Immigration Series: All about how to get naturalised in Germany

If you are living in Germany permanently, you can become naturalised under certain circumstances. Naturalisation means acquiring the nationality of a certain state by applying for it.

Note that the new German naturalisation law has not yet come into force but when it does, the current lead time of eight years for naturalisation will be reduced to five years.

Eligibility

To be eligible for naturalisation, a person:

• has to have lived legally in Germany for at least eight years (when the new citizenship law will be implemented, the lead time to become a German citizen will be five years of legal stay in Germany down from eight years currently)
• possess the appropriate residence permit
• Must declare their allegiance to the German Constitution
• Have a sufficient command of the German language. Knowledge of German is an essential prerequisite for integration into the German society
• Candidates for naturalisation must be familiar with the legal system, society and living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany (naturalisation test),
• and be able to support themselves without recourse to social assistance, unless this is due to circumstances beyond their control;
• nor can they have committed any serious criminal offences
• They must give up their previous citizenship. In certain cases or for certain groups of persons, however, multiple nationality may be considered.

Special rules apply to persons with special status (displaced foreigners and stateless persons), making it easier for them to become naturalised citizens.

Derivative naturalisation

Spouses who are not yet eligible for naturalisation and minor children may apply for naturalisation along with their eligible spouse or parent, which gives families of foreigners the possibility of acquiring German citizenship together.

Apart from the minimum residence requirement, the requirements for derivative naturalisation are the same as for naturalisation on the basis of legal entitlement.

Are spouses or registered partners of German citizens eligible for early naturalisation? 

Under the new law, spouses and minor children who have stayed in Germany for less than five years can be naturalised together with the main applicant if the main applicant has legally stayed in Germany for, at least, five years (down from eight years currently).

Spouses or registered same-sex partners of German citizens are eligible for naturalisation after three years of legal residence in Germany. They must have been married or in a registered partnership for at least two years at the time of application. The general requirements for naturalisation also apply.

Arrangements applying to children/requirement to choose between two nationalities

Children born in Germany to foreign parents take German nationality, in addition to the nationality of the parents, if one parent has been living in Germany lawfully for eight years when the child is born and has and has unlimited right of residence. Children must decide when they reach the age of 21 between German nationality and the nationality of their parents (Optionspflicht — the requirement to choose between two nationalities), unless they have grown up in Germany or only have the nationality of another European Union (EU) Member State or of Switzerland, as well as German nationality.

German Language proficiency

Applicants for naturalisation are required to have a sufficient command of the German language: oral and written German language skills equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

The ability to speak German is an absolute necessity. Being able to communicate in German is essential for social and economic integration.

Who cannot be naturalised?

Since January 1, 2000, nationality law contains a clause prohibiting naturalisation when there is factual evidence of anti-constitutional, extremist or terrorist activity. Before granting citizenship, the authorities regularly check with the police, security authorities and authorities for such evidence. Further, all applicants over 16 are required to declare their express and binding allegiance to the free and democratic principles of the Basic Law.

How to apply

The first step is to submit an application. You can submit this application yourself once you have turned 16. Parents must make the application on behalf of children and juveniles under the age of 16.

You can obtain application forms from the responsible naturalisation authorities. The following will also inform you which authority is responsible for your naturalisation process:

• the immigration authority for your town or municipality,
• the Youth Migration Services (JMD),
• the Migration Advice Service for Adult Immigrants, and
• the municipal or district administration

Fee for naturalisation

The fee for regular or discretionary naturalisation is €255. A reduced fee of €51 applies for each dependent minor child naturalised along with a parent.

Fees may be reduced or waived completely in certain cases.

The Naturalisation Test

If you are applying for German nationality, you must prove that you have knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany by taking the test

Exceptions

• You have acquired a German school-leaving qualification
• You cannot fulfil the requirements because of a physical, psychological or mental illness or disability or on account of your age

The naturalisation test paper contains 33 questions and you will have 60 minutes to answer the questions. Of the 33, 30 questions relate to the subject areas of ‘Living in a democracy’, ‘History and responsibility, and ‘People and society’. Three test questions will be asked about the Federal Land in which you are registered as having your first place of residence. If you answer a minimum of 17 questions correctly, you have passed the test. You will then receive a certificate with your test results from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

You can use this certificate to provide proof of your civic knowledge to the naturalisation authority, and may repeat the test if you answered fewer than 17 questions correctly.