Apply for naturalization

1. consultation

The factual and legal situation regarding naturalization is extremely complex and extensive, which is why a personal consultation should always take place before submitting an application subject to a fee. During the consultation, you will be informed in detail about the legal requirements to be met, the application procedure and its process, the obligation to pay fees, individually required documents, etc.. This can also provide a real assessment of whether you meet the requirements for naturalization and whether a fee-based application for naturalization has a chance of success.

The consultation takes place exclusively by appointment The appointment can be booked online here:
New appointments are always made available on the first of each month.

Online appointment | Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis district administration

Alternatively, you are welcome to go to"Applications / Forms"

• Read the information sheet"Requirements", check from home without obligation whether you are likely to meet the naturalization requirements. If the result is positive and there is no need for further clarification on your part, instead of the detailed consultation you can
• please read the"Information sheet EB" in detail (important information for a successful application )
• download and complete the necessary applications: Please take note of the information sheet "Documents for naturalization",
• obtain all the necessary documents for naturalization: It is essential to take note of the information sheet "Documents for naturalization",
• if you have reached the age of 16, be sure to read the"Information sheet FDGO" Confessions and declaration of loyalty",
• make an appointment to submit your application.

2. personal application

The application must be made in person (No. 2.4 of the Rhineland-Palatinate procedural regulations on the StAG), by appointment. The appointment can be booked online here:
New appointments are always activated on the first of each month.

Online appointment | Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis district administration

!! IMPORTANT !!!

Please refrain from sending naturalization documents by post or e-mail, as this does not replace a personal appointment and does not lead to accelerated or preferential processing.The application is considered officially submitted,you must still book an appointment to submit your application in person and submit it with all the necessary documentsin ORIGINALwith all the necessary documents.

Please bring the completed naturalization application and all required documents, in particular identity papers, civil status documents, certificates and attestations, to the booked appointment in ORIGINAL .

• We will check whether your documents are genuine and in order and you will receive them back immediately.
• We will go through the completed application forms with you and make any necessary corrections and additions. You can then sign the application. (DO NOT sign beforehand)
• If you have reached the age of 16, you must now declare your commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany in writing.
• You pay the naturalization fee (only cash payments or payment by EC card possible).

3. after you have submitted your application in person

• we will evaluate your foreigner file held by the Foreigners' Registration Office and obtain statements from various German authorities. These currently include foreigners authorities, the Federal Central Criminal Register, the State Office of Criminal Investigation, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, registration authorities, job centers, social welfare offices, employment agencies and law enforcement agencies.
• After positive completion of our examination, you will usually receive an appointment to receive your naturalization certificate within 6 months.
• The naturalization certificate (naturalization) is usually handed over during a public ceremony held by the District Administrator of the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis.

!! IMPORTANT !!!

At the time of naturalization, the statements under no. 1 must not be older than 6 months. It is therefore possible that we may have to obtain statements from the authorities again before naturalization and that you may have to submit updated documents (e.g. proof of income).

4. after naturalization

• you can apply for German identity documents(identity card/passport) at the citizens' service in your place of residence,
• you have the option of submitting a name declaration in accordance with Article 47 EGBGB at your local registry office. If possible, this should be done before applying for German identity documents.

The opening hours and contact details of the citizenship authority of the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis can be found here: Citizenship law, naturalization

Naturalization requirements

A summary of the most important naturalization requirements can be found here:
>> A summary of the current requirements for naturalization from 26.06.2024 (provisional/without guarantee)

The path to a German passport - All important information on naturalization
>>www.einb ürgerung.de

See information sheet: "Documents for naturalization" under"Applications / Forms"

The naturalization procedure is generally subject to a fee in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Citizenship Act:

• The fee for naturalization is €255per person.
• For a minor child who is naturalized together with the applicant and has no income of their own within the meaning of the Income Tax Act, the fee is €51.
• If you withdraw an application after we have started processing it, the processing fee is usually 50% of the naturalization fee, but at least €25.
• If we reject an application, the processing fee is usually 100% of the naturalization fee.

The fee is due when the application is submitted and must be paid as a one-off payment when the application is submitted in person. Payment is usually made in cash or by EC card on site at the authority.

The costs for German identity documents (identity card / passport) are not included in the naturalization fee. You must apply for and pay for these documents at the citizens' service office in your place of residence after naturalization.

Once you have submitted the application and all supporting documents, the citizenship authority will check the application. Processing times can vary and depend on the individual case. Expect a processing time of 18 months or longer.

During this time, questions about the processing status cannot be answered due to the sharp increase in the number of applications. We ask for your understanding.

The reasons for the long processing time are the complexity of the documents to be checked and the high number of applications.

Leaflets

Due to the extension of the commitment to the free democratic basic order, as of 27.06.2024, the "BGL leaflet" was replaced by the "FDGO leaflet".

