Naturalisation

You may retain your previous nationality. However, under the law of the country of your previous nationality, you may automatically lose it if you become a naturalised citizen of Germany.

The timing of the payment depends on how you submit your application.

Online application
If you submit your naturalisation application online, payment must be made before you submit the application. Only for children who are to be naturalised alongside you will the invoice be sent to you separately at the end of the naturalisation process.

Paper application
If you send your naturalisation application by post, you will receive a separate invoice at the end of the naturalisation process.

You can prove that you have sufficient German language skills as follows:

• ‘Zertifikat Deutsch’ or an equivalent language certificate at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
  
• Four years’ successful attendance at a German-speaking school (progressing to the next year group)
• Obtaining a secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent German school-leaving qualification
• Progression to the tenth year at a German-speaking secondary school (Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule)
• Successful completion of a degree at a German-speaking university or university of applied sciences, or of a German vocational training programme

You will be exempt from providing the required proof of language proficiency if you are unable to meet this requirement due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or due to your age.

This requires the submission of a specialist medical report and confirmation from the certified examination body that it is not possible to conduct an adapted language test. You can find the requirements for the specialist medical report here.

Knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany can be demonstrated by:

• a successful secondary school leaving certificate or a comparable or higher school-leaving qualification from a German general education school
• a completed apprenticeship in a skilled trade
• a successfully completed degree at a German university in the fields of law and social sciences, social sciences and political science.

If you do not have any of these qualifications, you can also demonstrate your knowledge by taking a naturalisation test or the ‘Life in Germany’ test. The naturalisation test can be taken at adult education centres.

You will be exempt from taking the naturalisation test if you are unable to do so due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or due to your age. To qualify for this exemption, you must submit a medical report from a specialist.

You can find out what requirements apply to the specialist medical report here.

This is possible if you are naturalised as a spouse, registered civil partner or minor child together with a person who has fulfilled the required periods of residence.

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If you hold a residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act (temporary protection), you cannot apply for naturalisation.

Convictions resulting in a fine of up to 90 daily rates and convictions resulting in a custodial sentence of up to three months, which have been suspended on probation, do not preclude naturalisation. Multiple convictions resulting in fines or custodial sentences must be counted together in this context.

Regardless of the severity of the sentence, naturalisation is ruled out in the event of a conviction for an unlawful anti-Semitic, racist or other inhuman act. Naturalisation is also not possible if a corrective and preventive measure has been ordered against you on the grounds of your lack of criminal responsibility.

A stay abroad of up to six months does not prevent naturalisation.
If you have stayed abroad for longer than six months, this will not prevent naturalisation provided that the Immigration and Naturalisation Service has authorised the stay abroad and you have re-entered Germany within the time limit specified by the Foreigners Office.

Simplified naturalisation requirements apply to persons who, on the basis of an agreement on the recruitment and placement of workers, entered the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany by 30 June 1974, in accordance with the situation as at 2 October 1990, or as a contract worker by 13 June 1990, into the territory specified in Article 3 of the Unification Treaty, as well as their spouses who joined them during that period.

If you belong to this group of people, it is sufficient if you can make yourself understood in German without significant problems in everyday life. Proof of German language proficiency at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is not required.

You are not required to provide evidence of knowledge of the legal and social system or living conditions in Germany.