With naturalization, you obtain German citizenship and become an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all rights and obligations.

With German citizenship, you can, among other things:

• Exercise your right to vote in local, state, and federal elections
• Enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union (EU), i.e.
  • move freely within the EU
  • work as an employee or self-employed person in the EU
• travel to many countries outside the EU without a visa

You can become a naturalized citizen more easily if you are married to or live in a registered partnership with a person who has German citizenship.

Conditions for naturalization:

• You have been living legally in Germany for 3 years
• Your marriage must be valid in Germany
• The marriage must have existed for 2 years at the time of naturalization, and during this time, your spouse or civil partner must have held German citizenship.

You must also meet other requirements, for example:

• You have a permanent right of residence, for example a settlement permit or another permanent residence permit.
• You are able to provide for your own livelihood and that of your dependent family members without receiving certain public benefits.
• You have sufficient knowledge of the German language, at least at level B1.

If you are a custodial parent living in a family community with a minor child of German nationality from a marriage or registered partnership, you can also apply for simplified naturalization in the following cases:

• up to one year after the death
  • of your German spouse
  • of your German civil partner
• up to one year after the legally binding termination of a marriage or civil partnership

You acquire German citizenship upon receipt of the naturalization certificate.

• You must be married to or living in a registered civil partnership with a person who has held German citizenship for at least 2 years.
• The marriage or registered civil partnership must be valid in Germany and have existed for 2 years.
• You must have been legally resident in Germany for 3 years. This period may be shortened under certain circumstances if the marriage or registered partnership has existed for 3 years.
• Your identity and nationality must be verified.
• You must have legal capacity or be legally represented. Legal capacity means that you can, for example, enter into contracts.
• At the time of naturalization, you must have
  • an unlimited right of residence, for example a settlement permit, or
  • another permanent residence permit
• A residence permit for the purpose of studying, for example, is not suitable for naturalization.
• You are able to provide for your own livelihood and that of your dependent family members without receiving certain public benefits.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offense.
  • If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offense, the citizenship authority will suspend the naturalization process until the proceedings have been concluded.
• You have sufficient knowledge of the German language, at least at level B1. This requirement is waived if you are unable to meet it due to a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability, or due to your age.
• You have civic knowledge, which you usually demonstrate by passing a naturalization test. This requirement is waived if you are unable to meet it due to a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability, or due to your age.
• You are not married to more than one person at the same time.
• You are committed to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law and make a declaration of loyalty. This means that
  • you do not support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities
  • if you have supported such activities in the past, you must have credibly renounced them.
• You are committed to Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist regime of injustice and its consequences, in particular
  • for the protection of Jewish life and
  • the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging a war of aggression.

• Valid passport or official identity document with photograph
• Valid residence permit
• Documents relating to civil status, for example:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • If applicable, divorce decree or death certificate, with translation, legalization, or apostille if necessary
    • of the previous spouse or
    • the previous partner
• Proof of German citizenship of the spouse or civil partner, for example
  • German passport
  • German identity card
  • extended registration information
  • naturalization certificate
• School, vocational, training, or university qualifications obtained in Germany
• if you are a student: current school certificate
• if you are a student: current certificate of enrollment
• if you are employed: employment contract and proof of income
• if you receive a pension: pension notice and pension insurance history, which you receive from the German Pension Insurance
• if you are self-employed:
  • business registration
  • Current income tax assessment
  • Proof of income, for example, an informal certificate from your tax office showing your net income or a business analysis
• Rental agreement
• Proof of health insurance coverage
• Proof of retirement provision, for example
  • Real estate
  • Private life insurance
  • Pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient German language skills, for example with a B1 certificate
• Proof of civic knowledge, for example with the "Living in Germany/Naturalization Test" certificate
• When you come in for a personal interview, you will submit:
  • Your commitment to the free democratic basic order and
  • your commitment to Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist regime of injustice and its consequences, and
  • the signed declaration of loyalty
• Additional documents may be required depending on the individual case