German Naturalization: Requirements, Process & Costs (2026)

You have lived in Germany for years, you work here, you pay taxes — and you are wondering when "permanently living here" turns into a German passport. That is exactly what naturalization (Einbürgerung) is about: you become a German citizen, with the right to vote, freedom of movement across the EU, and a right of residence that no authority can ever revoke.

The most important facts upfront, because the rules changed significantly in 2024 and 2025: the standard route now takes five years instead of eight since the reform, dual citizenship is now permitted — and the briefly introduced 3-year "turbo" naturalization was abolished again at the end of 2025. This guide sets out what actually applies in 2026: requirements, process, costs, and the most common pitfalls.

What naturalization means — and what it does not

Naturalization is the acquisition of German citizenship by application — and as such something fundamentally different from a residence title: an unlimited settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) lets you stay in Germany permanently — naturalization makes you a citizen. Only then do you get a German passport, full voting rights in federal and local elections, and the right to enter and leave at any time without any authority being able to revoke your status.

In most cases the settlement permit is even a precursor: those who must demonstrate a long-term residence intention often already hold an unlimited title. The two steps build on each other but are legally separate — and are handled by different offices. Naturalization is not the responsibility of the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde), but of the naturalization authority (Einbürgerungs- bzw. Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde) of your city or district.

The most common route is what is known as the entitlement-based naturalization under Section 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG): if you meet all the statutory requirements, you have a legal entitlement to naturalization — the authority does not decide at its discretion, it must naturalize you.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) Alongside this there are special routes, such as naturalization of spouses of German citizens under Section 9 StAG, for which shorter residence periods apply.

The five years — and how the period is calculated

The standard route requires five years of lawful and habitual residence in Germany.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) This was not always the case: until mid-2024 you needed eight years. The Staatsangehörigkeitsmodernisierungsgesetz (StARModG) reduced the period from eight to five years on June 27, 2024, noticeably opening access to citizenship.2Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (StARModG)Die Bundesregierung

"Lawful residence" means: you hold a valid residence title — periods on a visa or residence permit count, but a mere Duldung (tolerated stay) does not. Important for skilled workers: if you have changed the purpose of your residence title — for example from studying to employment — the prior lawful periods generally do not get lost. We have explained separately how a change of residence title purpose (Zweckwechsel) works smoothly.

There is only one genuinely faster route: if you have been married to — or in a registered civil partnership with — a German citizen for at least two years, Section 9 StAG allows naturalization after just three years of lawful residence.7Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) Do not confuse this with the abolished turbo naturalization — the spousal route is a separate provision and remains unchanged.

Naturalization is often the final step of a longer journey. Those who came to Germany via the EU Blue Card accumulate qualifying residence periods at a faster pace and therefore often reach the threshold for a settlement permit — and later for naturalization — sooner than other third-country nationals.

Language, test, and secured livelihood

The five years are the entry ticket, not the whole examination. Three pieces of evidence are the most frequent deciding factors in practice between approval and rejection:

• German language skills at B1 level. "Sufficient" German is required, which corresponds to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) A2 is not sufficient for the standard route. Easements exist for former guest workers (Gastarbeiter generation) and in hardship cases — for example, where only oral proficiency needs to be demonstrated.2Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (StARModG)Die Bundesregierung
• Naturalization test "Leben in Deutschland" (Life in Germany). The test consists of 33 questions on law, history, and society as well as your federal state. You have 60 minutes and pass with at least 17 correct answers.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)
• Secured livelihood. You must be able to support yourself and any dependent family members without Bürgergeld (basic income support) or other social benefits.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) In practice this requirement fails not because of income itself, but due to gaps in documentation.

Additionally required: confirmed identity and nationality — you must be able to prove who you are, generally through a valid passport — as well as a long-term right of residence: an unlimited title or a residence permit that by its purpose leads to permanent residence.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)

Which residence title counts — and when Bürgergeld or a criminal record ends the entitlement

"Long-term by design" sounds vague, but the law is quite specific: Section 10 StAG expressly lists the residence titles that are not sufficient.7Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) These include, among others, titles for education and training purposes — studies, vocational training, recognition of foreign qualifications, internships, language courses, or school attendance — the job-search titles and the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), the cards for intra-corporate transfers (ICT), as well as temporary protection under Section 24 AufenthG and the Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht (opportunity residence right) under Section 104c AufenthG. Those periods do count as lawful residence — but at the moment of the decision you need a qualifying title: a settlement permit, an EU long-term residence permit, a regular residence permit, or the EU Blue Card.

Humanitarian titles deserve a closer look, because blanket advice here is often wrong: recognized refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection under Section 25 AufenthG subsections 1 and 2 are not excluded. Residence under Section 25(3) to (5) AufenthG — for example based solely on a deportation ban — does not qualify, and neither does admission from abroad or via a hardship commission (Sections 22 and 23a AufenthG).

On livelihood, the reform made the law stricter, not more generous: the former exception for benefits you were not responsible for has been deleted. Anyone drawing benefits under SGB II or SGB XII for themselves or their dependent family members is generally not naturalized. The law now names only three exempt groups:7Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)

• the guest worker generation — those who entered the Federal Republic under a recruitment agreement by June 30, 1974, or the GDR as contract workers by June 13, 1990,
• anyone currently in full-time employment who has been so for at least 20 of the last 24 months,
• anyone living as the spouse or registered civil partner of such a full-time employed person, together with a minor child, in a family household.

