“Turbo naturalization” is about to be abolished – has it been used?

The “turbo naturalization” introduced by the traffic light coalition is expected to be abolished again on Wednesday. The government around Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to decide this with the majority of the black-red coalition in the Bundestag. The reforms of the previous government were a thorn in the side of the CDU/CSU politicians. The abolition of the law was therefore already agreed in the coalition agreement with the SPD. This step should now take place.

The most important questions and answers at a glance:

On June 27, 2024, the “Law for the Modernization of Nationality Law” came into force, which also included “turbo naturalization”. The latter means that particularly well-integrated foreigners were able to obtain German citizenship after just three years instead of five years. At the same time, the “normal” naturalization period was reduced from eight to five years.

However, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) – at that time still under the leadership of Nancy Faeser (SPD) – the requirements for naturalization became stricter. A commitment to the free democratic basic order was assumed. “Racism, anti-Semitism or any other form of misanthropy excludes naturalization,” one said . In order to check this, the list of questions in the naturalization test has been expanded.

In addition, people who wanted to be naturalized had to have, among other things, successful integration and a good knowledge of German and the demonstrate independent means of securing one’s livelihood.

There are no reliable figures for the whole of Germany. However, it became apparent that only a few immigrants actually took advantage of the law. According to research by various media outlets, the “turbo naturalizations” accounted for a very small proportion of all naturalizations. He reports that there have only been 20 to 25 cases in Central Germany so far. At the BR’s request, a spokeswoman for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior explained that 78 people in the Free State had taken advantage of the option since it came into force.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CDU) sees the law as a “pull factor” – i.e. a positive incentive for people to immigrate to Germany. The abolition is part of the “migration turnaround” he proclaimed. In a statement from his ministry it is said that the reform is intended to bring order back to migration and reduce “pull factors”. More time is needed for long-term integration. According to that should In the future, a prior residence period of at least five years will apply to naturalization.

The Greens and the Left criticize the planned abolition. “The black-red movement backwards is the wrong signal at a time when we need all our strength – regardless of whether someone has lived here for three years or for three generations,” said Green Party leader Felix Banaszak to the news portal “web.de news”. The reform implemented by the traffic light coalition made Germany “more modern, more open and fairer” and “opened a door for people,” especially those who were particularly committed to their integration, said Banaszak.