Apply for naturalization

Your competent citizenship authority/naturalization authorities.

• 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.

• 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

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.

• § 10 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)

• Appeal
• Action before the competent administrative court

14.04.2025