Naturalisation in Germany , Date: 2018.11.28, format: Article, area: Integration

If you are living in Germany permanently, you can become naturalised under certain circumstances.

To do so, you must submit an application. You can submit this application yourself once you have turned 16. Parents must make the application on behalf of children and juveniles under the age of 16.

You can obtain application forms from the responsible naturalisation authorities. The following will also inform you which authority is responsible for your naturalisation process:

• the immigration authority for your town or municipality,
• the Youth Migration Services (JMD),
• the Migration Advice Service for Adult Immigrants, and
• the municipal or district administration.

Costs

Naturalisation costs EUR 255 per person. A fee of EUR 51 applies to minors who are to be naturalised with their parents. Minors who are to be naturalised without their parents must also pay EUR 255.

If you are on a very low wage or have several children who will be naturalised at the same time as you, the fee can be reduced, or payment in instalments can be agreed.

Conditions

You are entitled to become naturalised if you fulfil the following conditions:

• you have an unrestricted right of residence at the time of becoming naturalised, if you hold an EU Blue Card or a time-limited residence permit which in terms of its purpose may also lead to permanent residence,
• you have passed the naturalisation test (knowledge of the legal and social system, as well as about living conditions in Germany),
• you have had your habitual, lawful place of residence in Germany for eight years (this period can be reduced to seven years if you attend an integration course successfully, and can be brought down to as few as six years in the case of special integration measures),
• you have independent means of securing a living (including for family members entitled to maintenance) without resorting to social assitance payments and unemployment benefit II,
• you have adequate German-language skills,
• you do not have any convictions on account of a criminal offence,
• you are committed to the free democratic constitutional order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, and
• you have lost or given up your former nationality (exceptions apply with regard to this point, depending on the country of origin; please contact the naturalisation authority).

You will find examples of this in the section on "Paths to naturalisation".

Arrangements applying to children/requirement to choose between two nationalities

Children born in Germany to foreign parents take German nationality, in addition to the nationality of the parents, if one parent has been living in Germany lawfully for eight years when the child is born and has and has unlimited right of residence. Children must decide when they reach the age of 21 between German nationality and the nationality of their parents (Optionspflicht - the requirement to choose between two nationalities), unless they have grown up in Germany or only have the nationality of another EU Member State or of Switzerland, as well as German nationality.

The naturalisation test

By passing the naturalisation test you can prove that you have the knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany that you need in order to be naturalised in Germany.

You can apply to sit the test at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ test centres.

What does the test consist of?

In the examination you will be given a test paper containing 33 questions. You have 60 minutes to answer the questions, and must select the correct answer to each question from four possible answers. If you answer a minimum of 17 questions correctly, you have passed the test. You will then receive a certificate with your test results from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

You can use this certificate to provide proof of your civic knowledge to the naturalisation authority, and may repeat the test if you answered fewer than 17 questions correctly.

33 questions from different areas

30 questions relate to the subject areas of “Living in a democracy”, “History and responsibility” and “People and society”. Three test questions will be asked about the Federal Land in which you are registered as having your first place of residence. An overview of all the important topics for the test is provided by the General catalogue of naturalisation test questions and the binding Curriculum framework for the naturalisation course. You will find the General catalogue and the Curriculum framework by clicking on the link below.

Who must take the naturalisation test?

If you are applying for German nationality, you must prove that you have knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany by taking the test.

Exceptions:

• You have acquired a German school-leaving qualification.
• You cannot fulfil the requirements because of a physical, psychological or mental illness or disability or on account of your age.

Where can I take the naturalisation test?

The local naturalisation authorities can help you with any questions you may have about the naturalisation test. They will also tell you where to find the nearest test centre at which you can register to take the test. You can furthermore find a list of the test centres in your Federal Land by clicking on Downloads at the bottom of this page. It costs EUR 25 to take the naturalisation test. Please remember to bring a valid identification document with you on the day of the test.

How can I prepare myself for the naturalisation test?

The best way to prepare for the naturalisation test is by using the interactive list of questions in the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ online test centre (see the link below). After you have attempted each question, the correct answer will be displayed. The test consists of a total of 310 questions, of which 300 are general questions and ten questions relate to the Federal Land in which you live. You can also complete a sample test paper. Once you have answered all the questions, you will be able to see which questions you answered correctly, and can then look at the correct answers along with brief background information.

You can of course download the General catalogue of naturalisation test questions and the lists of questions that relate specifically to individual Federal Länder as PDF documents from the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s web pages on the naturalisation test. The sample test paper is also available here at Downloads. Some Federal Länder also offer courses to help you prepare for the naturalisation test. You can obtain information about these courses from your local naturalisation authority.

If you have to prove that you have adequate German-language skills in order to become naturalised, you can attend an integration course and obtain the "Integration course certificate". Part of the integration course also consists of a 60-lesson orientation course which also tackles many topics covered by the naturalisation test.

If you have any questions about the tests in the integration courses or on the naturalisation test, the Citizens’ Advice Service at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will be happy to help you.