Naturalization in Berlin
Find out all the important information about naturalization in Berlin (documents, appointment, application, processing time)
Here you learn ...
which documents the State Office for Immigration (LEA) requires for naturalization
whether you need an extra appointment for naturalization in Berlin
how to apply for naturalization in Berlin
how long it takes to process a naturalization application
Author
Attorney
Reading Time
11 Min.
Release Date
18.01.2025
Table of Content
1. Naturalization State Office for Immigration
2. Naturalization Authority Berlin Contact
3. Apply for naturalization in Berlin online
4th Naturalization Test Berlin
4.1 Questions Naturalization Test
4.2 Preparation course for the naturalization test
5. Naturalization procedure
5.1 Date for naturalization procedure in Berlin
5.2 Documents Naturalization Berlin
6. Duration of naturalization Berlin
7. FAQ
1. Naturalization State Office for Immigration
This article focuses on naturalization in Berlin, where by far the most naturalizations in Germany take place (around 9,000 per year). In Berlin, the State Office for Immigration (LEA) has been responsible for naturalizations since January 1, 2024. Until January 1, 2024, the district offices were responsible for naturalization authorities in Berlin. At the State Office for Immigration in Berlin, a new Department S was set up specifically for the naturalization procedures, which carries out naturalizations in Berlin instead of the district offices. The new department has already started its work and is now processing the files and naturalization applications that were handed over by the district offices.
The State Office for Immigration has taken over around 40,000 open naturalization procedures from the district offices (which still have to be digitized) and at least 1,000 new naturalization applications are submitted every week. The reform of the citizenship law on January 19, 2024 has increased the number of applications even further, as the required period of residence has been reduced. In particular, Syrians who immigrated in the wake of the refugee crisis in 2015 are now also eligible for naturalization. We have written a separate blog post on the current status of naturalizations in Berlin (as of 2025) .
2. Naturalization Authority Berlin Contact
The Department S of the State Office for Immigration, which is responsible for naturalization, can provide a new contact form . When contacting Department S, please ensure that you contact the correct department or the department responsible for you. The responsibility of the departments is generally based on your own nationality. To shorten the processing time, please ensure that you contact the correct department or the department responsible for you.
The naturalization authority in Berlin cannot generally be reached by phone or email. Although there is a telephone number for the State Office for Immigration (030) 90269-4000), it is practically impossible to reach anyone at the authority. It is therefore recommended that you use the contact form or send a letter. If you have any difficulties, it may be more efficient to contact a lawyer specializing in naturalization law.
3. Apply for naturalization in Berlin online
In Berlin, since the State Office for Immigration (LEA) took over responsibility for naturalization, it has been possible to apply for naturalization online . In the LEA's online system, you only need to enter the relevant information and upload the required documents. Of course, naturalization applications in Berlin can still be submitted in writing. The naturalization application should then be sent by post to:
State Office for Immigration
Sellerstr. 16
13353 Berlin
In case of doubt, the application can also be submitted by a lawyer via the special electronic lawyer's mailbox (beA).
After submitting the application, the State Office for Immigration will then review your application. After reviewing it, the State Office for Immigration will either request further documents or offer you an appointment to review the documents and sign the application. You will then receive an appointment by post to receive the naturalization certificate. You can then use the naturalization certificate to apply for a German passport.
4th Naturalization Test Berlin
Before applying for naturalization, a so-called “ naturalization test ” must usually be completed. By passing the naturalization test, you prove that you have “knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany” (Section 10, Paragraph 2, Sentence 1, No. 7 of the German Citizenship Act in conjunction with Section 10, Paragraph 5 of the German Citizenship Act). The naturalization test is not compulsory (if you can prove sufficient integration in another way), but is still required by many authorities. You can ask a lawyer specializing in naturalization law under what conditions you do not have to take the naturalization test.
4.1 Questions Naturalization Test
The naturalization test consists of a total of 33 questions . There is a catalog of a total of 310 questions (300 general questions, 10 questions related to the federal state), of which 33 can be asked in the test. To pass the test, half of the questions (i.e. 17 of the 33 questions) must be answered correctly. The questions are freely available on the Internet. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) provides an online tool that can be used to study for the naturalization test . The tool contains all 310 possible questions. The questions are generally relatively easy to answer if you have already been living in Germany for a while.
4.2 Preparation course for the naturalization test
To prepare for the naturalization test, the naturalization authorities usually offer preparatory courses . Participation in the preparatory course is not compulsory, but participation is recommended if you are not yet familiar with German politics and the constitution. In Berlin, preparatory courses for the naturalization test are offered by adult education centers. On the VHS Berlin website, you can see when the next preparatory courses start and register for them . The VHS Berlin website also shows when the next exams for the naturalization test will take place in Berlin .
