Naturalization after 5 years
New law makes it possible
Can you be naturalized after just 5 years in Germany? The answer is yes! A new law has introduced naturalization after 5 years in Germany. In special cases, naturalization is even possible after 3 years. But that's not all - the new Naturalization Act has also introduced other innovations that benefit those seeking naturalization. For example, dual citizenship is now standard in Germany.
Below we explain everything you need to know about naturalization after 5 years under the new law. We also explain what the general requirements for naturalization in Germany are and what documents and papers you will need. And finally, we explain the conditions under which accelerated naturalization is possible after 3 years .
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Shahroch Taleqani
Naturalization after 5 years - General information
Anyone wishing to obtain German citizenship by way of naturalization must always prove that he or she has been legally resident in Germany for some time. This period is known as the minimum period of residence. For a long time, this minimum period of residence was 8 years. However, on 27 June 2024, the Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law (StARModG) came into force in Germany.
This new law has reduced the length of time you have to live in Germany to be eligible for naturalization by 3 years. The new minimum period of residence for naturalization in Germany is now only 5 years. The new law has thus made naturalization possible after 5 years and made it the new standard.
The new Naturalization Act has also introduced a second important change: It has introduced dual citizenship as the standard model in Germany. This means that, in principle, all foreigners who apply for naturalization in Germany after 5 years can retain their previous citizenship alongside German citizenship - provided that their country of origin also allows dual citizenship.
The new law has also brought about a number of other changes to German nationality law. Here you can find our blog article with a detailed list of everything that has changed.
Requirements for naturalization in Germany
In addition to the aforementioned minimum residence period of 5 years, there are other requirements that you must meet if you wish to obtain German citizenship through naturalization. For example, you must have a permanent right of residence (such as a settlement permit) or a specific temporary right of residence (such as an EU Blue Card or a residence permit for skilled workers in accordance with § 18a AufenthG or § 18b AufenthG).
You must also be able to support yourself and your family members without state assistance. Furthermore, you must not have a criminal record and must have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1) and knowledge of the German legal and social system.
You can find details on all these requirements as well as some other requirements that must be met for naturalization on our main page on naturalization. We also recommend that you complete our free naturalization check - this will give you an initial assessment of whether you are eligible for naturalization after 5 years under the new law.
Conditions for naturalization after 3 years
However, naturalization after 5 years is just the beginning - according to the new law, naturalization is even possible after 3 years in some cases. However, this accelerated naturalization is only provided for in certain cases; naturalization after 5 years remains the rule.
The first requirement for naturalization after 3 years is that you must be able to support yourself and your dependents independently. Although this is also a condition for naturalization after 5 years, the legislator applies a stricter standard for naturalization after 3 years. For example, the livelihood of family members not living with you in Germany should also be secured. Furthermore, none of the normal exceptions apply.
As a further requirement, you must be able to demonstrate special integration achievements in order to be naturalized after just 3 years. Examples of such special integration achievements include outstanding performance at work, training or school or voluntary work.
Finally, you must also have German language skills at level C1 - in contrast to naturalization after 5 years, where level B1 is sufficient.
Documents for your application for naturalization
Do you meet the requirements for naturalization after 5 years, perhaps even the particularly strict conditions for naturalization after 3 years? Congratulations!
However, this is only the first step on your way to obtaining German citizenship. You won't get your naturalization certificate just like that. You must apply for naturalization at the naturalization authority responsible for you . In your application, you must prove that you really do meet all the requirements for naturalization under the new law.
The naturalization authorities require a large number of documents to verify all of these requirements, which you must submit together with your application for naturalization.
These documents naturally include your passport, your birth certificate and your current residence permit, but usually also proof that you can earn a living, speak German well enough and have knowledge of the German legal and social system. You will also need various forms, for example from your employer and your landlord.
You can find detailed information on all the required documents and the best way to prove your language and social skills on our detailed page on the most important documents for your naturalization.
Advantages of naturalization after 5 years
If so many documents are required for a successful naturalization application, is it worth the effort? The answer is: Yes! Naturalization after 5 years brings many advantages.
