merz, schmerz
Today the CDU announced their plans for a coalition with the SPD, which is a win for normalcy. Things could have been worse, considering the AfD recently became neck-and-neck with the CDU in the polls for the first time, its best result yet. (The CDU won the largest number of votes in the recent election.)
(Chart copied from the Wikipedia page "Opinion polling for the next German federal election.") As of April 9, 2025, there is only one poll that places the AfD as likely to get more votes than the CDU, but still, this is something that has never happened before.
In order to placate those people who did vote for the AfD, the CDU has decided it will crack down on immigration to Germany, turning away large numbers of asylum seekers and ending the possibility of people achieving citizenship in Germany in 3 years as opposed to 5.
the 3-year citizenship track
I'm really discouraged and saddened by this news, because it means now I won't be able to achieve citizenship in the country I want to build a life in until I'm 28, at the earliest.
On June 27, 2024, a law came into effect in Germany that made it a lot easier for immigrants to become naturalized citizens of Germany. Under this law, naturalized German citizens don't need to give up their citizenship in the other country. Normally, citizenship in Germany can be attained by people who have lived in Germany as permanent residents (with an Aufenthaltstitel) for five years, who are then eligible to apply.
There is a possibility for people who have "integrated exceptionally well" to get their citizenship in just 3 years, if they meet all three of certain criteria. The actual text of the law itself reads:
„(3) Die Aufenthaltsdauer nach Absatz 1 Satz 1 kann auf bis zu drei Jahre verkürzt werden, wenn der Ausländer
- besondere Integrationsleistungen, insbesondere besonders gute schulische, berufsqualifizierende oder berufliche Leistungen oder bürgerschaftliches Engagement nachweist,
- die Voraussetzung des § 8 Absatz 1 Nummer 4 erfüllt und
- die Anforderungen einer Sprachprüfung der Stufe C1 des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Referenzrahmens für Sprachen erfüllt.“
In English, this means that the required length of permanent residency can be shortened to 3 years if an applicant has all of the following:
- Proficiency in the German language at the C1 level
- Demonstrates especially good performance in their academic, professonal, or pre-professional endeavors, or provides evidence of civic engagement
- Fulfills all the prerequisites of § 8 Absatz 1 Nummer 4
Okay, let's take a look at § 8 Absatz 1 Nummer 4:
§ 8
- Ein Ausländer, der rechtmäßig seinen gewöhnlichen Aufenthalt im Inland hat, kann auf seinen Antrag eingebürgert werden, wenn seine Identität und Staatsangehörigkeit geklärt sind und er...
- sich und seine Angehörigen zu ernähren imstande ist.
I'm translating this as "(1) a foreigner that has his lawful permanent residency inside Germany can become naturalized after applying, if his identity and citizenship are verified and he... (4.) is capable of supporting himself and his dependents."
So! As long as you have C1 proficiency, demonstrate civic engagement OR do really well in school/in your job, and you are financially self-sufficient and require no welfare from the government, you can get citizenship in 3 years. This is what I had been planning to do, and I was so excited for it, but now the soon-to-be ruling parties have announced they are going to do away with this option for people. It's sad.
But that's okay. It will just take a little longer for me, and for everyone else too. This doesn't change my plans.