'Scrapping turbo citizenship sends a message to immigrants... the wrong message'

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

If you’ve recently scrolled through any immigrant-heavy corner of social media, you’ve probably spotted a familiar post or five: after years of calling Germany home and battling bureaucracy, the post’s author is finally holding up that hard-earned burgundy passport.

With a steady rise in naturalisations, it’s no wonder that LinkedIn and co. are brimming with proud declarations of becoming German. In 2024, a record 291,955 foreigners received a German passport, up 23 percent from the previous year, according to statistics published in June.

But if Germany’s newly formed government has its way, that upward trend may soon stall.

Following its current summer break, the CDU/CSU–SPD coalition is likely to officially scrap the so-called “turbo” naturalisation route. Introduced into law in mid-2024, the provision has allowed candidates with “exceptional integration status” - C1-level German and civic contributions like volunteer work with a Verein - to apply for …