First of all, this eliminates the need for many cumbersome visits to the authorities, as German citizenship is valid for life and therefore does not have to be renewed again and again, unlike a residence permit. This also means that you have a right of residence in Germany for the rest of your life, i.e. you can enter the Federal Republic at any time and can freely choose your place of residence and workplace. Furthermore, you can make use of diplomatic protection from the Federal Republic of Germany abroad if this becomes necessary.
Of course, there are also the obvious advantages: As a German citizen, you enjoy freedom of movement within the 29 European countries of the Schengen area with a German passport. In addition, the German passport is one of the most "valuable" passports in the world, allowing you to enter the majority of countries without a visa.
Last but not least, naturalization after 5 years has the advantage that your relatives can be naturalized together with you, even if they themselves have been in Germany for less than 5 years. Here you can find more information about this so-called co-naturalization.
FAQ on naturalization:
Where can I take the naturalization test?
In Germany, you can register for and take the naturalization test at all participating institutions. These institutions differ regionally within Germany. We have sorted all institutions by federal state for you:
Tip:
You can register for the naturalization test throughout Germany, but answer the questions of the federal state in which you live.
How long will it take for a decision to be made on my naturalization application?
Even now, it usually takes up to 12 monthsuntil a decision is made on an application for naturalization. When the new law comes into force on 26 June 2024, the number of naturalization applications is expected to increase significantly will increase significantly. This will probably also increase the processing times by several months. If the authorities do not make a decision on your application for too long, it may be advisable to file an action for failure to act action for failure to act. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on this.
Do you still have to take a naturalization test under the new Citizenship Act?
YesThe new law does not change the rules for the naturalization test. However, as before, you do not have to take the test if you are at least a German school-leaving qualification (qualificationRealschule, Abitur etc.)a completed vocational training with a grade in the subject of social studies or a degree in the fields of law and social sciences, social sciences or politics naor politics.
Can I be naturalized if I receive social assistance?
Anyone wishing to acquire German citizenship must be able to prove that they can support themselves and their dependents. to support themselves and their can support themselves. They must not be receiving benefits under the Second or Twelfth Book of the German Social Code (SGB II or SGB XII). be received. These include, for example, unemployment benefit II, basic income support in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity and social assistance.
However, according to the new law , there are exceptionsIf you have been in full-time employment for 20 months within the last 24 months within the last 24 months, receiving state benefits is not harmful. The same applies if your spouse or registered partnerwho lives with you and a child has been in full-time employment for 20 months within the last 24 months. And also for former guest workers and contract workers and their spouses who have joined them are also exempt from receiving state benefits such as social assistance if they are not responsible for this.
Can I apply for naturalization now if I want the provisions of the new law (dual citizenship, shorter period of residence, etc.) to apply to me?
The new law on citizenship comes into force on 27 June 2024, but the processing time for an application for naturalization is usually around 12 months. The decisive factor for your application is the legal situation at the time when the authorities make a decision. It is very likely that this will not be until after June 27. This means that you can, in principle, submit an application for naturalization now, which will then be decided according to the new legal situation. If a decision is made on your application before June 27, 2024, you will first be asked to provide proof that you have been released from your existing citizenship. If you do not do this by June 27, you will be able to benefit from the new law after this date and retain your citizenship.
However, this varies from authority to authority and also depends on how long you have been in Germany. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on your personal situation.
What will be the minimum period of residence for naturalization in the future?
Since the new law on citizenship came into force on June 27, 2024, the minimum period of residence in Germany is now only five years. It can be shortened to up to three years in cases of particularly good integration.
When will the new Naturalization Act come into force?
The new Naturalization Act (Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law) comes into force on June 27, 2024 in force, three months after its promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette. From then on dual citizenship in principle under German law possible for all, and will in particular the minimum period of residence to five years to five years. You can read more about the details of the new law here.
Where do I have to apply for naturalization?
Where you have to apply for naturalization depends on where you live. If you are in Germany, you must apply to the naturalization authority responsible for your place of residence. You can find out which authority this is from the foreigners authority in your town or municipality or from the district or city administration. Naturalization applications from abroad, which are processed by the Federal Office of Administration, must be submitted to the responsible German mission abroad, i.e. the German embassy or a (general) consulate.
