Germany eyes stricter naturalisation rules after record‑high citizenship grants

More than 309,000 people received German citizenship in 2025, surpassing the previous record of about 292,000 in 2024. The increase follows 2024 reforms that lowered the residency requirement to five years, allowed dual citizenship and introduced a three‑year “turbo‑naturalisation” pathway for well‑integrated migrants, a measure the coalition later repealed.

CDU/CSU politicians, including Bundestag interior policy spokesman Alexander Throm and Hessian interior minister Roman Poseck, are calling for tighter rules. Throm proposes extending the naturalisation period back to eight years, ending the general permissibility of dual citizenship and linking citizenship eligibility to first obtaining a permanent residence permit. Poseck argues that dual citizenship should be limited to exceptional cases, citing integration concerns. The proposals aim to reverse the recent surge in naturalisations and reinforce a singular German national identity.