How to Apply for German Citizenship (Einbürgerung)

You have the residence permit, you’ve read the official checklist three times, and you still can’t tell whether you qualify, which office handles your file, or why your friend in Munich got a different document list than you did in Berlin. This guide explains the German citizenship application, called Einbürgerung, in order: eligibility, paperwork, submission, and the long wait afterwards.

Before You Apply: Are You Actually Eligible?

When I first looked into naturalization, I assumed it was one form and one fee. It is a set of separate tests, and failing any one of them stalls the whole application. Lawmakers have adjusted these rules several times, so check the exact thresholds on your local naturalization authority’s website before you start collecting documents. For a wider overview, see German Citizenship (Einbürgerung): Requirements Overview.

The Core Eligibility Requirements

Here is every requirement the authorities assess:

• Lawful, habitual residence. You must have lived in Germany legally for the minimum period set out in the citizenship law. An earlier three-year fast track for “special integration achievements” was abolished in 2025, so do not plan on a shorter period. Gaps, long stays abroad, or periods without a valid permit can reset or complicate your count.
• A qualifying residence status. You normally need a long-term residence title at the time of application, such as a settlement permit or a work-based permit that can lead to permanent residence. Some temporary statuses, like certain student or asylum-procedure permits, generally do not qualify on their own. If you are still working towards a permanent status, see Permanent Residence in Germany: Paths and Timelines.
• Financial self-sufficiency. You must be able to support yourself and your dependents without relying on Bürgergeld or social assistance. There are exceptions, for example when you cannot be held responsible for receiving benefits. The authority looks at your payslips, employment contract, and sometimes your pension contribution history.
• German language skills. You need to prove German at the level the law requires, usually through a recognized certificate. Details follow below.
• Knowledge of the legal and social order. This is usually shown by passing the Einbürgerungstest, the citizenship test. A German school qualification can exempt you.
• Commitment to the free democratic basic order. You sign a declaration of loyalty to Germany’s constitutional principles. The authority checks for any activity that contradicts it, and antisemitic, racist, or similar acts are explicitly treated as incompatible.
• No serious criminal convictions. Minor offenses below certain thresholds are usually disregarded, but the authority requests your record from the Federal Central Register.
• Clarified identity and nationality. You must prove who you are, typically with a valid passport and birth certificate. This trips up more people than you would expect.

The Language and Test Hurdles

The language requirement makes many otherwise eligible people put the application off. The authority usually accepts certificates from recognized providers such as the Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD, or the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer taken at the end of an integration course. The certificate must cover the required level, which is typically B1. A certificate for listening and reading only will not count if speaking and writing are also required. For the details, see How to Prove German Language Skills for Citizenship (B1).

I’ll be honest: I had a B1 certificate on paper long before I could hold a confident conversation at the Bürgeramt. If you are in the same spot, structured speaking practice helps more than another grammar workbook. Some people get through it fastest with a tutor. The trade-offs are covered in Private Lessons vs Self-Study for Naturalisation German: Which Is Faster.

The Einbürgerungstest is easier than it sounds. You book it through a local Volkshochschule or another approved test center. The questions come from a published catalog covering German politics, history, and society, plus questions specific to your federal state. You receive a certificate from the BAMF a few weeks after passing. Study methods and practice tools are in How to Prepare for the German Citizenship Test.

What About Your Current Passport?

For years, many applicants had to give up their original citizenship, and that put off a lot of us. The reformed law generally allows multiple citizenship now, so most applicants no longer need to renounce. Your home country may still have its own rules, though. Some countries automatically withdraw citizenship when you voluntarily take another. Check this with your own embassy before you apply, not after your naturalization certificate arrives. For more, see Dual Citizenship in Germany: What’s Now Allowed and How to Keep Your Original Nationality When Naturalizing in Germany.

Gathering Your Documents Without Losing Your Mind

The paperwork stage is where people burn out. Each naturalization authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) publishes its own checklist, and two cities can ask for slightly different formats. Download the list from your local office first. In most places that is the Landratsamt, the Kreisverwaltung, or a city office. In Berlin, naturalization is handled centrally by the Landesamt für Einwanderung. Treat any generic list, including this one, as a starting point only.

The Standard Document Checklist

A full breakdown is in What Documents Do You Need for German Citizenship?.

