Naturalization only after eight years? AfD demands a reversal of naturalization law.

Imagine you have spent years of your life in Germany. You have learned the language, worked hard, paid taxes, and built a life for yourself. The 2024 reform of the citizenship law , which reduced the minimum residency requirement to five years, was a beacon of hope for you—a promise of full political participation and permanent citizenship. For many of our clients, this reform was a milestone. But this promise is now being put to the test. A recent initiative in the German Bundestag poses a serious threat to this prospect. The political debate surrounding migration policy has reached a new, legally explosive level, and the legal certainty on which many have relied is now shaky.

As a law firm specializing in visa and immigration law, we are following current developments in the German Bundestag with great attention and concern. On March 5, 2026, the AfD parliamentary group submitted a motion demanding nothing less than a radical reversal of naturalization law . According to the group, the current citizenship law is too "generous" and is leading to a sharp increase in naturalizations. The motion aims to reverse key parts of the 2024 reform. We would like to explain here what this would mean for you in concrete terms.

The move: A step backwards to the year 2023

The core of the AfD's motion aims to completely eliminate the facilitations that came into effect in June 2024. One of the most far-reaching demands concerns the minimum residency requirement . Instead of the current regulation of five years of legal residence, as enshrined in Section 10 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 of the Nationality Act (StAG) , the requirement is to be raised back to eight years . This would massively delay naturalization for the vast majority of applicants. The possibility of allowing dual citizenship, also introduced with the reform, is implicitly at risk as well, since the motion seeks a return to the previous legal situation. The so-called "turbo naturalization" after only three years with C1 language skills, which was abolished at the end of October 2025, will also not be reinstated, thus maintaining high hurdles for those who are particularly well-integrated. We see this as a clear step backward.

Higher hurdles: language, livelihood, and loyalty

In addition to the residency requirement, the AfD parliamentary group plans to significantly tighten the substantive requirements for applicants. This affects several key aspects of the naturalization process. The motion calls for raising the required language level from the current B1 (sufficient German language skills according to § 10 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 of the German Nationality Act) to level B2 . This would drastically increase the language barrier for many people who manage well in everyday life but do not require academic language skills.

At the same time, the rules regarding proof of sufficient means of subsistence are to be tightened. While proof of sufficient means of subsistence is already a general requirement (§ 10 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 3 of the German Nationality Act), the AfD proposal aims to reduce exceptions, for example for low-income earners or families receiving supplementary benefits, to an absolute minimum. As a consequence, this could mean that even involuntary unemployment or a temporary emergency could block naturalization for years.

In addition, the parliamentary group is demanding a tightening of the loyalty check . While applicants are already required to pledge allegiance to the free and democratic basic order, the new proposal aims for an even more intensive examination of their beliefs and "loyalty to the fundamental values of society." How such a check could be designed in a legally sound manner and without the potential for discrimination remains unclear in the proposal. We see significant concerns regarding the rule of law here.

The political context: CDU/CSU and the Young Union

It is important to understand that this proposal is not being made in a vacuum. It is part of a broader societal and political debate on migration and integration, fueled by intensified rhetoric from the CDU/CSU opposition and, in particular, the Young Union (JU). The JU has previously called for similar measures, including a return to the eight-year residency requirement , the B2 language level, and stricter economic criteria.

The CDU, which under Chancellor Friedrich Merz pursued a significantly more restrictive migration policy, has already signaled its view that the 2024 reform was misguided. While the CDU-led federal government under Merz has already tightened migration law in many areas, a segment of the CDU/CSU openly sympathizes with an even more restrictive approach. It is therefore possible that some of the AfD's demands might find substantive support within parts of the CDU/CSU. Nevertheless, the CDU/CSU parliamentary groups have repeatedly emphasized in the past that they reject parliamentary cooperation with the AfD.

What happens next and what does that mean for you?

The motion is currently being discussed in the Bundestag's Committee on Internal Affairs. As this is a preliminary draft, some points may still change. However, it is important to emphasize that this is merely a motion. It calls upon the Federal Government to submit a draft bill. Such a motion does not have immediate legal force.

It is currently considered rather unlikely that the motion will find a parliamentary majority. The SPD, which forms the federal government together with the CDU/CSU, helped shape the 2024 reform itself and is unlikely to agree to a further tightening of the rules. The Green Party and The Left Party also reject stricter regulations. The motion will therefore probably be debated in parliament and rejected by the other parliamentary groups.

Nevertheless, filing such an application creates legal uncertainty. It is frustrating for our clients to see hard-won rights called into question again. The debate itself can weaken confidence in the reliability of German laws.

Conclusion

The AfD's motion to tighten citizenship laws is an attempt to bring about a radical shift in legal policy. It aims to make naturalization significantly more difficult for many people, extend waiting times, and create obstacles related to language and income. Even if a parliamentary majority is currently unlikely, this initiative demonstrates how volatile the legal framework for migration in Germany is. We at Visaguard law firm will continue to closely monitor the situation and inform our clients of any concrete changes. We stand by your side to defend your rights on the path to German citizenship. Don't be discouraged – we are fighting for your future in Germany.