How well do I have to speak German to be naturalized?
In principle, language skills at level B1 or higher are required for naturalization. If you can prove a higher language level, you may be able to naturalize earlier. Theoretically, naturalization is also possible with a lower language level than B1. However, this still requires a certain knowledge of the language, as your integration into the German way of life must be guaranteed. In addition, there must be a public interest in you receiving German citizenship.
Do I have to give up my old citizenship in order to naturalize in Germany?
Since the new Naturalization Act came into force on 27 June 2024, those wishing to naturalize no longer have to give up their old citizenship. According to the new legal situation, anyone can obtain dual citizenship - provided the country of origin also allows it. You can find a list of countries that do not allow dual citizenship here.
Is naturalization possible after three years?
The general period of residence that must be fulfilled for naturalization is five years. It can be shortened by up to two additional years in the case of special integration achievements, for example in work, school or voluntary work. At best, naturalization is therefore possible after just three years of residence.
Is naturalization possible despite a criminal record?
In principle, you must not have a criminal record if you want to be naturalized. However, not all previous convictions are really relevant. For example, convictions or penalty orders of no more than 90 daily rates as well as convictions for prison sentences of up to three months that were suspended and not enforced are not taken into consideration. The same applies to previous convictions that are no longer listed in the Federal Central Criminal Register. You can find out more about exemption from punishment for naturalization here.
How does the naturalization test work?
The naturalization test consists of 33 multiple choice questions, of which you must answer at least 17 correctly in order to pass. It takes one hour to complete and costs 25 euros. To prepare, you can simulate the test online or view the entire catalog of all possible questions. Where exactly you can register for the test and take it varies from region to region. We have created a corresponding overview for each federal state:
In principle, you are not obliged to take the naturalization test in your home federal state. Instead, you can take the test at any test center in Germany. However, some of the questions always relate to your home federal state, even if you take the naturalization test in another federal state.
What are the advantages of German citizenship?
Freedom of movement in Europe, the possibility of visa-free entry into many other countries with one of the "strongest" passports in the world and protection by the institutions of the German state, even when traveling abroad, are just some of the many advantages of German citizenship. In addition, German citizens enjoy unrestricted access to the labor market of all EU countries, including the possibility of becoming a civil servant, as well as a lifelong right of residence in Germany and the EU, which does not expire even during longer stays abroad.
How long does it take to process a naturalization application?
The authorities often take a very long time to process a naturalization application due to the many documents involved. Processing times of several months to well over a year are the rule. Since the Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law came into force on 27 June 2024, it can be assumed that waiting times will be considerably longer again because many new applications will be submitted. To help you obtain your rights more quickly, it may be advisable to file an action for failure to act. Our experienced lawyers will be happy to advise you on this. Just ask us.
How much does naturalization cost?
A fee of 255.00 euros is payable for a naturalization certificate for adults. The fee for a rejection notice is between 25.00 and 255.00 euros. A naturalization certificate for a minor child (i.e. up to the age of 18) who is naturalized together with someone else (co-naturalization) only incurs a fee of 51.00 euros.
Can I check if I meet all the requirements for naturalization?
If you want to check whether your naturalization application would be successful, you can do our naturalization check. However, this check only gives you a first overview. If you still have detailed questions or are unsure, then it is best to contact our lawyers.
What are the requirements to become a naturalized citizen?
We have explained this in detail in our article on naturalization.
Alternatively, you can complete our Naturalization Check.
Is naturalization possible without giving up the previous citizenship in any case?
Yes, at least as far as German citizenship law is concerned. In principle, dual citizenship has been open to all foreigners, regardless of their country of origin, since June 27, 2024. However, there may be laws in the country of origin that stipulate the loss of citizenship in the event that a citizen is granted citizenship of another country. Such laws exist in countries such as China, Austria, Lithuania, Estonia and the Netherlands. In any case, we advise you to obtain information in the country of your previous citizenship.
