German Citizenship Requirements: The Full Checklist
Every requirement for naturalisation under §10 StAG in one place, with the law behind each one and what changed in 2024 and 2025.
What are the requirements for German citizenship?
Under §10 StAG you can claim German citizenship after five years of lawful residence if your identity is clear, you hold a qualifying residence title, you support yourself without citizen's benefit or social assistance, you have no relevant criminal conviction, you prove B1 German and you pass the citizenship test. You also commit to Germany's free democratic order. You no longer have to give up your previous citizenship. The three-year fast track ended on 30 October 2025. The fee is €255.
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Legal Basis
Law
§10 StAG
Requirement
Entitlement to naturalisation after five years if all conditions are met
Effective Date
2025-10-30
Official Source
View law textThe Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | What it means | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Five years of residence | Lawful, habitual residence in Germany for five years. Stays abroad of up to six months do not interrupt it. | §10 Abs. 1, §12b StAG |
| Identity and nationality | Both must be clarified, normally with a passport and civil status documents. | §10 Abs. 1 StAG |
| Residence title | A permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card, or a residence permit for a qualifying purpose. Permits for study, vocational training, job search, the opportunity card, temporary protection and some humanitarian grounds do not qualify. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG |
| Secure livelihood | You support yourself and your dependants without benefits under SGB II or SGB XII. Exceptions include people who work full-time and did so for at least 20 of the last 24 months. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG |
| No relevant conviction | Fines of up to 90 daily rates and suspended sentences of up to three months that were later remitted are disregarded. That does not apply to offences with an antisemitic, racist or other inhumane motive. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 5, §12a StAG |
| B1 German | Language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 6, Abs. 4 StAG |
| Citizenship test | Knowledge of the legal and social order, normally proven by the Einbürgerungstest: 17 of 33 questions correct. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 7, Abs. 5 StAG |
| Commitment to the constitution | A commitment to the free democratic basic order, a loyalty declaration, and a commitment to Germany's historical responsibility for the Nazi regime and the protection of Jewish life. | §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, 1a StAG |
Source: §10 StAG (gesetze-im-internet.de) · Law as of 12 October 2026
What Changed in 2024 and 2025
| Rule | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Residence period | Eight years | Five years (since 27 June 2024) |
| Previous citizenship | Usually had to be given up | Can be kept under German law (since 27 June 2024). Your home country may have its own rules. |
| Three-year fast track | Possible with C1 German and special integration achievements | Abolished on 30 October 2025, with no transition period |
Source: Federal Law Gazette: BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256 · Law as of 12 October 2026
Shorter Routes for Families
| Who | Rule | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or registered partner of a German | Three years of residence, if the marriage or partnership has lasted two years. The other requirements, including B1 and the test, still apply. | §9 StAG |
| Spouse and minor children of the applicant | Can be naturalised together with the applicant even with less than five years of residence. | §10 Abs. 2 StAG |
Source: §9 StAG (gesetze-im-internet.de) · Law as of 12 October 2026
From Checklist to Citizenship
Count your residence time
Check that you reach five years of lawful residence, or three years as the spouse of a German. Long stays abroad can interrupt the period.
Check your residence title
Make sure your current permit is one that qualifies. If you hold a permit for study or training, you usually need to change to a qualifying title first.
Get your B1 proof
Use a certificate you already hold, such as a DTZ result at B1 or a German school certificate, or pass a recognised B1 exam.
Tip: Check your existing certificates before booking an exam.
Pass the citizenship test
Book the Einbürgerungstest at a test centre named by your authority. You need 17 of 33 questions correct. The fee is €25.
Submit your application
Apply to your local Einbürgerungsbehörde. Some authorities, such as Berlin and Hamburg, ask you to apply online.
Receive your certificate
Citizenship takes effect when the naturalisation certificate is handed to you (§16 StAG).
What Does Naturalisation Cost?
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation fee, adult | €255 | §38 StAG |
| Minor child naturalised with a parent | €51 | If the child has no income of their own (§38 StAG) |
| Citizenship test | €25 | §2 EinbTestV |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not through the general fast track. The three-year route in §10 Abs. 3 StAG was abolished on 30 October 2025 with no transition period. Three years still apply to spouses and registered partners of Germans under §9 StAG, if the marriage has lasted two years.
Not under German law. Since 27 June 2024 Germany no longer requires you to give up your previous citizenship. Your home country may still withdraw its citizenship when you take another, so check its rules first.
Stays abroad of up to six months do not interrupt your residence (§12b StAG). After a longer stay, earlier residence in Germany can be counted for up to three years.
As a rule no. §10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG requires that you support yourself without benefits under SGB II or SGB XII. There are exceptions, for example if you work full-time and did so for at least 20 of the last 24 months, or you are the spouse of such a worker and live with a minor child.
Fines of up to 90 daily rates are disregarded, as are suspended prison sentences of up to three months that were remitted after probation (§12a StAG). Several sentences are added together. The exception does not apply if an antisemitic, racist or other inhumane motive was established in the judgment.
A residence permit for study does not qualify you to apply (§10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG). You need a qualifying title when you are naturalised, such as a permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card or a work permit.
Naturalisation is barred for ten years if the authority finds that you fraudulently deceived it, made threats or paid bribes, or intentionally gave or used false or incomplete information on essential requirements, for example a forged certificate (§35a StAG, in force since 24 December 2025). The same bar applies if a naturalisation has been withdrawn with final effect.
The federal government's citizenship portal says to expect 18 months or longer, depending on the individual case. Times differ between authorities, and only a few publish their own estimate.
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- §10 StAG: requirements for naturalisation (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- §9 StAG: spouses and registered partners of Germans
- §12a StAG: convictions that are disregarded
- §12b StAG: interruptions of residence
- §35a StAG: ten-year bar after deception
- §38 StAG: fees
- Federal Government: new citizenship law in force on 27 June 2024
- BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256: abolition of the three-year route
- Einbürgerungstestverordnung (EinbTestV)
- einbuergerung.de: Federal Government Commissioner for Integration (processing time)