Apply for discretionary naturalization

Under certain conditions, you can apply for discretionary naturalization even if you are not entitled to 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, in the federal states, in the German Bundestag and in 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.

For discretionary naturalization, the competent authority must determine a public interest in your naturalization on a case-by-case basis.

Under certain conditions, the following persons can be naturalized under discretionary naturalization, even if they have not been living legally in Germany for 5 years:

• Spouses
• registered civil partners
• underage children

Naturalization becomes effective when the naturalization certificate is issued.

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

The following minimum requirements apply for discretionary naturalization:

• You must have been living legally in Germany for 5 years, The required period of residence can be shortened under certain circumstances, for example if your spouse, registered partner or underage children are also naturalized.
• Their 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 can support yourself and your dependent family members without receiving certain public benefits. For reasons of public interest or to avoid particular hardship, the requirement to be able to support yourself may be waived.
• 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 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 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)