The German government has approved measures to restrict family reunification for immigrants and delay access to citizenship, advancing a significant shift in immigration policy under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative leadership.
Key Points:
- Family Reunification Restrictions: The German cabinet agreed to a two-year suspension of the right for immigrants with “subsidiary protection” status—those not qualifying for full refugee status, primarily Syrians—to bring their children and spouses to Germany. Around 380,000 people hold this status.
- Previous Policy: Under previous regulations, up to 12,000 family members could join their relatives in Germany annually.
- Temporary Suspension: The suspension aims to “ease pressure on Germany’s reception and integration systems” and provide “an appropriate means to quickly relieve the burden on municipalities.”
- Citizenship Changes: The government also removed the “accelerated” naturalization option, which previously allowed immigrants to apply for citizenship after three years of residency. The waiting period for citizenship has now been extended to five years. This decision overrides a regulation introduced six months ago by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
- Naturalization Figures: In the past year, Germany recorded approximately 200,000 naturalizations, the highest number in 25 years. The criteria for applicants typically include financial independence, stable employment, and solid knowledge of the German language.
- Legislative Process: The proposed legislative changes will be quickly forwarded to Parliament by the governing coalition of conservatives and social democrats, bypassing the need for referral to the Bundesrat, the upper house of Parliament.
