German citizenship by naturalisation in 2026

Most people applying for German citizenship through the standard route need five years of lawful habitual residence. Time in Germany is only one part of the test. Your identity, nationality, residence status, income, German language skills, knowledge of Germany and criminal record also matter. This guide explains the 2026 rules, the papers to collect and what happens after you apply.

What changed for naturalisation in 2026?

The main point for 2026 is easy to miss if you are reading an older guide. The standard period remains five years of lawful habitual residence under Section 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG). The former option to apply after three years because of special integration achievements was abolished with effect in October 2025. Passing C1 German, doing voluntary work or showing strong academic or professional performance does not by itself reduce the standard period to three years in 2026.

Older webpages, forum posts and videos may still describe the three-year route. Check their publication date before relying on them. A different route may apply in a special case, such as naturalisation connected with a German spouse, but that is not the abolished three-year fast track and has its own conditions.

The standard requirements under Section 10 StAG

For an entitlement to naturalisation under the standard route, the authority checks whether you meet all of the statutory conditions. In practical terms, this usually means:

• You have lived lawfully and habitually in Germany for at least five years.
• Your identity and current nationality or nationalities have been clarified.
• You have a residence status accepted by Section 10 StAG.
• You can generally support yourself and your dependent family members without benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code, unless a statutory exception applies.
• You have no criminal conviction that prevents naturalisation.
• You have sufficient German, normally level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• You can demonstrate knowledge of Germany's legal and social order and living conditions, normally by passing the citizenship test.
• You make the required declarations concerning Germany's free democratic basic order and its special historical responsibility.

These are not boxes that the authority checks only on the date you submit the form. Relevant conditions must still be met when the decision is made. Tell the naturalisation authority if your job, income, family situation, address, residence title or criminal record changes while the application is pending.

How the five-year residence period is assessed

The five years must be both lawful and habitual. Habitual residence means that Germany has genuinely been the centre of your life, not simply that you kept a registered address here. Long periods abroad can affect continuity, so list absences accurately and bring evidence if the authority asks about them.

Useful proof can include a pension insurance record, payslips, school or university certificates, training records, bank statements showing ordinary spending in Germany and records of medical appointments. Your authority may obtain registration data itself, but you should still make sure that your address history is correct. Our guide to address registration in Germany explains the Anmeldung process.

Do not assume that every lawful stay automatically produces the same result. Residence history and your status at the time of the decision are separate issues. If your record includes asylum proceedings, a tolerated stay, long absences or gaps between permits, ask the authority how it will calculate your period before paying for translations or filing an incomplete application.

Which residence permits qualify?

A settlement permit, permanent right of residence or other qualifying permanent status is usually clear evidence of an eligible status. Section 10 also accepts an EU Blue Card and certain temporary residence permits. A temporary card is therefore not automatically a problem, but not every temporary permit qualifies.

The exact legal section printed on your electronic residence title or supplementary sheet matters. Permits for skilled employment or some forms of family reunification can qualify. By contrast, Section 10 expressly excludes a series of temporary purposes. A residence permit held solely for university study under Section 16b of the Residence Act is excluded. Five years as a student do not remove that exclusion if Section 16b is still your only status when the authority decides the application.

Other excluded permit purposes are listed directly in Section 10(1)(2) StAG. Do not rely on the word “Aufenthaltserlaubnis” alone. Check the section number. If your current permit is about to expire or your purpose of residence has changed, see our guide to renewing a German residence permit.

Identity and nationality must be clarified

The authority must be able to establish who you are and which nationality or nationalities you hold. A valid national passport is the usual starting point. If you cannot obtain one, do not simply leave the issue unexplained. Provide the documents you have and evidence of your efforts to obtain missing records. Depending on the case, older passports, birth and marriage certificates, identity documents with a photograph or other official records may help.

Names, dates and places of birth should be consistent across the application, residence records and civil-status documents. If transliteration or a change of name explains a difference, add a short written explanation and the relevant certificate. Stateless applicants normally need evidence of statelessness, such as a travel document for stateless persons.

Income and the livelihood requirement

The general rule is that you must be able to cover your own living costs and those of dependent family members without benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code. The authority usually looks at employment stability, current income, housing costs, maintenance obligations and the household as a whole. An employment contract is useful, but it is not the only evidence and does not guarantee the result.

