With two motions in the Bundestag, it wants to counterbalance the policies of the governing CDU/CSU and SPD parties. Among other things, the focus is on a proposal to decouple Naturalization in Germany from income. The corresponding motion will be debated in the Bundestag on Friday, 27 June 2025.
Facilitated Naturalization: What is the left demanding?
The text of the application is not yet publicly available. Little is therefore known. The website of the German Bundestag only states that the motion will be discussed on Friday and: "In it, the parliamentary group calls for naturalization to be made possible regardless of income."
In concrete terms, this could mean that the party wants to remove the requirement of independent means of subsistence from the citizenship law. Until now, this has been one of the main hurdles for migrants on the path to German citizenship.
If the proposal were implemented, people who receive citizens' income or other social benefits could also be naturalized in the future - provided they meet all other legal requirements for Naturalization .
Detailed information on the content and justification of the Left Party's motion is expected during the Bundestag session on Friday.
Facilitate family reunification, not suspend it
In addition to the naturalization issue , Die Linke is also bringing a second motion into the debate: This is directed against the planned suspension of family reunification for persons entitled to subsidiary protection. Instead of tightening restrictions, the parliamentary group is calling for existing regulations to be eased and family reunification for humanitarian reasons to be strengthened.
Naturalization 2025: These requirements apply
Anyone wishing to apply for German citizenship in 2025 must generally meet the following requirements:
- At least five years of legal residence in Germany
- German language skills at level B1 (proven by language certificate or school-leaving certificate)
- Commitment to the free and democratic basic order
- Passed naturalization test on history, politics and society (or alternatively: a German educational or school-leaving qualification)
- No serious offenses (max. 90 daily rates)
- valid national passport and further proof of identity and citizenship
- secure residence in Germany
- Independent means of subsistence (without receiving citizen's allowance, ALG II, etc.)
The current federal government (CDU/CSU and SPD) wants to abolish the Naturalization naturalization introduced in 2024 - i.e. the right to Naturalization after just three years in the case of particularly good integration. This will also be discussed in the Bundestag on Friday, 27 June 2025.
What does "independent means of subsistence" mean in concrete terms?
A key criterion for Naturalization is that applicants must be able to support themselves without basic state benefits (such as citizens' income support or social assistance). This means that the person must earn enough money themselves - either through work or other income (self-employment).
On the other hand, government benefits such as
- Child benefit
- Pension for basic security in old age and
- Reduced earning capacity
- Child and youth welfare services in accordance with Book Eight of the German Social Code
- Pensions from social insurance
- Parental allowance
- BAföG
- Housing benefit
- Sickness benefit
- Unemployment benefit (ALG I)
- Training assistance and benefits under the Long-Term Care Insurance Act
off. Anyone who only receives such benefits can still apply for a German passport.
How high must the income be for Naturalization ?
There is no fixed minimum income threshold for Naturalization in Germany. The decisive factor is whether applicants can cover all their expenses (and possibly those of their family) without basic security benefits. This includes
- Rent and ancillary costs
- Health insurance
- Food, clothing, electricity
- Maintenance payments, if applicable
As a rule of thumb: if you are single, you must be ableto prove that you have amonthly income above the citizen's allowance rate and additional housing costs - this currently corresponds to around 1,500 euros gross per month. However, this minimum income is gradually increased the more family members are part of the household.
Exceptions are possible in certain cases - for example, if the spouse provides all or most of the family income.
Conclusion: Does the Left's motion have a chance in the Bundestag?
Our assessment: It is rather unlikely that the Left Party's motion will find a majority in the Bundestag. The demand to allow Naturalization regardless of income contradicts the current migration policy of the federal government - especially the governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD. No support is to be expected from the AfD either.
There are likely to be individual supporters within the Greens, particularly from an integration and social policy perspective. However, a parliamentary majority for this initiative does not appear realistic at present.
More information on the Left Party's motion and the planned amendments to the law - including the two-year suspension of family reunification for persons entitled to subsidiary protection and the abolition of Naturalization - will be provided during the Bundestag debate on Friday, 27 June 2025.
