Apply for discretionary naturalization

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.

• 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, if applicable, 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 a student: 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 the German Pension Insurance (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
• Tenancy agreement
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of pension provision, for example:
  • Real estate ownership,
  • private life insurance or
  • pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient German language skills, 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
• 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
• when you appear in person:
  • Your commitment to the free democratic basic order and
  • your acknowledgement of Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist reign of injustice and its consequences and
  • your declaration of loyalty
• Further documents may be required depending on the individual case. Please contact your local citizenship authority for advice.

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.

• § 8 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)

• Appeal
• Action before the competent administrative court

14.04.2025

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.