The naturalization test: registering, passing — or skipping it entirely

The naturalization test is the standard proof of "knowledge of the legal and social order" — but it is not the only one. For many people it is simply unnecessary.

You do not need the test if you can show a German educational qualification. Naturalization authorities accept, among other things, a leaving certificate from a German general-education school (Berufsbildungsreife or above), promotion to grade 10, a qualified vocational training completed in Germany, a degree from a German university, a German-language doctorate, or a professional licence (Approbation). Also recognized is the certificate for the passed "Leben in Deutschland" (Life in Germany) test from the orientation course of the integration course: it matches the naturalization test in duration and scope and counts just the same.

Nor do you have to take a full integration course for it. You can attend the orientation course on its own, or even sit only the "Leben in Deutschland" test; and anyone who dropped out of an integration course or did not pass it may still take the final tests voluntarily.9Verfahrenshinweise zum Aufenthalt in Berlin (VAB)Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin Just expect one small difference: you will not receive a course completion certificate, only a notice of your test result — which is sufficient as proof.

If you do sit the test, you register with a test centre licensed by the BAMF; in Berlin, for example, these are the adult education centres (Volkshochschulen). You book a consultation appointment, fill in the participant registration form there, and present a valid ID document. The fee is €25 nationwide — that is what the BAMF charges the test centre per participant.8Verordnung zu Einbürgerungstest und Einbürgerungskurs (EinbTestV)Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) Important: registration day and test day are not the same. You only learn which exam dates are available when you register; you then receive a booking confirmation to bring along on test day. Incidentally, you do not need to have filed a naturalization application — the test is open to you without any pending procedure.9Verfahrenshinweise zum Aufenthalt in Berlin (VAB)Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin

The declaration of commitment — and the clear exclusion grounds

Since the reform, the law requires an express declaration of commitment to the free democratic basic order. New and particularly relevant: this also includes a commitment to Germany's special historical responsibility arising from the National Socialist regime and to the protection of Jewish life.2Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (StARModG)Die Bundesregierung

This gives rise to hard exclusion grounds — anyone who fulfils them will not be naturalized:

Dual citizenship: now permitted — with one caveat

For decades this was the biggest obstacle, and here lies perhaps the most important piece of good news: since June 27, 2024, multiple nationalities are generally permitted. The StARModG abandoned the old principle that multiple nationality should be avoided — you no longer have to give up your existing citizenship to be naturalized.2Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (StARModG)Die Bundesregierung

The abolition of the 3-year naturalization in October 2025 changed nothing in this regard — that reform concerned only the time period, not dual citizenship.3Naturalization only after a minimum of five yearsDeutscher Bundestag From Germany's perspective you may therefore keep both passports.

Settlement permit or naturalization? A direct comparison

Both stand for "permanently in Germany" — but they are not the same. The settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is a residence title, while naturalization makes you a citizen. The following overview places both side by side so you can see what the additional step actually brings.

Do I meet the requirements? A quick self-assessment

Before you apply, it is worth taking an honest look at the core requirements of Section 10 StAG. The following self-assessment is informational and does not replace legal advice — it only shows you whether the key building blocks fit together.

How the application works — and what it costs

The application is submitted at the naturalization authority (Einbürgerungs- bzw. Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde) assigned to your city or district — not at the immigration office. In many municipalities the application process now runs entirely or partly online; your responsible authority sets out the specific procedure, the form, and the list of documents to be submitted.

You will typically need your passport and residence title, proof of your residence periods, the B1 language certificate, the "Leben in Deutschland" test result, proof of income and insurance, and documents on identity and family status. The fee is €255 per adult; for minor children who are naturalized together with their parents, €51 applies.1Naturalization in GermanyBundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) Budget for it as a real cost: the fee pays for the assessment, not for the outcome — it remains due even if your application is rejected.

How long the process takes cannot honestly be stated as a single nationwide figure: processing time depends heavily on the individual naturalization authority and the federal state, ranging from a few months to well over a year. Also decisive is the law in force at the time of the decision — applications are generally decided under the law applicable at the moment of the decision. Plan accordingly with some buffer and submit complete documents; follow-up requests are the most common reason for delays.

After naturalization: your old title is gone, your family is better off

One detail surprises many people: when you acquire German citizenship, your previous residence title expires permanently. It does not revive even if you were to lose German citizenship later — for instance because a naturalization obtained by deception is withdrawn. For that rare case, Section 38 AufenthG provides a separate, deadline-bound title for former Germans.9Verfahrenshinweise zum Aufenthalt in Berlin (VAB)Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin The practical consequence is simple: make complete and accurate statements in your naturalization application — deception is the only realistic path that leaves you holding neither status.

Conversely, your naturalization improves your family's position: spouses and children of German citizens can obtain a settlement permit after just three years of family cohabitation under Section 28 AufenthG — provided they also meet that provision's other requirements, such as sufficient German. Administrative practice applies this even where your naturalization only happened later — provided you already met all naturalization requirements during those three years of living together.9Verfahrenshinweise zum Aufenthalt in Berlin (VAB)Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin

Frequently asked questions about naturalization