Will Germany's Strict Immigration Rules Impact Indians? Citizenship Criteria To Curbs Explained
The government has abolished the fast-track route to citizenship that previously allowed well-integrated migrants to apply for citizenship after three years of residency
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet on May 28 approved sweeping changes to the country's immigration rules.
Among the major changes is a temporary two-year suspension of family reunification rights for those with subsidiary protection — refugees not granted full refugee status, such as many Syrians. During this period, these migrants are not allowed to bring their spouses or children to Germany.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that Germany's urban systems have reached their 'breaking point" and cannot handle the inflow without causing challenges for public services.
Migration is among German voters' biggest concerns and Merz won the election in February pledging a crackdown on migration.
NO FAST TRACK
The government also abolished the fast-track route to citizenship that previously allowed well-integrated migrants to apply for citizenship after three years of residency.
The new rules now require a minimum of five years of residency for German citizenship.
However, foreigners married to German citizens can still apply after three years, provided they have been married for at least two years.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR INDIANS
Most of the Indian professionals and students in Germany are not under subsidiary protection.
The changes, however, may impact vulnerable migrants and delay long-term settlement plans.
India remains a key contributor to Germany's skilled labor pool, with initiatives such as the ' Opportunity Card ' being expanded to address labour shortages.
Merz recently said that a court ruling against the expulsion by border police of three Somali asylum seekers could restrict his government's migration crackdown but would not stop it. People would continue to be turned away at the German border, he said.
A Berlin administrative court last week said the expulsion of the three unnamed Somalis, who were sent back to Poland after arriving at a train station in eastern Germany, was 'unlawful".
It said that under the European Union's Dublin Regulation, Germany should have determined which country was responsible for processing their claim before sending them back, in a ruling that Merz's interior minister contested.
That marks a big shift since Germany's 'Refugees Welcome" culture during Europe's migrant crisis in 2015 under Merz's conservative predecessor, Angela Merkel.
Merz's government issued an order in May to reject undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, at Germany's borders. Dobrindt defended the expulsions, saying he would provide justifications for banning entry and portraying the ruling as an isolated case. 'I have made it clear several times that this is about being overwhelmed, and I see this overburdening," he told reporters.
With Agency Inputs
First Published:
June 08, 2025, 16:45 IST
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