How to obtain German citizenship

Once you live in Germany, you may start thinking about getting German citizenship. There are several ways to obtain German citizenship, depending on your personal circumstances. This process is called “Einbürgerung”.

Here are some common paths to German citizenship:

1. Birthright citizenship: If you were born in Germany to at least one German parent, you are automatically a German citizen.
2. Descent from a German parent or grandparent: If you have a German parent or grandparent, you may be eligible for German citizenship by descent. This process can involve proving your ancestry and submitting various documents to the German authorities.
3. Naturalization: If you are not eligible for German citizenship by birth or descent, you may be able to become a naturalized German citizen if you meet certain requirements. These requirements can vary depending on your country of origin, but generally include things like living in Germany for a certain amount of time, passing a German language and citizenship test, and having a clean criminal record.
4. Marriage: If you are married to a German citizen, you may be able to obtain German citizenship after a certain period of time living in Germany.

The specific requirements and procedures for obtaining German citizenship can vary depending on your individual circumstances, so it’s a good idea to consult with a German embassy or consulate or a qualified immigration lawyer to get more information and guidance.

In this blog post, I will write about naturalization to get German citizenship, as you have the whole process under your control – except the final decision if you will be naturalized or not, but once you start the process, the chances are really good that you will get German citizenship.

Some reasons to get German citizenship

Two options for getting German citizenship by naturalization

There are two ways to become naturalized: entitlement naturalization (“Anspruchseinbürgerung”) and discretionary naturalization (“Ermessenseinbürgerung”).

• You have a right to naturalization (entitlement naturalization). The city of residency is responsible for this.
• Your naturalization will be decided on a discretionary basis, without a legal claim (discretionary naturalization). The government of the German state you live in is responsible.

When obtaining the German citizenship, you must generally give up your previous citizenship. However, there are exceptions depending on your country of origin:

• Nationals of other EU member states and Switzerland, for example, may retain their previous nationality when naturalizing in Germany.
• Exceptions also apply to certain countries, such as Morocco, Iran or Algeria. For citizens of these countries, expatriation is considered unconscionable.

Entitlement naturalization – Anspruchseinbürgerung

As a rule, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for entitlement naturalization:

• You have lived permanently and legally in Germany for eight years.
• You can prove your identity.
• You have an unlimited right of residence or a permanent residence permit.
• You are able to finance the living expenses for yourself and your dependent family members – without social welfare or unemployment benefit II (“Hartz IV”).
• You have sufficient knowledge of German
• You have sufficient knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany.
• You are committed to the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• You integrate yourself into the German living conditions.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offense.
• As a rule, you must lose or give up your previous citizenship when naturalizing.

Discretionary naturalization- Ermessenseinbürgerung

If one of the legal requirements for entitlement to naturalization is missing, there is no legal entitlement to acquire German citizenship. However, there is also the so-called discretionary naturalization. It gives the naturalization authorities the opportunity to make a positive decision if there is a public interest in naturalization and some minimum requirements are met.

If these conditions are met, the naturalization authorities have leeway for their decision, which is filled out in more detail by the administrative regulations.

The following conditions are usually required by naturalization authorities:

• The old citizenship must be lost or renounced upon naturalization.
• Proof of sufficient German language skills.
• Knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany as in the case of entitlement naturalization

Discretionary naturalization is also generally only carried out after eight years. Shorter periods may be granted for the following groups:

• Germany is obligated under international law to facilitate the naturalization of refugees as defined in the Geneva Refugee Convention and stateless persons. Therefore, six years of residence in Germany may be sufficient for naturalization.
• Deviations from the residence time requirements are also possible for other reasons, e.g. in the case of naturalizations that are in the special public interest, i.e. in case of top athletes.

