative process by reviewing laws passed by the Bundestag, proposing amendments, approving or rejecting them.
But could the Federal Council have prevented the abolition of Naturalization ?
No, not in this case. The abolition of Naturalization is a so-called objection law. This means that the Bundesrat does not have an absolute right of veto. If it had spoken out against the reform, it could have appealed to the Mediation Committee and delayed the law. However, the Bundestag could have overruled the objection with a simple majority and passed the law anyway.
As the Bundesrat did not raise any objections, the law will now be submitted to the Federal President for execution. Only then can it be published in the Federal Law Gazette - a necessary step before the law actually comes into force.
Naturalization in Germany: What will change with the new law?
With the decision of the Bundestag and Bundesrat, the special regulation on Naturalization will be abolished after three years. The following will apply in future:
- Naturalization is possible after five years of legal residence at the earliest.
- Dual citizenship remains in place.
- The law does not provide for a transitional arrangement for turbo procedures already in progress.
This means that as soon as the new law comes into force, all naturalization procedures will be examined according to the regular five-year rule - even if they were originally submitted under the three-year rule.
The German government justifies the amendment to the law by stating that Naturalization must be the result of successful integration - not the beginning of it. Three years is too short to ensure sustainable integration into German society.
In addition, the old regulation violated the so-called distance requirement: between a permanent right of residence (Settlement permit) and nationality must be separated by a clear time period.
New law not yet in force - old regulation continues to apply for the time being
Although the Bundestag and Bundesrat have approved the reform, the new law does not yet apply. It will not come into force until the day after its publication in the Federal Law Gazette. It is currently unclear when this will happen.
As a rule, publication takes place within a few weeks of the Federal Council's final approval. Until then, the previous regulation will continue to apply: Naturalization is currently still possible after three years, provided the requirements are met.
For those affected, this means that anyone who has currently submitted or would like to submit an application for Naturalization after three years can still do so - as long as the law has not been officially promulgated. As soon as it comes into force, however, only the five-year deadline will apply.
Conclusion
The Federal Council's decision finally puts an end to Naturalization . The reform, which was introduced just over a year ago, is thus being reversed. Regular Naturalization after five years remains in place, as does the possibility of holding multiple citizenships.
It is not yet clear when exactly the new law will come into force. It is expected to be published in the Federal Law Gazette in the coming weeks. Until then, the previous regulation will apply.
For those wishing to naturalize, this means that the German passport remains within reach, but no longer in three years.
