Germany’s lower house of parliament has given final approval to the most comprehensive rewrite of the country’s migration and citizenship rules in a generation. Passed in the early hours of 7 December, the 450-page bill bundles more than a dozen separate measures that will shape how Germany attracts talent, discourages unfounded asylum claims, and integrates newcomers over the next decade.
Background and key features The reform eliminates the long-standing requirement for Bundesrat (upper-house) consent before the federal government can declare another state a “safe country of origin.” Instead, the interior and foreign ministries will be able to issue executive ordinances—starting with Algeria, India, Morocco and Tunisia—so that most asylum claims from those nationals can be rejected as “manifestly unfounded” within four weeks. Processing capacity now directed at low-probability cases will be re-allocated to more complex protection claims, a move officials say could cut the overall asylum backlog by 18 percent in 2026.
For skilled workers and international assignees, the package codifies the new “Opportunity Card” (Chancenkarte) as a permanent residence path. The points-based permit—piloted this year—will let non-EU professionals enter Germany for up to 18 months to secure a contract, provided they meet language and qualification thresholds. Employers can convert the card into a standard EU Blue Card or local contract visa without the worker leaving the country, smoothing on-boarding cycles for multinationals.
![Bundestag Approves Landmark Migration & Citizenship Reform]()
Naturalisation changes The bill officially ends the short-lived “turbo” citizenship track after only 16 months but lowers the standard residency requirement for naturalisation from eight to five years (or three in cases of ‘special integration’ such as C1-level German and volunteer work). Dual citizenship—once heavily restricted—will now be broadly permitted, removing a key psychological barrier for globally mobile talent weighing long-term relocation to Germany.
Enforcement and removal On the enforcement side, the law accelerates deportations of people convicted of violent crimes and grants federal police wider authority to detain repeat border-crossers. Fast-track asylum procedures at designated reception centres—some operating 24/7—aim to deliver final decisions within ten days, including appeals. Companies hosting posted workers in these zones will see new compliance audits but should benefit from clearer, digitised workflows.
Practical implications For employers, the headline is speed: faster hiring from third-countries and quicker resolution of low-merit asylum files that currently clog the system. Global mobility managers should update policy playbooks to reflect the shorter naturalisation timeline, prepare to support Opportunity Card holders in converting status, and monitor forthcoming “safe country” ordinances, which could affect business-visitor refusal risks for staff from Algeria or India.
Background and key features The reform eliminates the long-standing requirement for Bundesrat (upper-house) consent before the federal government can declare another state a “safe country of origin.” Instead, the interior and foreign ministries will be able to issue executive ordinances—starting with Algeria, India, Morocco and Tunisia—so that most asylum claims from those nationals can be rejected as “manifestly unfounded” within four weeks. Processing capacity now directed at low-probability cases will be re-allocated to more complex protection claims, a move officials say could cut the overall asylum backlog by 18 percent in 2026.
For skilled workers and international assignees, the package codifies the new “Opportunity Card” (Chancenkarte) as a permanent residence path. The points-based permit—piloted this year—will let non-EU professionals enter Germany for up to 18 months to secure a contract, provided they meet language and qualification thresholds. Employers can convert the card into a standard EU Blue Card or local contract visa without the worker leaving the country, smoothing on-boarding cycles for multinationals.
Naturalisation changes The bill officially ends the short-lived “turbo” citizenship track after only 16 months but lowers the standard residency requirement for naturalisation from eight to five years (or three in cases of ‘special integration’ such as C1-level German and volunteer work). Dual citizenship—once heavily restricted—will now be broadly permitted, removing a key psychological barrier for globally mobile talent weighing long-term relocation to Germany.
Enforcement and removal On the enforcement side, the law accelerates deportations of people convicted of violent crimes and grants federal police wider authority to detain repeat border-crossers. Fast-track asylum procedures at designated reception centres—some operating 24/7—aim to deliver final decisions within ten days, including appeals. Companies hosting posted workers in these zones will see new compliance audits but should benefit from clearer, digitised workflows.
Practical implications For employers, the headline is speed: faster hiring from third-countries and quicker resolution of low-merit asylum files that currently clog the system. Global mobility managers should update policy playbooks to reflect the shorter naturalisation timeline, prepare to support Opportunity Card holders in converting status, and monitor forthcoming “safe country” ordinances, which could affect business-visitor refusal risks for staff from Algeria or India.
