Citizenship Requirements

The application can be submitted to the authorities if the requirements for naturalization are met. The requirements that must be met for naturalization with an application are outlined below.

1. Requirement citizenship Germany: 5 years of legal residence

The most difficult requirement to meet for an application for naturalization is the necessary period of legal residence in Germany. This is currently (from 19.01.2024) 5 years and 3 years for "special integration achievements".

 

Presence of special integration services

The prerequisite for reducing the residence period from eight to six or from five to three years (after 19.01.2024) is the existence of "special integration achievements". The special integration achievements primarily include the presentation of a certificate from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) confirming successful participation in an integration course (in this case, the required residence period is reduced from eight to seven years) and language skills above B1 level. However, good German language skills are not a mandatory requirement, but can also be replaced by good performance at school, at work or general civilian achievements. Ultimately, only "particularly good" integration is required to shorten the naturalization period to six years. In case of doubt, a lawyer for naturalization can tell you when these requirements are met even without good German language skills. 

 

2. Requirement citizenship Germany: permanent right of residence

Naturalization with a settlement permit

Another prerequisite is that you have a certain residence permit in order to be naturalized. As a rule, naturalization takes place with an unlimited residence permit. This is usually the settlement permit. However, this is not a mandatory requirement. In this respect, the EU permanent residence permit and other permanent residence permits also entitle the holder to naturalization. 

 

Naturalization with the EU Blue Card
However, it is not always necessary to have a permanent residence permit. This is not a mandatory requirement. As is usually the case, EU Blue Card holders are also given preference when it comes to naturalization. In this respect, naturalization can also be applied for directly with the EU Blue Card without first obtaining a settlement permit. As an above-average number of EU Blue Card holders also reside permanently in Germany, a relatively large number of naturalizations are carried out on the basis of an EU Blue Card.

 

In addition to naturalization with a settlement permit and an EU Blue Card, there are many other residence titles that enable naturalization. If in doubt, a lawyer specializing in migration law can advise you on these options. 

 

3. Requirement citizenship Germany: language skills

It is also necessary that the foreigner has a "sufficient" command of the German language. This means that according to the legal concept, language skills of at least level B1 are required. If you wish to take the language test, you can apply to the authority responsible for you. The authority will tell you at which university or other institution you can take the test. If you would like to apply for citizenship in Berlin, you can find an overview of the dates for the next language courses (B1) on the Goethe-Institut website. 

 

Do I need to have a current language certificate (B1)?

If you already speak German (e.g. if you have learned the language through your job), it is not a mandatory requirement to present a language certificate. According to the law, it is only a requirement that the applicant has a command of the German language. However, the law does not say how this is to be proven. In administrative practice, proof of passing the test has of course become the accepted method, although in theory proof can be provided in an interview with the authorities. Although the authorities are sometimes reluctant to accept this, there are cases where, for example, the certificate has been lost or where the German spoken is so obviously perfect that a language test is completely superfluous. If in doubt, you should ask your case officer or instruct a lawyer specializing in immigration law to enforce your legal position.

 

Can I be naturalized without knowing the German language?

Naturalization without German language skills at level B1 is generally difficult, as the existence of language skills is usually a prerequisite for naturalization. In this respect, the legislator sees learning German as the most important part of integration in Germany. The only exceptions to this are for children and very old people and in cases where the foreigner is unable to attend courses due to a physical, mental or psychological disability. However, it should be noted that even an illness or disability (in the opinion of the immigration authorities) does not necessarily mean that the B1 language course does not have to be completed. In this respect, the AWO-Berlin, for example, also offers language courses for people with disabilities. If the course can be completed, language skills are therefore also a prerequisite for naturalization for these people.

 

4. Requirement citizenship Germany: naturalization test

Do I have to take the naturalization test?

According to the law, most naturalization applicants must have "knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany". In concrete terms, this means that you must be familiar with German culture. This is intended to facilitate or enable integration in Germany. Although it is not a mandatory requirement to take the naturalization test, the law stipulates that you must pass the naturalization test as a rule. Without a naturalization test, naturalization is possible, but more complicated. 

 

The naturalization test is usually not particularly difficult, as only general knowledge is tested. A total of 33 questions must be answered within 60 minutes. The test is passed if at least 17 questions are answered correctly. The questions are not a secret, but can be found in full on the BAMF homepage (all naturalization test questions). A sample questionnaire is also available for practising on the BAMF homepage (sample questions for the naturalization test).

Preparatory courses are offered by adult education centres to prepare for the naturalization test. Participation in the preparation courses is not compulsory. The adult education centres now also offer the opportunity to prepare for the naturalization courses online (preparation course for the naturalization test VHS). Of course, a corresponding course can also be completed at the local adult education centers. The naturalization test is therefore a relatively easy requirement to meet.

5. Requirement citizenship Germany: no multiple citizenship

5.1 Legal situation until 19.01.2024

Until 2024, Germany was one of the countries in which dual citizenship was generally not possible or only possible under certain conditions. In this respect, holding only one nationality was a prerequisite for naturalization. The exceptions for obtaining dual citizenship in Germany were comparatively narrow and linked to very specific conditions. Only citizens of other European countries were exempt from the ban. Otherwise, dual citizenship was only possible if one of the following conditions was met:

 

• release from the nationality of other states was impossible,

• release from the nationality of other states was only possible under unreasonable conditions,

• giving up another nationality would lead to considerable disadvantages.

 

These groups of cases were sometimes highly influenced by case law. It was not possible to make a general assessment of whether giving up another nationality would lead to "significant disadvantages". In this respect, a case-by-case assessment had to be made, if necessary with the assistance of a lawyer.

 

5.2 Legal situation from 19.01.2024 (multiple citizenship/reform of multiple citizenship 2024)

Until the reform of nationality law, it was only possible to hold multiple nationalities or passports in Germany in exceptional cases. This was possible for EU citizens and people who would suffer massive disadvantages by giving up their original citizenship, among others. On 19.01.2024, however, the German Bundestag decided that multiple citizenship is now possible. This means that you no longer have to give up your original citizenship in order to be naturalized. This is of particular benefit to naturalization applicants for whom it is very difficult to give up their citizenship (for example because (as in the case of Russia) it is necessary to return to their home country).

6. Requirement citizenship Germany: securing a livelihood

A further prerequisite for naturalization is the securing of a livelihood. As a rule, this includes having a sufficiently large apartment, taking out the necessary insurance and having a regular income. The source of income is generally irrelevant, so self-employment, for example, is also possible as long as it produces sufficient financial resources. The receipt of unemployment benefit is also harmless as long as no social assistance in the narrower sense is received. However, the naturalization authorities are usually sceptical about the receipt of unemployment benefit, as this is only possible for a short period (usually 12 months).

7. Requirement citizenship Germany: No security risk and no criminal record

The last requirement is that the naturalization applicant does not pose a threat to public safety and that a corresponding commitment to the Free Democratic Basic Order (FDGO) is made. The declaration must be made at the latest when the naturalization certificate is handed over. The naturalization applicant must also not have a criminal record. However, there are numerous exceptions to this rule (especially for minor offenses).