German Citizenship in Cologne
Who handles your application in Cologne, how the appointment request works, where to take the citizenship test, and what the city says about waiting.
How do I apply for citizenship in Cologne and how long does it take?
In Cologne the Ausländeramt der Stadt Köln handles naturalisation. There is no online application: you request an appointment through the city's contact form, and that request already counts as your application. The city states that the wait for an appointment is currently about 12 months, and that it contacts you about 5 months before a free appointment. This is the wait for the appointment, not the time until a decision. Cologne naturalised 2,869 people in 2024 and 6,302 in 2025.
Legal Basis
Law
§38 StAG
Requirement
Naturalisation fee of €255; €51 for a minor child naturalised with a parent
Official Source
View law textCologne: Key Facts
| Topic | Cologne |
|---|---|
| Authority | Ausländeramt der Stadt Köln |
| How to apply | Request an appointment through the contact form and choose the topic "Terminvereinbarung". The request already counts as your application, so repeated requests are not needed. Visits are only possible with an appointment and an invitation letter. |
| Stated time | About 12 months. This is the wait for an appointment, not for a decision. The city contacts you about 5 months before a free appointment. |
| Forms | Everyone aged 16 or over needs their own application form, completely filled in but not yet signed, plus a CV. |
| Fee | €255 per adult, €51 for a minor child naturalised with a parent (§38 StAG). Cologne collects the full fee when you apply, in cash or by card. If you withdraw, it refunds 25% of the fee paid. If the application is rejected, there is no refund. The city asks you to check carefully that you meet the requirements before applying. |
| Handover | At the front office in the Bezirksrathaus Kalk. Before you receive the certificate, you make an oral commitment to the Basic Law in the form of a solemn oath. |
| Naturalisations 2024 | 2,869 (regional database, table 12511-04-01-4) |
| Naturalisations 2025 | 6,302 (IT.NRW) |
Source: Köln: Ausländeramt der Stadt Köln, Einbürgerung · Authority page read on 22 October 2026
Where to Take the Citizenship Test in Cologne
The four test centres in Cologne on the BAMF list for North Rhine-Westphalia. The test costs €25 (BAMF). Ideal Bildungsverein e.V. in Düren also lists Cologne among the districts it covers.
| Test centre | Address |
|---|---|
| VHS der Stadt Köln, Amt für Weiterbildung | Cäcilienstr. 35 |
| Prisma Bildungsplattform e.V. | Julius-Bau-Str. 2 |
| Berlitz Deutschland GmbH, Niederlassung Köln | Schildergasse 72-74 |
| Euro-Schulen Rheinland GmbH | Widdersdorfer Str. 252 |
Source: BAMF: list of citizenship test centres in North Rhine-Westphalia (Prüfstellen NW) · BAMF list read on 22 October 2026 (the list shows no date)
Your Steps in Cologne
Check the requirements, then request your appointment
Send the contact form with the topic "Terminvereinbarung". The request already counts as your application, so the city asks you to check carefully first that you meet the requirements. The wait for an appointment is currently about 12 months. Send it only once.
Get your B1 certificate
Have your language certificate ready for the appointment. Our telc B1 page for Cologne lists exam centres and dates.
Tip: telc B1 results take four to six weeks. Book early.
Register for the citizenship test at the Kölner VHS
Registration is only in person at the VHS customer centre, Cäcilienstraße 35, no later than four weeks before the test. Dates can be booked from 12 weeks before at the earliest. You pay the €25 when you register, by debit card, credit card or SEPA direct debit mandate.
Tip: Three other providers in Cologne are on the BAMF list. Allow a few weeks for the result.
Prepare your forms for the appointment
The city contacts you about 5 months before a free appointment. Everyone aged 16 or over needs their own form, completely filled in but not signed, plus a CV.
Receive your certificate in Kalk
If the decision is positive, naturalisation takes place at the front office in the Bezirksrathaus Kalk. Before the certificate is handed over, you make a solemn oral commitment to the Basic Law.
German citizenship also needs proof of B1 German. You can practise for it here:
Free telc B1 Modelltest — practise online with answers
Real tasks from every section in the authentic exam format. You see the answer straight after each task — no PDF to download.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Cologne only states the wait for an appointment: currently about 12 months. It contacts you about 5 months before a free appointment. The city gives no figure for the time from the appointment to a decision.
No. You request an appointment through the city's contact form, choosing "Terminvereinbarung". The city says this request already counts as your application, so you do not need to send it again.
At the Kölner VHS, where you register in person at Cäcilienstraße 35 at least four weeks before the test, or at one of three other providers on the BAMF list. The test costs €25.
Partly. Cologne refunds 25% of the fee paid if you withdraw. If the application is rejected, the city does not refund the fee.
At the front office in the Bezirksrathaus Kalk. Before the handover you make an oral commitment to the Basic Law in the form of a solemn oath.
6,302, according to the statistics office of North Rhine-Westphalia, an increase of 3,433 on the 2,869 of 2024.
We found no regular one. On 11 April 2025, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then Lord Mayor Henriette Reker handed certificates to twelve new citizens in the Historic City Hall.
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- Köln: Ausländeramt der Stadt Köln, Einbürgerung
- Kölner Volkshochschule: citizenship test
- BAMF: citizenship test (fee and marking status)
- BAMF: list of citizenship test centres in North Rhine-Westphalia (Prüfstellen NW)
- Regional database of the statistical offices: naturalisations by district, table 12511-04-01-4
- IT.NRW: naturalisations in North Rhine-Westphalia at their highest in 25 years (press release 137/26)
- Köln: naturalisation ceremony with the Federal President, 11 April 2025
- §38 StAG: fees (gesetze-im-internet.de)