Background checks

When applying for German citizenship, various background checks may be conducted to determine if you meet the requirements for naturalization. Some of the common background checks that may be conducted include:

1. Criminal record check: You may be required to provide a police clearance certificate or similar document from your home country and any other countries you have lived in to show that you do not have a criminal record or pose a security threat.
2. Domestic intelligence check: You will be required to declare if you had any contact with several organizations which are under the surveillance of the Verfassungsschutz, the German domestic intelligence agency.
3. Financial background check: You may be required to show evidence of your income and financial stability to demonstrate that you will not be a burden on the German welfare system.
4. Language proficiency test: You may be required to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in the German language to show that you can integrate into German society.
5. Residence check: You may be required to provide documentation showing that you have lived in Germany for a certain amount of time and have a legal residence status.
6. Loyalty and values test: You may be required to demonstrate your commitment to German values and the German Constitution.

The specific background checks required can vary depending on your individual circumstances, such as your country of origin, length of residence in Germany, and other factors. It’s important to carefully review the requirements for naturalization and provide all the necessary documentation to support your application.

The naturalization test (“Einbürgerungstest”)

By successfully taking the naturalization test, you can demonstrate knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany, which you need in order to naturalize in Germany.

Fortunately, you do not need to have perfect knowledge of German language. B1 level is often enough to pass the exam.

You can register for the test at the test centers of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Participation in the naturalization test costs 25 euros.

Please remember to bring a valid identification document with photo on the day of the test.

Preparation for the naturalization test

What does the test look like?

At the test, you will be asked 33 questions. You have 60 minutes to answer them questions. For each question, you must choose the correct answer from four possible answers. If you answer at least 17 questions correctly, you have passed the test.

You can use the certificate to prove civic knowledge to the naturalization authority. If you have answered fewer than 17 questions correctly, you can repeat the test.

This is how a question can look like:

Was ist kein Merkmal unserer Demokratie?

1. Regelmäßige Wahlen
2. Pressezensur
3. Meinungsfreiheit
4. Verschiedene Parteien

33 questions from different areas

30 questions are about “Life in Democracy”, “History and Responsibility” and “People and Society”. Three test questions are asked about the federal state in which you are registered as a primary resident.

Who has to take the naturalization test?

If you are applying for German citizenship, you must demonstrate knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany by taking the test.

Exceptions:

• You have earned a German high school diploma
• You cannot meet the requirements because of a physical, mental or psychological illness, a disability or due to your age

Sample questionnaire for test preparation

Here you can find useful resources to prepare the test:

• Interactive questionnaire naturalization test
• Interactive sample questionnaire naturalization test
• Interactive questionnaire for the test “Living in Germany
• Interactive sample questionnaire for the “Living in Germany” test

Nationality document

Usually, your identity card or passport is sufficient proof of your new German citizenship. In certain cases, you will need documentary proof of your German citizenship for courts and other third parties. This is the case, for example, in adoptions.

Then your German citizenship will be verified. If this is successful, you will be issued a citizenship certificate. “Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis” is a document that proves that you have German citizenship. Passport or identity card are not legal proof.

Naturalization costs

Obtaining German citizenship costs 255 euros per person. For minor children who are naturalized together with their parents, 51 euros must be paid.

If you earn very little or if several children are (co-)naturalized, the fee can be reduced or payment in installments can be arranged.

What happens once the application is approved?

At the end of the naturalization process for German citizenship, if you meet all the requirements and your application is approved, you will take an oath of allegiance to the German Constitution and be granted German citizenship. The exact process can vary depending on the local authorities responsible for naturalization in your area, but typically involves the following steps:

1. Ceremony: You will be invited to a naturalization ceremony where you will take an oath of allegiance to the German Constitution and receive your certificate of naturalization.
2. Passport: You can then apply for a German passport and other identification documents that prove your new citizenship.
3. Registration: You will need to register your new citizenship with the local authorities and update your personal information with government agencies and other organizations as needed.
4. Rights and responsibilities: You will gain all the rights and privileges of German citizenship, including the ability to live and work in Germany, participate in German elections, and access social benefits. You will also be responsible for paying taxes and obeying German laws.

It’s important to note that the naturalization process can take several months or even years, and may involve various requirements such as language tests, background checks, and other documentation. It’s a good idea to carefully review the requirements and seek advice from a qualified immigration lawyer or German embassy/consulate to ensure a smooth and successful naturalization process.

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