By Gülay Tasli, specialist lawyer for migration law and social law (Fachanwältin für Migrationsrecht und Sozialrecht) (Rechtsanwaltskammer Düsseldorf)
There are various ways to obtain German citizenship. We advise and assist you with the application process.
At a glance
Naturalization by entitlement requires five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany. If the other statutory requirements are also met, there is an entitlement to naturalization. Naturalization requires that you submit an application. For spouses and registered civil partners of German citizens there is a separate route with a prior period of residence of three years, provided the marriage or registered civil partnership has existed for two years. The other requirements for naturalization continue to apply unchanged.
Adequate knowledge of the German language is also required. A language examination at level B1 is sufficient as proof. It is further required that you can support yourself and your dependent family members without benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code (SGB). These are the two most common grounds for refusal. Your identity and your citizenship must also be established.
The law provides for relief in both respects, for the means of subsistence for certain groups of employees, for example, and for the language requirement in order to avoid hardship. Conversely, benefits received in the past may be taken into account when assessing whether you can support yourself. We examine in each individual case whether relief applies in your case.
The law also requires a particular residence status. A permanent right of residence is sufficient for this, for example a settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit, as is an EU Blue Card. A temporary residence permit may be sufficient. Whether that is the case depends on the purpose for which the residence permit was issued. We look at which purpose is entered in your case before the application is filed.
The five years must have been completed lawfully. Where there are interruptions, at most previous periods of residence in Germany of up to three years may be credited. There is no entitlement to such crediting. If you know of a gap in your residence, you should have the question of crediting clarified before the application is filed.
The reform of June 2024 substantially restructured citizenship law. At the end of October 2025, part of it was reversed.
The minimum period of residence was reduced from eight to five years. Anyone who still has the old minimum period in mind may wait three years longer than necessary.
Under German law, the previous citizenship in principle no longer has to be given up. Whether your country of origin allows you to keep it is governed by that country’s law and not by German law.
If, on the other hand, another citizenship was taken on before the reform, this may have led to the loss of the previous citizenship.
The option introduced in 2024 of being naturalized after only three years on the basis of special integration achievements was removed again at the end of October 2025. § 10 StAG as currently in force no longer provides for it. Anyone relying on older guides on the internet is planning on the basis of a qualifying period that no longer exists.
The application is filed with the competent Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde (citizenship authority). The duration of the naturalization procedure depends very much on the workload of the citizenship authority concerned.
Under § 38 StAG, the fee is 255 euros. For a minor child included in the naturalization who has no income of their own within the meaning of the Income Tax Act, it is 51 euros.
In a consultation we clarify whether you meet the requirements for naturalization and which documents have to be submitted. On request, we accompany you through the entire procedure.
Under German law, as a rule no. Since the reform of June 2024, multiple citizenship has been permitted in principle. Whether your country of origin allows you to keep your previous citizenship is governed by that country’s law.
The shortened route introduced in 2024 for special integration achievements existed only between June 2024 and October 2025 and was abolished again. A shorter qualifying period does, however, continue to apply to spouses and registered civil partners of German citizens: in principle, under § 9 StAG, naturalization is possible after only three years if the marriage or registered civil partnership has existed for two years. In addition, under the administrative regulations, discretionary naturalization may be considered after three years. Discretionary naturalization must not be confused with the so-called fast-track naturalization. We examine what is required in the individual case.
If you have stayed abroad for more than six months and your habitual residence in Germany has ceased as a result, an earlier stay in Germany of up to three years may be credited toward the period of residence required for naturalization. There is no entitlement to such crediting.
If your child was born in Germany, they may already have acquired German citizenship by birth. For this, one parent must, at the time of the birth, have lawfully had their habitual residence in Germany for five years and have held a permanent right of residence. Minor children can be included in the naturalization. However, naturalization can also be applied for exclusively for the children. Where children are included in the naturalization, the fee is 51 euros.
If naturalization has been refused, you can have the notice of refusal reviewed by a lawyer and, where appropriate, take legal steps against the refusal. This also applies to the refusal of discretionary naturalization. The time limit for this is as a rule one month from notification of the decision notice. Whether an objection has to be lodged first or legal action can be brought directly is governed by the law of the federal state.
Last updated: September 8, 2026. Professionally responsible: Gülay Tasli, specialist lawyer for migration law and social law (Fachanwältin für Migrationsrecht und Sozialrecht).
