German Citizenship in Dortmund
Who handles your application in Dortmund, how to apply online or on paper, what the city says about fees, where to take the citizenship test, and the city's welcome ceremonies.
How do I apply for citizenship in Dortmund and how long does it take?
In Dortmund the city's Amt für Migration, unit Einbürgerung (38/4-2), handles naturalisation. You can apply online through the shared online service, which needs a BundID account, or on the paper form. The fee for the online application can currently only be paid by PayPal. Visits are by appointment only. The city does not state a processing time. According to the official statistics, 4,065 people living in Dortmund were naturalised in 2024.
Legal Basis
Law
§38 StAG
Requirement
Naturalisation fee of €255; €51 for a minor child naturalised with a parent
Official Source
View law textDortmund: Key Facts
| Topic | What applies in Dortmund |
|---|---|
| Authority | Stadt Dortmund, Amt für Migration, Einbürgerung (38/4-2) |
| How to apply | Online through the shared online service for naturalisation, which needs a BundID account. A Quick-Check comes before the application. The paper form "Antrag auf Einbürgerung" is still offered. Visits only by appointment; the general opening hours no longer apply. |
| Stated time | The authority states no time |
| Fee | €255 per adult, €51 for a minor child naturalised with a parent (§38 StAG). For the online application, payment is currently possible by PayPal only. The city charges for a rejection, or a withdrawal after processing has started, as well: as a rule 75% of the fee. In justified individual cases the city reduces the fee on request. |
| Naturalisations 2024 | 4,065 (official statistics, by place of residence) |
| Naturalisation rate 2024 | 3.3% of the foreign population at the end of the previous year |
| Naturalisations 2025 and 2026 (city) | No official city total published yet. Part-year figures from the city, not the official statistics: 3,093 by mid-November 2025 (just over 1,000 fewer than the year before) and 2,600 in the first seven months of 2026. |
Source: Stadt Dortmund: Einbürgerung (38/4-2) · City page read 22 October 2026; statistics: data year 2024
Where to Take the Citizenship Test in Dortmund
BAMF lists two test centres in Dortmund. The test costs €25.
| Test centre | Address | Registration and fee |
|---|---|---|
| VHS Dortmund | Kampstraße 47 | Book an appointment, then register in person (no registration by others). €25, by debit or credit card only (no cash). Registration closes about 4 weeks before the test date. Book only one appointment per person. |
| Auslandsgesellschaft.de gGmbH | Steinstr. 48 | €25 (BAMF fee). Register with the centre. |
Source: BAMF: citizenship test centres in North Rhine-Westphalia (Prüfstellen-NW) · Read 22 October 2026
How to Get Naturalised in Dortmund
Get your B1 certificate
You need German at B1 level, usually proven with a certificate such as telc Deutsch B1 or DTZ. If you do not have one yet, you can take the telc B1 exam at a centre in Dortmund.
Take the citizenship test
At the VHS Dortmund you first book an appointment to register in person, then pay €25 by card. Registration closes about 4 weeks before the test date. The test takes place at Kampstraße 47.
Create a BundID account
The online application runs on the shared online service for naturalisation and needs a BundID account. If you prefer paper, the city still offers the application form.
Apply and pay
Complete the Quick-Check and the online application. The fee to finish the online application can currently only be paid by PayPal.
Make your commitment at the appointment
At your appointment you also have to commit in person to the free democratic basic order. Visits are by appointment only.
German citizenship also needs proof of B1 German. You can practise for it here:
Free telc B1 Modelltest — practise online with answers
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Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
The city does not state a processing time on its naturalisation page. Our processing-time guide collects the statements of the authorities that do publish one, together with what each of them measures.
Yes. Dortmund uses the shared online service for naturalisation, and you need a BundID account to start the application. A Quick-Check comes first. The fee to complete the online application can currently only be paid by PayPal. The paper form is still offered.
No. The city says the general opening hours no longer apply and a visit is possible only after booking an appointment. The city offers an online form to request one.
Yes. The city says rejection and withdrawal after processing has started are also charged, as a rule 75% of the fee. In justified individual cases the city grants a fee reduction on request.
BAMF lists the VHS Dortmund (Kampstraße 47) and the Auslandsgesellschaft.de (Steinstr. 48). At the VHS you register in person after booking an appointment and pay €25 by card; cash is not accepted. BAMF marks the tests centrally and shows the current marking date on its naturalisation page.
4,065 in 2024 according to the official statistics, which count people by place of residence. No official total for 2025 has been published for Dortmund yet. The city itself reported 3,093 naturalisations by mid-November 2025 and 2,600 in the first seven months of 2026; these are part-year figures from the city, not the official statistics.
Yes, regularly. In 2025 the city held it three times; on 15 December 2025 about 200 newly naturalised people attended at the town hall at the invitation of Lord Mayor Alexander Kalouti. On 8 September 2026 the second celebration of the year took place. The December 2025 ceremony was organised by the city's municipal integration centre (MIA-DO-KI) and the Integration Council.
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- Stadt Dortmund: Einbürgerung (38/4-2)
- Shared online service for naturalisation: Dortmund
- Stadt Dortmund: Lord Mayor Alexander Kalouti welcomes newly naturalised people in the town hall (press release, December 2025)
- Stadt Dortmund: Lord Mayor Kalouti welcomes newly naturalised residents (September 2026)
- VHS Dortmund: citizenship test and telc certificate exams
- BAMF: citizenship test centres in North Rhine-Westphalia (Prüfstellen-NW)
- BAMF: naturalisation and the citizenship test
- Regional database of the statistical offices: naturalisations by district, table 12511-04-01-4
- §38 StAG: fees (gesetze-im-internet.de)