Section 10 contains specific exceptions. The livelihood condition is waived in defined circumstances for:

• certain former recruited workers who entered West Germany by 30 June 1974, former contract workers who entered the former GDR by 13 June 1990, and spouses who joined them in a close temporal connection, if they are not responsible for claiming the relevant benefits;
• an applicant who works full time and has done so for at least 20 of the previous 24 months; or
• a spouse or registered partner who lives as a family with such a full-time worker and a minor child.

Do not read these exceptions as a general promise that any employment, any child or any reason for receiving benefits is enough. The wording is specific. If you receive basic income support, our guide to Bürgergeld and basic income support explains the benefit system, but the naturalisation authority must decide whether you meet the citizenship rule or an exception.

Criminal convictions and pending proceedings

The standard rule requires that you have not been convicted of an unlawful act and that no measure of reform and prevention has been imposed because you lacked criminal responsibility. Nationality law has detailed rules on how particular convictions are treated. Do not assume that a minor matter automatically ends the application, and do not assume that an old or foreign conviction can be omitted.

Answer the form truthfully and include information the authority requests about convictions and pending investigations in Germany or abroad. A pending criminal case can delay the naturalisation decision. If your record is not straightforward, get individual legal advice before making declarations about it.

German language requirement: normally B1

The usual standard is B1 German under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Common evidence includes a recognised B1 certificate, the German Test for Immigrants, a qualifying German school certificate or a German vocational or university qualification. The authority decides whether a particular certificate is accepted.

The law provides modified requirements or exemptions for specified cases. These include certain situations involving physical, mental or psychological illness, disability, age or hardship despite serious and sustained efforts to learn German. Special rules also apply to defined groups of former recruited workers and contract workers. An exemption is not automatic; submit medical or other evidence that addresses the legal reason you rely on.

If you still need language instruction or the “Living in Germany” test, read our guide to the integration course in Germany.

The citizenship test in 2026

Most applicants prove their knowledge of Germany's legal and social order by passing the Einbürgerungstest. The test costs €25. You receive 33 multiple-choice questions and have 60 minutes to answer them. You pass with at least 17 correct answers.

Thirty questions cover “Life in a democracy”, “History and responsibility” and “People and society”. Three questions concern the federal state where you are registered. Each question has four possible answers. If you do not pass, you can take the test again.

A passed “Living in Germany” test from an integration course is also accepted as evidence. A German school, vocational-school or university qualification may make a separate citizenship test unnecessary. Other statutory exceptions can apply. Check the evidence with your authority rather than booking and paying for a test you may not need.

Declarations about democracy and historical responsibility

Applicants aged 16 or over must declare their commitment to Germany's free democratic basic order. They must also state that they do not pursue or support anti-constitutional activities, or credibly show that they have turned away from earlier support.

A separate declaration concerns Germany's special historical responsibility for National Socialist injustice and its consequences. This includes the protection of Jewish life, peaceful coexistence between peoples and the prohibition on waging a war of aggression. The authority may discuss these subjects with you during the procedure, and the commitment to the free democratic basic order must be made in writing before the certificate is handed over.

Can you keep your current citizenship?

German law generally allows multiple nationality. You normally do not have to give up your existing nationality to become German. That only answers the German side of the question.

Your present country may have different rules. It may withdraw its nationality automatically, require prior permission or attach consequences to acquiring another nationality. Check with that country's embassy or consulate before naturalisation. The German authority cannot give a binding decision about another country's nationality law.

Costs and expected processing time

The statutory naturalisation fee is €255 per person. For a minor child naturalised together with a parent, the reduced fee is €51 if the child has no own taxable income. Section 38 StAG allows a reduction or waiver for reasons of fairness or public interest, but this is discretionary rather than automatic. The €25 citizenship test fee is separate.

Budget for possible extra costs such as certified translations, document certification, passport records and travel to appointments. Ask which format the authority accepts before ordering an expensive translation.

The federal naturalisation portal says applicants should expect 18 months or longer. Processing times vary by authority and case. Missing records, unresolved identity questions, changes in income or residence status and pending criminal proceedings can add time. Filing repeated duplicate applications does not create a faster route.

Documents to prepare

Your local nationality authority decides the exact list. A typical application file includes:

• a completed and signed application form;
• a valid passport or other evidence of identity and nationality;
• your current residence title, supplementary sheet and any permanent-residence document;
• birth certificate and, where relevant, marriage certificate, divorce judgment, adoption order or evidence of a name change;
• a current registration certificate and evidence of earlier residence periods if requested;
• a tenancy agreement or other evidence of your housing situation;
• employment contract, recent payslips, tax assessment, pension insurance history and, if self-employed, business and tax records;
• evidence of your spouse's or partner's income and information about dependent family members where relevant;
• B1 language evidence or documents supporting an exemption;
• the citizenship test certificate, “Living in Germany” certificate or accepted German education certificate;
• evidence concerning periods abroad and any foreign criminal record if requested; and
• documents supporting any exception on which you rely.