Do you need an Immigration-Lawyer?
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5. Naturalization procedure
If you have passed the naturalization test (or if one is not necessary), you can apply for naturalization. The naturalization process is started by submitting an application to the responsible authority and ends with the handover of the naturalization certificate .
5.1 Date for naturalization procedure in Berlin
Many naturalization authorities offer a meeting before the naturalization application is submitted in order to inform the naturalization applicant about the requirements and the process of the naturalization procedure (for example, the naturalization authority in Berlin has done so up to now). During this preliminary meeting, the actual application form and all necessary information documents are usually handed over. Contrary to popular belief, however, the preliminary meeting is not a mandatory requirement to begin the naturalization process. The preliminary meeting is simply a service provided by the authority that can be used, but does not have to be. In Berlin, the option of an initial meeting is no longer available since the State Office for Immigration is responsible for naturalizations. The initial meetings were therefore only carried out by the Berlin district offices. In Berlin, the initial meeting has now been replaced by the online quick check tool for checking the naturalization requirements .
5.2 Documents Naturalization Berlin
If you meet all the requirements for naturalization, you can submit the requested documents to the naturalization authority . The necessary application documents vary depending on the authority before which the naturalization process is carried out. In addition, the necessary documents depend on the legal basis and the reason for applying for naturalization (e.g. as the spouse of a German). In principle (for the standard case of naturalization), at least the following documents are required:
naturalization application (form)
valid passport
birth certificates
employment contract and salary certificates for the last six months
rental agreement
language certificates
naturalization test certificate
In individual cases, additional documents may be necessary , depending on what documents your caseworker considers necessary. The documents also depend on the type of naturalization you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for naturalization because you are marrying a German, you must submit your marriage certificate. If in doubt, a naturalization lawyer can advise you on this.
6. Duration of naturalization Berlin
The immense processing time is often a major problem in naturalization procedures. In some cases, naturalization procedures can take up to seven or eight years without the authorities making a decision. This is particularly problematic if, for example, the passport of the naturalization applicant expires. It is also not uncommon for, for example, the naturalization applicant's livelihood to be secured by an employment contract at the start of the naturalization process, but then loses his job during the lengthy naturalization process. This can then lead to the naturalization being rejected, since the decisive point in time for assessing the requirements for naturalization is not the submission of the application, but the point in time when the authorities make their decision.
With regard to the completely excessive processing times, however, it should be noted that the authority cannot take as much time as it wants. According to the law, the authority only has three months to process a corresponding application (§ 75 VwGO). However, this requires that all the necessary documents have been submitted. After the three months have elapsed, the naturalization applicant has the option of filing a so-called action for failure to act with the help of a naturalization lawyer. The action for failure to act then leads to the authority being forced by the court to decide on the naturalization.
In Berlin, there are currently significant delays in processing. There are currently almost 40,000 open naturalization procedures pending at the State Office for Immigration (LEA), and new procedures are being added every week. This problem will only get worse with the new reform of citizenship law. In this article, you will find ways to speed up the processing of a naturalization . If the authority has still not processed your application after several years, your only option is usually to file an action for failure to act with a naturalization lawyer . We have also written a VISAGUARD blog post on the status of naturalizations in Berlin.
FAQ
Which authority is responsible for naturalizations in Berlin from January 1, 2024?
Since January 1, 2024, the State Office for Immigration (LEA) has been responsible for processing naturalization applications in Berlin. This replaces the previous responsibilities of the district offices.
How has the processing of naturalization applications in Berlin changed due to the change to the State Office for Immigration?
The transition to the LEA has caused considerable delays and chaos. However, the agency has set up a new department (Department S) with around 70 staff to handle citizenship cases and has introduced the option of submitting naturalisation applications online.
What problems are there currently with naturalization in Berlin?
There are currently around 40,000 unprocessed naturalization applications in Berlin. The reform of citizenship law has also resulted in tens of thousands of new applications, which is leading to further delays.
Summary of this Page
In Berlin, naturalization applications can be submitted online via the LEA portal or in writing by post; after the documents have been submitted, an examination is carried out, further documents may be requested, and finally an invitation is sent to receive the naturalization certificate. Due to the high number of unprocessed cases, the procedure often takes several years, although the authority is legally obliged to make a decision within three months of all documents being received; in the event of delays, an action for failure to act can be filed to force processing.
