Apply for naturalization

You can apply for naturalization to obtain German citizenship if you are eligible for naturalization.

Naturalization gives you German citizenship and makes you an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all rights and obligations.

With German citizenship you can, among other things

• Exercise your right to vote in the municipalities, the federal states, the German Bundestag and the European Parliament.
• Enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union (EU), i.e.
  • move freely within the EU,
  • be employed or self-employed in the EU and
  • travel to many countries outside the EU without a visa.

Naturalization becomes effective when the naturalization certificate is issued.

The competent authority is the citizenship authority in your place of residence.

Please contact the citizenship authority of your place of residence.

• Application for naturalization
• Valid passport or official identity document with photo
• valid residence permit
• Documents on civil status, for example
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree or death certificate, with translation, legalization or apostille, if applicable
    • of the previous spouse or the previous registered partner or
    • of the previous registered civil partner
• school, vocational, training or study qualifications obtained in Germany
• if you go to school: current school certificate
• if you are studying: current certificate of study
• if you are employed: Employment contract and proof of income
• if you receive a pension: Pension certificate and pension insurance history, which you will receive from Deutsche Rentenversicherung
• if you are self-employed:
  • Business registration
  • Current income tax assessment notice
  • Proof of the profit made, for example by means of an informal certificate from the tax office about the net income or a business analysis
• rental agreement
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of pension provision, for example:
  • Real estate ownership
  • private life insurance
  • pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient German language skills at least at level B1, for example with a B1 certificate
• Proof of civic knowledge, for example with a certificate of participation in the integration course "Living in Germany" or naturalization test
• at your personal interview:
  • Your commitment to the free democratic basic order and
  • your commitment to Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences and
  • your declaration of loyalty
• for minors: Proof of custody, for example in the case of divorced or unmarried parents by means of a custody order
• in the case of joint parental custody: declaration of consent from the other parent with custody rights
• Further documents may be required depending on the individual case

• You must have been living legally in Germany for 5 years. The required period of residence may be shortened under certain circumstances if you can provide proof of special integration achievements and German language skills at level C1.
• Your identity and nationality must be clarified.
• You are capable of acting or are legally represented. In the naturalization procedure, you are generally capable of acting if you have reached the age of 16.
• You have a permanent right of residence at the time of naturalization, for example:
  • a settlement permit or
  • another permanent residence permit.
  • A residence permit for the purpose of studying, for example, is not suitable for naturalization.
• You are able to support yourself and your dependent family members without receiving certain public benefits.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offense. If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offence, the citizenship authority will suspend the naturalization procedure until the proceedings have been concluded.
• You have sufficient knowledge of the German language, at least at level B1.
  • This does not apply, for example, if you are unable to meet this requirement due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability or due to your age.
  • For underage children who have not yet reached the age of 16, age-appropriate language development is sufficient.
• They have civic knowledge. You do not have to provide proof of civic knowledge if
  • you are unable to do so due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability or due to age, or
  • you have a German school, college or university degree or
  • you entered the country as a guest worker before June 30, 1974 or you followed this person as a spouse in a temporal context or
  • you entered the country as a contract worker before 2.10.1990 or you followed this person as a spouse in a temporal context.
• You are not married to more than one person at the same time.
• You are committed to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law and make a declaration of loyalty. This means
  • You do not support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities.
  • If you have supported such activities in the past, you must have credibly renounced them.
• You acknowledge Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist reign of injustice and its consequences, in particular
  • for the protection of Jewish life and
  • to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and
  • the prohibition of waging a war of aggression.

• Appeal
• Action before the competent administrative court

Notes:

• The competent authority may grant a fee reduction or exemption for reasons of fairness or public interest.
• Additional costs may be incurred for the procurement of documents, translations and certifications.
• Additional transfer fees may be incurred for transfers from a foreign account.

Gilt für die Einbürgerung pro Person, gilt auch für Minderjährige, die allein eingebürgert werden: Administrative fine 255,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Gilt für ein minderjähriges Kind, das mit beiden Eltern oder einem Elternteil eingebürgert wird: Administrative fine 51,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Gilt bei Ablehnungsbescheid für Erwachsene: Administrative fine from 25,00 EUR to 255,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Gilt bei Ablehnungsbescheid für ein miteinzubürgerndes minderjähriges Kind: Administrative fine from 25,00 EUR to 51,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)