Apply for Naturalization – Grant of German Citizenship
Find out how to apply for German citizenship if you have been living in Germany for a longer period.
At a glance
How can you obtain German citizenship?
You have been living in Germany for a longer period and want to obtain German citizenship? Then you may be naturalised upon application under certain conditions.
You must have been living lawfully and continuously in Germany for at least 5 years. If you have been married to or in a registered life partnership with a German national for at least 2 years, 3 years of residence are sufficient.
For children under 16, naturalisation can be included in the online application of a parent with custody. Spouses, registered life partners, and children from 16 years of age must submit their own application.
You can only submit the application online. Use the Quick Check beforehand. This allows you to verify whether your application is likely to be successful. If you had already submitted an application in your residential district before 01.01.2024, you do not need to submit a new application.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You have been living lawfully and continuously in Germany for at least 5 years and have your primary residence in Berlin
- If you have been married to or in a registered life partnership with a German national for at least 2 years, 3 years of residence are sufficient. Shorter periods may apply for co-naturalised spouses and children.
Additional requirements
- Your identity and nationality must be clarified. You need a valid national passport or ID card. A German travel document is generally not sufficient.
- You must declare your commitment to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) and to Germany's special historical responsibility. Extremist, terrorist, or inhumane actions are not compatible.
- You need a valid residence title (e.g. settlement permit, residence permit, or EU Blue Card). You and your family must not receive Bürgergeld (citizens' benefit) or social welfare. Exceptions apply e.g. for the guest worker generation or for current full-time employment.
- You need German language skills at least at level B1, knowledge of the legal and social system, and must have no criminal convictions exceeding 90 daily rates fine or 3 months suspended imprisonment.
- You must not be married to multiple spouses simultaneously. Exceptions may apply in individual cases, e.g. in the event of illness, disability, or old age.
How to apply
Use the Quick Check to verify whether your naturalisation application is likely to be successful
Gather all necessary documents: passport, civil status certificates, proof of economic situation, health insurance, rental contract, German language certificate at B1, and proof of knowledge of the legal and social system
Submit the online application and pay the processing fee
Save the confirmation of your application as a PDF — your residence status is not affected by the application
Wait for the review by the State Office for Immigration and submit further documents if requested
Attend the appointment in person once your application has been positively reviewed
Done! You will receive German citizenship
Naturalisation per person
- Children under 16 (co-naturalisation with parent with custody)51,00 EUR
Good to know
With naturalization, your previous residence title expires definitively. It does not revive even if you later lose your German nationality. In this case, you need a new residence title under Section 38.
Mit dem Erwerb der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit erlischt jede Art von Aufenthaltstitel endgültig und lebt gerade nicht wieder auf
VAB A.38, S. 417-420
Your family members can more easily obtain a settlement permit through your naturalization. The authority can grant it after three years of family unit. The naturalization requirements must have been met for at least three years.
Eine solche Annahme ist auch im Falle einer erst später erfolgenden Einbürgerung des nachzugsvermittelnden Familienmitglieds gerechtfertigt, wenn die deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit bis zum Zeitpunkt der begehrten Erteilung der Niederlassungserlaubnis erworben worden ist und das den Nachzug vermittelnde Familienmitglied bereits seit mindestens drei Jahren des gemeinsamen Zusammenlebens alle Einbürgerungsvoraussetzungen erfüllt.
VAB A.28, S. 365-372
Did you lose your German nationality? The authority reviews your application for a residence title generously. For example, it may waive the securing of livelihood requirement. Previous unlawful entries after the loss are disregarded.
Grundsätzlich ist bei der Auslegung des § 38 Abs. 3 ein großzügiger Maßstab anzulegen. Eventuelle unerlaubte Einreisen nach Verlust der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit (§ 5 Abs. 2 Nr. 1) sind unbeachtlich.
VAB A.38, S. 417-420
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Apply for Naturalization – Grant of German Citizenship
The LEA took over approximately 40,000 open naturalisation cases from the Berlin districts on 01.01.2024. Longer processing times are therefore to be expected. Please refrain from status enquiries.