Translations, Apostilles, and Foreign Paperwork

Every document not issued in German usually needs a certified translation by a sworn translator. Depending on the issuing country, it may also need an apostille or full legalization. Get this done early, because ordering a fresh birth certificate from abroad can take weeks.

Many expats use online services for this. Lingoking, for example, connects you with sworn translators and sends back translations formatted the way German authorities expect, which saves you hunting for a local translator. Compare turnaround and pricing on the provider’s own page. If your authority asks for something unusual, such as a translated police certificate from your home country, a service like Lingoking can handle that too. For the full process, see Apostilles and Certified Translations for German Immigration.

Health Insurance and Older Records

Some authorities want proof of health insurance going back to your arrival, especially if you first came as a student. If your early cover was arranged as part of a relocation package, for example through Expatrio when you set up your student visa, contact the provider and request confirmation of your insured periods. It is much easier to collect these records now than to scramble when a caseworker asks for them halfway through processing.

Submitting Your Application: The Step-by-Step Process

Once your documents are ready, the actual submission is simple. The hard part is everything around it.

How the Application Works in Practice

1. Confirm your responsible authority. Find the naturalization office for your registered address. If you move during the process, your file may have to transfer, which can cause delays.
2. Check for online submission. A growing number of cities, including Berlin, let you apply through an online portal. Elsewhere you may need to book an appointment or post the paper form.
3. Complete the application form. Fill in the official Antrag auf Einbürgerung. Every family member applying with you, including children, usually needs their own form or section.
4. Attach all supporting documents. Upload or include copies as instructed. Keep the originals, because you will often have to show them later.
5. Pay the fee. You will be asked to pay a naturalization fee, sometimes at submission and sometimes on request. Check the current amount on your authority’s website, along with any reductions for children applying alongside a parent.
6. Wait for the acknowledgment. You should receive confirmation and, in many cases, a case number. Keep it safe.
7. Respond to follow-up requests. Caseworkers often ask for updated payslips or extra records. Answer quickly and completely.
8. Sign the loyalty declaration. This may happen during the process or at the handover appointment.
9. Attend the handover. If you are approved, you receive your Einbürgerungsurkunde, the naturalization certificate, usually in person and sometimes at a ceremony.

Keeping Your Status Valid While You Wait

This is the step I wish someone had shouted at me: your residence permit does not freeze while your citizenship application is pending. If it expires during processing, apply for an extension at the Ausländerbehörde as usual. If the extension is delayed, ask about a Fiktionsbescheinigung, which keeps your legal status intact. Do not assume the naturalization office will handle your permit. These are often separate departments with separate files.

Realistic Waiting Times

Processing times vary hugely. In smaller districts, applicants sometimes hear back within months. In large cities with heavy backlogs, a year or more is not unusual. Your caseworker is very likely dealing with an enormous pile, which is why polite, well-timed status inquiries after a reasonable period tend to work better than weekly emails. Some applicants who face extreme delays get legal advice about a “failure to act” complaint. That is a last resort, not a first move.

After Approval: Your First Steps as a German Citizen

Getting the certificate is a genuinely emotional moment. Many of us remember the room, the official’s handshake, and the slightly surreal feeling of walking out a citizen. There are still a few practical tasks to finish.

Getting Your German ID Documents

Take your Einbürgerungsurkunde to your local Bürgeramt and apply for a Personalausweis, the national ID card, and a Reisepass if you want a German passport. Bring your naturalization certificate, a biometric photo, and your current residence card. The Bürgeramt will usually take back or invalidate your residence permit, since you no longer need it.

Telling Other Institutions

Update your status with your employer, especially if your contract or tax setup referred to your nationality. Notify your home country’s embassy if their law requires it. If you are now registered to vote, look out for your polling notifications before the next election.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying before you have the language or test certificate, which can leave your file on hold.
• Letting a passport from your home country expire mid-process, because your identity proof has to stay valid.
• Changing jobs right after submission without telling the authority.
• Moving to another district without reporting it, which can restart parts of the process.
• Ignoring your home country’s rules on dual nationality.

It can feel like the system is designed to wear you down, but thousands of people get through it every year. Prepare your documents carefully, keep your status valid, and be patient with the wait.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.

✅ Before You Go: Germany Essentials Checklist

Did you sort out the basics? Make sure you're ready for your new life in Germany.

Moving Abroad 5 Free Quotes from Movers

Money Transfer Best Rates with Wise

Getting Around Trains, Buses & Flights on Omio