Verified & updated: July 2026. Checked against the official StAG text at gesetze-im-internet.de and the repeal law in the Federal Law Gazette (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 257). This page is updated whenever the legal situation moves.
Yes — the 3-year "fast track" to German citizenship is gone. It was abolished on 30 October 2025. But most of what the 2024 citizenship reform introduced is still in force, and much of what you read online about this change is wrong in one direction or the other. Here is exactly what changed, what didn't, and what it means for you.
In short: Since 30 October 2025, naturalization after 3 years for "special integration achievements" (§10 Abs. 3 StAG) no longer exists. The standard 5-year path is unchanged, dual citizenship is still allowed, and spouses of German citizens can still apply after 3 years of residence + 2 years of marriage (§9 StAG — a different rule that was never touched).Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. If a pending application is affected, ask your naturalization office or an immigration lawyer about your specific case.
Key facts (2026)
- The 3-year fast track (§10 Abs. 3 StAG) was repealed effective 30 October 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 257)
- The official law text now shows "(weggefallen)" — deleted — where the fast track used to be
- The 5-year standard route is unchanged (§10 Abs. 1 StAG)
- Dual citizenship remains allowed — that part of the 2024 reform was not touched
- The spouse route (3 years residence + 2 years married, §9 StAG) still exists
- B1 language, naturalization test, income rules, €255 fee: all unchanged
- 5 years instead of the old 8 for the standard route
- Dual citizenship for everyone — no renunciation requirement
- Citizenship by birth in Germany for children of parents with 5 years residence + permanent residence right (§4 Abs. 3)
- The benefit-rule exceptions for full-time workers (20 of the last 24 months) and the guest-worker generation
- Easier language rules for the guest-worker generation
- People preparing a 3-year application (C1 + special achievements) who had not applied before 30 October 2025: the route is closed. Your date now comes from the 5-year rule — or the spouse rule if you are married to a German.
- People who applied under the 3-year rule but were not yet decided: the repeal law contains no general grandfathering for pending applications, and German authorities decide entitlement naturalizations under the law in force at the time of the decision. In practice this means pending fast-track applications are assessed under the 5-year rule. If this is you, contact your office — and consider legal advice before withdrawing anything.
- People already naturalized through the fast track: nothing changes. Citizenship granted stays granted.
- §10 StAG — current official text showing Abs. 3 "(weggefallen)"
- Repeal law in the Federal Law Gazette, BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 257
- §9 StAG — the unchanged spouse route
- BMI — nationality law overview
What exactly was abolished
The 2024 citizenship reform included a special route: naturalization after only 3 years of residence for people with "special integration achievements" — typically C1-level German plus outstanding professional or civic engagement. It was used far less than expected: only a small fraction of naturalizations ever ran through it, because the bar was high and offices applied it strictly.
The new federal government elected in 2025 repealed it. The repeal law was published in the Federal Law Gazette on 29 October 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 257) and entered into force the next day, 30 October 2025. Since then, §10 Abs. 3 and 3a simply read "(weggefallen)" in the official text — we verified this directly at gesetze-im-internet.de in July 2026.
What did NOT change
This is the part most out-of-date articles miss. The repeal law removed the 3-year track — and nothing else. Still in force from the 2024 reform:
If you were never aiming at the fast track, this change costs you nothing. The full current picture is in our German citizenship requirements guide, including the B1 language proof and qualifying residence permit requirements that were never touched by the repeal.
Who is actually affected
What might change next — and what is just talk
Parts of the governing CDU/CSU continue to push for further tightening — most prominently, abolishing dual citizenship or returning to longer residence periods. As of July 2026, none of this is law: no bill has passed the Bundestag, and the 5-year rule and dual citizenship are fully in force. Beware of sites presenting these proposals as done deals — a proposal is not a law.
We track this actively. If the legal situation moves, this page changes the same week, with the source linked.
What to do now
1. Compute your 5-year date (or 3-year spouse date) — the citizenship checker does it in a minute and checks the other requirements too. 2. Get the slow items moving early: the B1 certificate and the naturalization test (€25) can both be done long before your residence years are complete. 3. When your date approaches, gather documents and apply — the fee is €255 and big-city processing queues make early, complete applications worth it.