ā ļø URGENT UPDATE: The Law is Not Yet Changed, BUT...
The facts below are based on the official CDU Federal Party Conference (Feb 20-21, 2026) resolutions. While this is currently a "draft" and political promise, the CDU is leading in the polls. If they form the next government, this will likely become the new law. Your window of opportunity under the current flexible laws is closing.
For expats anticipating an easier path to a German passport, the recent news out of Stuttgart is a harsh reality check. The conservative party (CDU) has made their stance crystal clear: the current Ampel-coalition reforms went "too far," and they plan to completely reverse them.
From massive extensions to residency wait times to potentially ending unconditional dual citizenship, here are the Top 5 devastating changes the CDU plans to introduceāand exactly why you need to secure your documents today.
š 1. The 5-Year Rule Cancelled: Back to 8 Years
The cornerstone of the 2024 reform was allowing foreign residents to apply for citizenship after just 5 years. The CDU has officially resolved to scrap this. Their rationale? "Five years is not long enough to ensure integration."
Under the planned CDU government, the standard waiting time will be pushed all the way back up to 8 long years. If you are approaching your 5-year mark now, waiting to apply could literally cost you an additional 3 years.
ā 2. Goodbye "Turbo Citizenship" (3-Year Fast Track)
Remember the widely celebrated "Turbo-EinbĆ¼rgerung" that allowed hyper-integrated individuals with a C1 German certificate to apply after only 3 years? The CDU wants to abolish it completely. They view this rapid naturalization as a "devaluation" of the German passport.
š£ļø 3. Tighter Language Rules: B1 is Not Enough (B2 Required)
Driven heavily by the "Junge Union" (the youth wing of the CDU), the party has set a course to drastically tighten language requirements. Currently, a B1 certificate is the standard requirement. The new draft proposes raising the minimum required level to B2, eliminating almost all existing exemptions and shortcuts.
š 4. Dual Citizenship Becomes the "Exception" Again
The biggest joy for many expats was finally being able to hold two passportsātheir home country's and Germany'sāwith no questions asked. The CDU parliamentary group aims to revert back to the old system. This means Dual Citizenship would once again become a rare exception, forcing applicants to surrender their original nationality.
āļø 5. Extreme Values and Constitution Screening
Applying for a passport will no longer be an administrative checklist. The CDU is proposing severe ideological loyalty tests (Verfassungstreue). Authorities will rigorously screen applicants for their commitment to gender equality and clear rejection of antisemitism and racism. In the eyes of the CDU, "Citizenship stands at the end of a long integration process, not at the beginning."
ā³ The "Fear Of Missing Out" is Real: Action Plan
Do not wait for election results. A change in government means these drafts become law within weeks. Your strategy must be: Get your application in while the current flexible laws are still active.
Step 1: Pass the EinbĆ¼rgerungstest
Appointments are booked up for months. Start practicing right now and secure a test date immediately.
Practice Official Test āStep 2: Start Your Procedure
Check required items and fill out online initial forms to get your name in the system before laws tighten.
Eligibility Checker āPolitical tides in Germany are shifting rapidly. For thousands of international workers, students, and families, 2026 is the final sprint. Gather your documents, pass your language and citizenship exams, and submit your application to lock in your rights under the current, much friendlier laws.
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