Acquisition of German citizenship through naturalization in Cologne
It is obvious that German citizenship offers you various attractive advantages: it gives you a German passport which, among other things, allows you unrestricted freedom of movement within the European Union and visa-free travel to many countries around the world. German citizenship also gives you unlimited access to the European labor market - including the option to pursue a career as a civil servant. You also enjoy diplomatic protection abroad and can vote in all elections in this country.
There are many ways in which you can become a German citizen. For people who live in Cologne and want to integrate into German society in the long term, naturalization in Cologne is the most common option.
Since June 27, 2024, a reformed citizenship law has also been in force, which simplifies the acquisition of German citizenship and generally allows dual citizenship. If you naturalize, you generally no longer have to give up your previous citizenship.
Below you will find all the important information about naturalization in Cologne prepared by our experts in migration law. Current requirements for naturalization, the typical course of the procedure and the contact details of the responsible authority - our lawyers will provide you with an overview.
Overview
Competent authority for naturalizations in Cologne
Would you like to apply for naturalization in Cologne? Then the Immigration Office of the City of Cologne is the authority responsible for you. Its naturalization department will guide you through the process - from the initial consultation to the issuing of the certificate.
On the website of the City of Cologne you will find regional information on naturalization as well as the necessary forms to download.
Responsible address for naturalization in Cologne (as of Oct. 25)
Address:
Foreigners' Registration Office - Naturalization Department
Bezirksrathaus Kalk
Kalker Hauptstraße 247-273
51103 Köln
Phone:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
+49 221 / 221-29835 or +49 221 / 221-30424
Requirements for naturalization in Cologne
You must meet various criteria for naturalization in Cologne. For example, you must provide proof of continuous residence in Germany for at least five years. You must also be able to prove your current citizenship and identity beyond doubt and declare your commitment to the fundamental values of the Basic Law in writing. Furthermore, a permanent right of residence such as a settlement permit or another temporary residence permit for a purpose that is not merely temporary is required.
For successful naturalization in Cologne, you must be able to support yourself and your dependent family members independently - without being dependent on social benefits. It is necessary to have a command of the German language to at least level B1 . You can prove this, for example, with a recognized language certificate or a German school-leaving qualification.
Knowledge of society, the legal system and living conditions in Germany is also required, which you can usually prove with the naturalization test, which includes questions on politics, history and everyday life in Germany.
Your naturalization in Cologne will generally not be granted if you have a criminal record or are currently under investigation . However, there are certain exceptions to this rule, which we explain here.
Further information on the requirements for naturalization can be found on our main naturalization page.
Please note: For a successful naturalization in Cologne, you should have all the necessary proof and documents ready - including your current passport and residence permit, a CV and, if applicable, your rental and employment contract or your marriage certificate. We have compiled a general checklist for you in our article "Naturalization - the most important documents". You can also find out more about the documents specifically required in Cologne on the city's website.
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Dual citizenship in Cologne
With the reform of the citizenship law, which came into force in June 2024, the conditions for naturalization in Cologne have changed. The previous obligation to give up your old citizenship no longer applies. However, the prerequisite for this is that your country of origin also allows dual citizenship. Here you will find a worldwide overview of the countries in which this is the case. If your country is among them, you can now obtain dual citizenship under the new legal situation in Cologne.
In addition, the required period of residence has been reduced. Instead of the previous eight years, five years of legal residence is now generally sufficient. Due to this change, however, naturalization in Cologne now takes up to 12 months longer to process.
Support from RT & Partner
Would you like individual support with your naturalization application? Whether you need help compiling and checking the necessary documents, clarifying legal issues or communicating with the authorities - our lawyers specializing in migration law are there for you.
FAQ
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.
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.
Can I be naturalized in Germany if I want to keep my previous 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.
What are the advantages of German citizenship?
Naturalization in Germany gives you a number of advantages.advantages. Naturalization in Germany gives you a number of advantages.n advantages. 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 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.
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 Citizenship Act came into force on June 27, 2024, the minimum period of residence in Germany is now only five years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is naturalization possible after three years?
The general period of residence that must be fulfilled for naturalization is five years. In the past, it could be shortened by up to two additional years in the case of special integration achievements, for example in work, school or voluntary work. This meant that naturalization was possible after just three years of residence. However, the Bundestag decided on 8 October 2025 to abolish naturalization after three years. Naturalization after three years with special integration achievements is therefore no longer possible.
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.