Documents for Your German Citizenship Application
A checklist built from the official document lists of Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Dortmund, with the points where they differ.
Which documents do I need for German citizenship?
Every authority we checked asks for the application, a valid passport or identity card, proof of B1 German and proof of your income. Most also ask for your residence title, the citizenship test certificate, civil status documents and school or training certificates. The lists differ on details such as how many payslips you need and whether a birth certificate, tenancy agreement or pension record is required. Each authority says its list is not complete, so always use the list of your own Einbürgerungsbehörde.
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Documents Almost Every Authority Asks For
| Document | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Application, online or on paper | Everyone. Applicants aged 16 or older apply themselves. |
| Valid national passport or identity card | Everyone |
| Current residence title | Non-EU nationals |
| Language proof | Everyone aged 16 or older, unless exempt: a B1 certificate, or a German school certificate, degree or vocational training |
| Proof of civic knowledge | Everyone aged 16 or older, unless exempt: the citizenship test, "Leben in Deutschland" or a German school-leaving certificate |
| Employment contract and recent payslips | Employees |
| Tax assessment and business documents | Self-employed people and freelancers |
| Pension, unemployment benefit or asset statements | People who are not working |
| School, enrolment or training certificates | Pupils, students, trainees and children naturalised with a parent |
Source: Berlin Landesamt für Einwanderung: Einbürgerung beantragen · Five official lists compared on 12 October 2026
Documents That Depend on Your Situation
| Document | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate, divorce decree | If you are married, divorced or widowed |
| Children's birth certificates, custody order | If you have children (listed by Hamburg) |
| Consent of the other parent | For children under 16 with joint custody |
| Medical report or disability card | If you claim an exception for illness or disability |
| Proof of other benefits or maintenance | Depending on your household |
| Power of attorney | If someone applies on your behalf |
Source: City of Cologne: Einbürgerung · Five official lists compared on 12 October 2026
Where the Official Lists Differ
| Item | What the lists say |
|---|---|
| Payslips | Six months in Berlin. Three months in Cologne and Dortmund. |
| Birth certificate | Required in Hamburg, Cologne and Dortmund. Munich asks only people born in Germany. Berlin does not list it. |
| Pension insurance record | Listed by Hamburg, Cologne and Dortmund. Not listed by Berlin or Munich. |
| Tenancy agreement or proof of rent | Listed by Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. Not listed by Munich or Dortmund. |
| Health insurance proof | Berlin asks everyone. Cologne asks the self-employed. Not listed elsewhere. |
| Tabular CV | Listed by Hamburg and Cologne. |
| Travel document in place of a passport | Berlin says a German travel document is usually not enough. Hamburg requires a valid national passport. Munich accepts an international travel document. |
Source: Hamburg: Der Einbürgerungsantrag · Five official lists compared on 12 October 2026
How to Get Your Documents Ready
Get the list of your own authority
Start with the document list of your Einbürgerungsbehörde. The lists differ between cities, and each one says more documents may be requested in your case.
Collect identity and civil status documents
Passport, residence title, and where required your birth and marriage certificates. Documents from abroad often take the longest to obtain.
Arrange certified translations
Cologne and Dortmund require certified translations of foreign-language certificates. Cologne asks for a sworn translator based in Germany, with the translation attached to the copy and sealed.
Tip: Ask your authority which documents need translating before you order any.
Prove your income
Employees need their contract and recent payslips. Self-employed applicants need tax assessments. Check how many months your authority wants.
Add your B1 and test certificates
Add your language proof and your citizenship test certificate. If you still need B1, book the exam early, because results take several weeks.
Apply online where it is offered
Berlin and Hamburg ask applicants to use the online application. Other authorities offer one through the shared online service used in 11 federal states.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
None of the five official lists we checked asks applicants for one. You must declare convictions and pending proceedings abroad in the application (§12a Abs. 4 StAG).
It depends on the authority. Cologne and Dortmund require certified translations of foreign-language certificates. The Berlin, Hamburg and Munich pages we read do not mention translations, so ask before you pay for any.
All five lists ask for a valid passport or identity card. Authorities differ on travel documents: Berlin says a German travel document is usually not enough, Hamburg requires a valid national passport, and Munich accepts an international travel document.
Berlin asks for six months. Cologne and Dortmund ask for three. Check the list of your own authority.
A recognised B1 certificate, such as telc Deutsch B1, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or a DTZ result at B1. A German school certificate, degree or vocational training also counts.
Yes. All five lists ask for school certificates for children naturalised with a parent, and Hamburg also asks for their birth certificates. For children under 16 with joint custody, Berlin and Cologne also ask for the consent of the other parent.
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