Fact sheet requirements (as of 26.06.2024 - provisional/without guarantee) The most important naturalization requirements summarized.
Fact sheet EB (as of 06/2024) Important information on the naturalization procedure and process, please read.
Information sheet FDGO (status 08/2024) Important information on the declaration of allegiance and the declaration of loyalty, please read.
Documents for naturalization (as of 07/2024) List of documents usually required in the naturalization procedure.
Data protection declaration (as of 04/2023)Data protection declaration

Forms

Application EB (as of 07/2024) for a person aged 16 or over or family (applicant, spouse, children).
Application EB_K (as of 07/2024) for each child under the age of 16 who is to be naturalized without a parent.
Curriculum vitae in tabular form: a complete curriculum vitae in tabular form must be attached to the application for each person to be naturalized (applicant, spouse, children). You can find free templates here: https://www.adobe.com/de/express/templates/resume

Employer's certificate (as of 07/2024)To be completed in full by the employer (main and secondary employment).
Net certificate (as of 07/2024) for self-employed/freelancers, to be completed in full by the tax consultant.
Rental certificate (as at 07/2024) from the landlord of your current home/accommodation, to be completed in full.

Multiple nationality

You do not have to give up your previous citizenship(s) in order to obtain a German passport. Under German law, multiple nationality is generally possible for everyone. However, other legal regulations may apply in the country or countries of your previous citizenship(s) - for example, you may automatically lose your previous citizenship(s) if you naturalize in Germany. If you have any questions about this, you should contact the embassy or consulate of the country or countries of your previous citizenship(s).

Confessions and declaration of loyalty

Anyone who has reached the age of 16 and wishes to be naturalized in Germany must declare their commitment to the values of a free society. These include, in particular, the dignity and equality of all people. Anyone who does not share these values or even acts contrary to them cannot become a German citizen.

Therefore, anyone who engages in anti-Semitic, racist or otherwise inhuman activities cannot make an effective commitment to the free democratic basic order.

In addition, a further commitment must be made to Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist reign of injustice and its consequences, in particular for the protection of Jewish life, as well as to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging a war of aggression.

Information about the Basic Law and the free democratic basic order and the National Socialist reign of injustice and its consequences is part of the knowledge about the legal and social order of our country that German citizens should have at their disposal. The FDGO information sheet summarizes the most important aspects that you should be aware of when making the aforementioned declarations.

FDGO information sheet (as at 08/2024)

Note:
If the person to be naturalized does not have sufficient German language skills, a publicly appointed or generally sworn or authorized interpreter or translator is required both for the information on the meaning of the declaration of faith and the declaration of loyalty and for the submission of both declarations. The interpreter must be engaged by you at your own expense.

Exemption from punishment

As part of the naturalization procedure, you must disclose all convictions against you, unless they have been expunged*. This also applies to convictions handed down abroad, as well as any measures or safeguards ordered due to inculpability.

You must also disclose ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings in Germany and abroad. This also applies to criminal offenses that you have committed and it is to be expected that criminal investigation proceedings will be initiated.

If a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings are conducted or initiated against you during the naturalization procedure or if a penalty is imposed, you must inform the citizenship authority immediately.

Minor offences of up to 90 daily fines and convictions of up to 3 months on probation can be disregarded in the naturalization process.

• However, in the case of several convictions, the sentences will be added together.
• Convictions under the Juvenile Courts Act (JGG) always stand in the way of naturalization. The same applies to convictions for an unlawful anti-Semitic, racist, xenophobic or other inhuman act within the meaning of Section 46 (2) sentence 2 of the Criminal Code.

*Please note that it does not matter whether there is no (or no longer any) entry in your criminal record (private or for authorities) or whether you have already paid a fine. The payment of a fine or the expiry of a suspended sentence does not necessarily mean that it has been deleted from the criminal record!

The erasure periods are at least five years, depending on the amount of the sentence imposed. Please note the following non-exhaustive information on expungement periods:

5-year redemption period:

• Fines of no more than 90 daily rates
• Prison sentences of no more than 3 months if no other sentence exists
• Juvenile sentences of no more than 1 year

10-year redemption period:

• Fines of up to 90 daily rates if a custodial sentence or juvenile sentence exists
• Fines of more than 90 daily rates
• Imprisonment of no more than 3 months if other sentences are available
• Imprisonment of more than 3 months but not more than 1 year if no other custodial or juvenile sentence exists
• generally for juvenile sentences of more than 1 year

15 years redemption period:

• several custodial sentences of more than 3 months but not more than 1 year
• Imprisonment of more than 3 months, but not more than 1 year, if a juvenile sentence exists
• Imprisonment of more than 1 year

20-year redemption period:

• Imprisonment or juvenile sentence of more than 1 year if the conviction was under Sections 174 to 180 or 182 of the Criminal Code (offenses against sexual self-determination).

The redemption period is extended by the duration of the custodial or juvenile sentence in the case of a period of 15 and 20 years. The period may also be extended accordingly in other cases. The period always begins with the first judgment. If there are several entries in the register, all of them will only be erased once the eradication period has expired for all sentences.

Naturalization certificate

German language certificate B1: VHS Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis (telc German certificate)
Naturalization test: VHS Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis (naturalization test)
Document translators and interpreters: Interpreter and translator database
Representation of your home country in Germany: Embassy-Consulate Finder
Program for filling out the application forms: Adobe Acrobat Reader (free of charge)
The identity card: BMI - the German identity card
Request insurance history: German Pension Insurance