German citizenship through naturalisation
A German passport by application, for people already living in the country with a lawful status. Since 2024 you keep your previous citizenship — giving it up is no longer required.
- Foreign nationals who have lawfully lived in Germany for more than 5 years
The fast track for excellent German and special achievement ran from June 2024 to October 2025 and was struck from the law. There are no transitional rules: applications filed earlier are now judged by the ordinary five-year rule.
The law names §24 permits among the grounds that cannot lead to naturalisation. First the switch to another status, and the clock starts again.
Since August 2025 offices have been instructed to call applicants in: they check both that you understand what you are signing and that the language certificate is real. Agreeing to the text without understanding it is grounds for refusal.
Who it suits
- Foreign nationals who have lawfully lived in Germany for more than 5 years
- People who have lived in Germany for five years on a qualifying status
- Spouses of German citizens: three years of residence is enough after two years of marriage
- Anyone who wants to keep their existing citizenship
Minor children and spouses can be naturalised together with a parent or spouse even without 5 years of residence
What the service includes
| Checking your eligibility and counting the residence period | |
| Preparing the application and the full document pack | |
| Handling correspondence with the citizenship office | |
| Preparing you for the in-person interview | |
| The state fee: €255 per adult, €51 per child naturalised with a parent— billed separately | |
| The civics test — €25— billed separately | |
| The B1 language exam— billed separately | |
| Court action over delay — a separate service |
Official terms
Timelines and rights
Residence conditions
Lawful residence in Germany for more than 5 years
Documents and programme requirements
- 1Five years of lawful residence in Germany, both on the filing date and on the decision date
- 2A qualifying residence permit: open-ended, an EU Blue Card, or a temporary permit whose purpose is not on the excluded list
- 3German at B1, spoken and written
- 4A passed civics test: 33 questions, at least 17 correct
- 5Income without benefits from the Jobcenter or the social welfare office
- 6No convictions above the statutory threshold; sentences for offences with a racist or antisemitic motive are never disregarded
- 7A written commitment to the free democratic order and to Germany's particular historical responsibility
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to citizenship
German spoken and written at level B1 or above, plus basic knowledge of the legal and social system and way of life, evidenced by the naturalisation test. The test is usually not required for holders of a German school leaving certificate or a German degree in law, social sciences, public administration or political science
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give up my previous citizenship?
Is it true that the passport can be had in three years?
What level of German is needed, and when is less enough?
How long is the wait, and what if the office says nothing?
When exactly does someone become a citizen?
Citizenship by naturalisation: other options
Compare terms in other countries and delivery formats.
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