Requirements for naturalisation
Certain requirements apply before you can become a German. Find out which ones you must fulfil.
The requirements at a glance
Generally speaking, you must meet all of the following requirements in order to be entitled to standard naturalisation (naturalisation by legal entitlement – Anspruchseinbürgerung):
- You have been living habitually and legally in Germany for five years.
- You can prove your identity and current citizenship.
- You have a permanent right of residence or a long-term residence permit.
- You can financially support yourself and your dependent family members. This includes your spouse and, for example, your children whom you provide for.
- You have sufficient knowledge of German, at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- You have sufficient knowledge of the legal system, society and way of life in Germany.
- You declare your commitment to the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You declare your commitment to Germany’s special historical responsibility for the tyrannical National Socialist regime and its consequences – in particular for the protection of Jewish life – and to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition on waging a war of aggression.
- You have not been convicted of a criminal offence.
- There are no other reasons that might make you ineligible for naturalisation (known as grounds for exclusion – Ausschlussgründe).
Naturalisation after three years in cases of outstanding integration
In exceptional cases, you can also apply for German citizenship sooner. For example, if you make a particular contribution to society and make an effort to integrate quickly, you can be naturalised after only three years of living in Germany. To do this, you must meet every one of the following requirements:
- You have been habitually and legally resident in Germany for at least three years.
- You can provide evidence of outstanding integration, for example outstanding performance in school or at work. Or you are involved in volunteer work, for instance with the fire brigade or to help others in your community.
- You can financially support yourself and your dependent family members.
- You have a command of German at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or higher.
Discretionary naturalisation
Even if you are not entitled to naturalisation because you do not yet meet all of the requirements, the authority has a certain leeway, or discretion, in deciding whether you could nonetheless become naturalised. But even for this discretionary naturalisation (Ermessenseinbürgerung), you must absolutely meet the following requirements:
- You have been living legally and habitually in Germany for five years. Exceptions to this requirement apply, for example, when naturalisation will enable somebody to be recruited or retained for an activity that is in the German interest (in particular in the fields of academia, research, business, art, culture, media, sport or the public sector). Exceptions also apply to stateless persons.
- You have a home or other accommodation.
- You can financially support yourself and your dependent family members. This includes your spouse and, for example, your children whom you provide for.
- You have sufficient knowledge of German, at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- You are familiar with the legal system, society and way of life in Germany.
- You declare your commitment to the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You declare your commitment to Germany’s special historical responsibility, in particular for the protection of Jewish life, and to the prohibition on waging a war of aggression.
- You have not been convicted of a criminal offence.
You can obtain more information on discretionary naturalisation from your nationality authority.
Grounds for exclusion
There are reasons that typically prevent you from being able to obtain German citizenship (Ausschlussgründe). These include:
- You have pursued or supported endeavours directed against the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany, or you have violated the constitution.
- You have previously held anti-constitutional beliefs. In this case, you must present a credible case to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the nationality authority that you no longer hold these beliefs.
- You do not respect the equal rights of men and women as laid down in the Basic Law.
- You are married to multiple people at the same time (known as polygamy).
- You are married to a person who is married to multiple people at the same time. The nationality authority will check whether you are ineligible for naturalisation.
The brochure My Path to a German Passport provides comprehensive information on the requirements you must fulfil in order to become a German citizen, how to apply, and how the naturalisation procedure works.
See here for a quick overview of the requirements for naturalisation, as well as answers to the most important questions about the German citizenship.