Foreign civil-status documents generally need to be submitted in the original and with a certified German translation. Authentication or an apostille may also be requested depending on the document and issuing country. Make copies of everything, but do not send irreplaceable originals unless the authority tells you how they will be handled.

How to apply step by step

1. Check the five-year period and your current status. Write down your residence history, absences and every residence-title section. Do not apply on the assumption that any temporary permit qualifies.
2. Find the responsible nationality authority. This is usually identified through your city, municipality or district administration. Some authorities publish forms online or accept a digital application.
3. Ask for the local checklist. Document lists and submission methods differ. Check whether an appointment, online account or preliminary consultation is required.
4. Collect identity, residence, income, language and test evidence. Resolve inconsistent names or dates before filing where possible.
5. Submit the form and pay the requested fee. Keep a complete copy and save the digital confirmation or postal delivery record.
6. Answer requests for further evidence. Quote the file reference, meet the deadline and explain promptly if a document cannot be obtained.
7. Report material changes. A new address, job loss, changed household, new passport, residence-title change or criminal proceeding may be relevant.
8. Read the decision carefully. If approved, follow the instructions for the appointment or ceremony. You become German when the naturalisation certificate is handed over, not when the approval email arrives.
9. Apply for German identity documents. After receiving the certificate, you can apply for a German identity card and passport.

Common mistakes that delay or weaken an application

Using the old three-year rule. Special integration achievements no longer shorten the standard route to three years. Applications in 2026 should be planned around the current five-year rule unless another statutory route applies.

Confusing five years of residence with an eligible current permit. A study-only permit under Section 16b is excluded even if you have already lived in Germany for five years.

Sending only the front of the residence card. The supplementary sheet and the legal section on the permit can be essential.

Leaving identity differences unexplained. A different spelling, date or place of birth across documents can trigger questions. Explain transliteration, name changes and corrections with evidence.

Assuming any job satisfies the livelihood rule. The authority considers the household and financial situation. The 20-of-24-month exception specifically requires full-time work.

Hiding benefits, convictions or time abroad. An incomplete answer is usually more damaging than a fact that the law may already address through an exception or detailed assessment.

Letting documents expire during a long procedure. Eighteen months or longer is a realistic planning figure. Keep passports and residence documents valid and reply when updated evidence is requested.

Frequently asked questions

How long must I live in Germany before applying in 2026?

The standard requirement is five years of lawful habitual residence. The special three-year fast track was abolished with effect in October 2025. A separate statutory route may have different conditions, so do not confuse it with the former fast track.

Can I apply with a temporary residence permit?

Possibly. Some temporary permits qualify and others do not. Check the legal section printed on the card or supplementary sheet. A residence permit held only for study under Section 16b of the Residence Act is excluded by Section 10 StAG.

Does time spent studying in Germany count?

Study history may be relevant when the authority assesses residence, but the current status requirement still applies. A person whose only current title is a Section 16b study permit does not meet the status condition for the standard Section 10 route.

Do I need B1 German?

B1 is the normal standard. Accepted proof can include a recognised language certificate or certain German education records. The law has modified requirements and exceptions in specified cases involving illness, disability, age, hardship or particular historical worker groups.

How many questions are in the citizenship test?

There are 33 questions. You have 60 minutes and must answer at least 17 correctly. The test costs €25 per attempt.

What are the naturalisation fees?

The usual fee is €255 per person. It is €51 for an eligible minor child naturalised with a parent and without own taxable income. Translation, certification and the €25 test can add to the total.

Can I keep my original citizenship?

Germany generally allows multiple nationality. Your country of origin may apply different rules, including automatic loss, so check that country's law separately.

How long will the authority take?

The federal portal advises applicants to expect 18 months or longer. That is planning guidance, not a guaranteed deadline. Local workload and the details of your file affect the actual time.

What happens if my application is refused?

Read the reasons and the instructions on legal remedies in the notice. Some missing conditions can be corrected before a later application. If the refusal involves a disputed residence period, identity issue, conviction or interpretation of an exception, obtain individual advice promptly because deadlines may apply.

Official sources

• Section 10 StAG: standard entitlement to naturalisation
• Section 38 StAG: fees
• Federal government naturalisation portal: procedure, evidence and citizenship test