Apply for naturalization

German citizenship is acquired

• by birth, if one parent has German citizenship
• by birth in Germany, a child of foreign parents acquires German citizenship if one parent has been legally resident in Germany for 8 years and has a permanent right of residence or, as a Swiss national or family member, has a residence permit based on the Agreement between the European Community and its member states on the one hand and the Swiss Confederation on the other on the free movement of persons
• a child born before July 1, 1993 to a German father and a foreign mother acquires German citizenship by declaring his or her intention to become a German citizen if paternity has been recognized or established in accordance with German law or if the child has been legally resident in Germany for three years and the declaration is made before the age of 23
• by adoption as a child, if there is an effective adoption as a child by a German under German law and the child has not yet reached the age of 18 at the time of the adoption application
• by naturalization
• through certification by the Federal Office of Administration as a late repatriate, as well as their spouse or descendant included in the notification of acceptance

Naturalization according to § 10 of the German Citizenship Act (StAG):

A foreigner who has been legally resident in Germany for 8 years and is capable of acting in accordance with § 8o of the Residence Act or is legally represented is to be naturalized upon application if he/she

• is committed to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and declares that he/she does not pursue or support or has not pursued or supported any endeavors that

  
  

  • are directed against the free democratic basic order, the existence or security of the federal government or a state, or
  • aim to unlawfully interfere with the performance of the duties of the constitutional bodies of the federal government or a federal state or their members, or
  • jeopardize the foreign interests of the Federal Republic of Germany through the use of violence or preparatory acts aimed at this,
  • or can credibly demonstrate that he or she has renounced the former persecution or support of such endeavors
• has a permanent right of residence or, as a Swiss national or family member, a residence permit based on the Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons or a residence permit for purposes other than those listed in Sections 16, 17, 20, 22, 23 (1), 23a, 24 and 25 (3) to (5) of the Residence Act.
• is able to support himself/herself and his/her dependent family members without claiming benefits under the Second or Twelfth Book of the German Social Code or is not responsible for claiming such benefits.
• gives up or loses his/her previous nationality and
• has been sentenced to a penalty for an unlawful act or has been ordered to undergo a measure of restraint or correction due to his or her culpability.
  Pending preliminary proceedings suspend the final decision on the naturalization application.
• has sufficient knowledge of the German language.
  The employees of the Naturalization Office will check which certificates are recognized as sufficient on a case-by-case basis. If necessary, a training course and certificate examination (B1 CEFR) at the adult education center in Wittlich is recommended.
• has knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (naturalization test),
• if a foreigner provides proof of successful participation in an integration course by means of a certificate in accordance with § 43 Para. 3 Sentence 2 of the Residence Act, the period in accordance with Para. 3 is reduced to seven years.

Co-naturalization of spouses and children

The foreigner's spouse can also be naturalized under the same conditions if he or she has already resided in Germany for four years and the marriage has lasted for two years.Minor children under the age of 16 can also be naturalized if they have resided in Germany for three years. If a child has not yet reached the age of 6 at the time of naturalization, it is sufficient if they have spent half their life in Germany. Young people from the age of 16 can generally be naturalized if they could have been naturalized independently.

Applicants are not entitled to naturalization under Section 11 of the German Citizenship Act (StAG):

• Naturalization applicants who do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language,
• for whom there are factual indications that justify the assumption that they pursue or support or have pursued or supported endeavors that are against the free democratic basic order, the existence or security of the Federation or of a Land, or whose aim is to unlawfully interfere with the administration of the constitutional organs of the Federation or of a Land or their members, or who jeopardize the foreign interests of the Federal Republic of Germany through the use of violence or preparatory acts directed towards such violence, unless the foreign national can credibly demonstrate that he or she has renounced the previous persecution or support of such activities, or
• if there is a reason for expulsion in accordance with § 54 No. 5 and 5 a of the Residence Act.
  Sentence 1 No. 2 applies accordingly to foreigners within the meaning of § 1 Para. 2 of the Residence Act and also to Swiss nationals or their family members who hold a residence permit on the basis of the Agreement of June 21, 1999 between the European Community and its member states on the one hand and the Swiss Confederation on the other on the free movement of persons.
• Naturalization applicants who do not have knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (successfully passed naturalization test).

Naturalization of German spouses § 9 of the Citizenship Act (StAG):

Spouses of Germans can be naturalized in accordance with § 9 StAG if

• they lose or give up their previous nationality, or there is a reason for accepting multiple nationality in accordance with § 12 StAG and
• have resided in Germany for at least 3 years and have been in a marital partnership for at least 2 years,
• there are no grounds for deportation pursuant to Section 54 No. 5 and 5a of the Residence Act and
• it is guaranteed that they can integrate into German living conditions
  unless they do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language (§ 10 Para. 1 Sentence 1 No. 6 and Para. 4 StAG) and do not fulfill an exception reason according to § 10 Para. 6 StAG,
• they do not have sufficient knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany.
• there are no grounds for exclusion from naturalization (§ 11 StAG),
• they have sufficient permanent income for the whole family (proof must be provided).

Receipt of benefits or entitlement to benefits in accordance with SGB II or SGB XII (Social Code) by a family member (including persons who are not naturalized) is an absolute obstacle to naturalization,

• there is no criminal offense (see § 10 No. 5 StAG)
• they have sufficient living space.

Naturalization at discretion § 8 of the Citizenship Act (StAG):

In cases where naturalization is not possible under § 9 StAG or § 10 StAG, naturalization may be granted at the discretion of the authorities if a public interest in naturalization can be established in the individual case, or to avoid particular hardship (§8 para. 2 StAG).

Renunciation or loss of previous citizenship

Naturalization is generally only possible after giving up or losing your previous citizenship. Exceptions are only possible in special cases, e.g. in the case of persons entitled to asylum, foreign refugees or nationals of certain EU states.

Naturalization fees (Section 38 of the Citizenship Act (StAG))

The fee for naturalization is € 255. For underage children without income to be naturalized, the fee is €51 each. The rejection or withdrawal of the naturalization application is also subject to a fee.

Important note!

Please take advantage of the detailed advice offered by the staff of the Security and Order Department of the Bernkastel-Wittlich District Administration.