German Citizenship 2026: Requirements, Test and Fees
German citizenship by naturalisation rests on a short list of conditions: five years of lawful residence, a secure right to stay, German at level B1, a passed test and the ability to support yourself. The rules have changed recently, so older guides can be out of date. This one follows the Nationality Act as published on 13 October 2026, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Quick answer
You can apply for German citizenship after five years of lawful, habitual residence. You also need a permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card or another qualifying residence permit, German at level B1, a pass in the naturalisation test (17 of 33 questions), a clean criminal record and the means to support yourself and your dependants without citizen's allowance or social assistance. The fee is 255 euros per person and 51 euros for a minor child naturalised with a parent. Spouses of German citizens can apply after three years of residence if the marriage has lasted two years.
The requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What the law asks for |
|---|---|
| Residence | Five years of lawful, habitual residence in Germany |
| Residence status | A permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card, or a residence permit for a purpose that can lead to permanent residence |
| Identity | Your identity and nationality must be established, for example with a passport |
| Commitment | A declaration of commitment to the free democratic basic order and to Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist regime and its consequences, in particular for the protection of Jewish life |
| Livelihood | You support yourself and your dependants without benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code |
| Language | German at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages |
| Civic knowledge | Knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany, usually shown by the naturalisation test |
| Criminal record | No conviction for a criminal act |
The Federal Ministry of the Interior adds two points taken from the same law: applicants must not be married to more than one spouse, and must not behave in a way that shows disrespect for the equal rights of men and women.
Five years is the rule: what happened to three years
Many pages still mention naturalisation after three years for people with special integration achievements. That route is gone. Section 10 of the Nationality Act, as published on the federal law portal on 13 October 2026 and last amended by a law of 21 July 2026, opens with five years of residence, and the paragraph that used to hold the shorter period is marked as repealed. The Ministry of the Interior's own page records the Federal Cabinet's decision of 28 May 2025 to end fast-track naturalisation after legal residence of only three years.
One caution: the BAMF's English page on naturalisation, dated 30 June 2025, still describes the three-year option. Where the two differ, the law text is what your naturalisation authority applies.
Who can apply sooner
- Spouses and registered partners of German citizens: Section 9 of the Nationality Act says they should be naturalised once they have lived lawfully in Germany for three years and the marriage or partnership has lasted two years, if the general conditions are met.
- Spouses and minor children of an applicant: they can be naturalised together with the applicant even if they have not yet lived in Germany for five years.
Dual citizenship
The current Section 10 of the Nationality Act does not list giving up your previous nationality among its conditions for naturalisation. What your country of origin does when you take another nationality is a matter for that country, so check with its authorities before you apply.
The money rule and its exceptions
The basic rule is strict: no benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code. Section 10 names three groups who are exempt from it:
- people who came as recruited workers by 30 June 1974, or as contract workers in the former East Germany by 13 June 1990, and their spouses who followed them, where the claim is not their fault;
- people in full-time work who have been so for at least 20 of the past 24 months;
- a spouse or registered partner living as a family with such a full-time worker and a minor child.
The naturalisation test
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 33, each with four possible answers |
| Time allowed | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 17 correct answers |
| Topics | 30 questions on living in a democracy, history and responsibility, and people and society; three on the federal state where you live |
| Question catalogue | 310 questions: 300 general and 10 for your federal state |
| Fee | 25 euros |
| Retakes | You can repeat the test if you answer fewer than 17 correctly |
The Ministry of the Interior reports that in recent years more than 90% of applicants have passed. The BAMF's online test centre lets you practise with the full catalogue free of charge. The ministry warns that private sites offering preparation normally charge a fee.
Who does not have to take it
- Persons under 16.
- People who cannot meet the requirement because of illness, disability or age.
- Anyone who has graduated from a German school, or from German higher education in law or social, political or administrative sciences.
- Holders of the integration course certificate who scored at least 17 of 33 points in the "Life in Germany" test.
Language: what B1 means in practice
The law says the language condition is met when you fulfil the requirements of a level B1 language examination. If you attended an integration course, level B1 in the German test for immigrants (DTZ) is accepted as proof. For a child under 16, language development appropriate to the child's age is enough. The requirements are waived for people who cannot meet them because of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or because of age.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Naturalisation, per person | 255 euros |
| Minor child without own income, naturalised with a parent | 51 euros |
| Minor naturalised without parents | 255 euros |
| Naturalisation test | 25 euros |
The Nationality Act allows the fee to be reduced or waived on grounds of fairness or public interest. The BAMF notes that if you earn very little, or several children are naturalised with you, the fee can be reduced or paid in instalments.
How to apply, step by step
- Find your naturalisation authority. Ask your local government, the foreigners authority or the migration advisory services for adults or young people.
- Book an advice session. The BAMF recommends one before you apply, to clarify questions in person.
- Prove your German and pass the test. Register at a test centre; bring valid photo ID on the day.
- Collect the application form from the naturalisation authority. From your 16th birthday you apply yourself; parents apply for younger children.
- Submit the application to the authority responsible for the place where you live, and pay the fee.
People who live permanently abroad can be naturalised in exceptional cases only. For them the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne is responsible, and the local German embassy or consulate gives initial information.
Time abroad and your five years
Under Section 12b of the Nationality Act, stays abroad of up to six months do not interrupt your habitual residence in Germany. After a longer absence, earlier residence in Germany can be credited for up to three years.
Children born in Germany
A child born in Germany to foreign parents acquires German citizenship at birth if one parent has lived lawfully in Germany for five years and holds a permanent right of residence. The Ministry of the Interior notes that such children may hold German citizenship in addition to the foreign citizenship of their parents.
What citizenship gives you
- The right to vote in local, state and federal elections, and to stand for office
- An inalienable right of residence
- Eligibility for civil servant status and free choice of occupation
- EU citizenship, with freedom of movement throughout the EU
- Consular protection abroad and visa-free travel to many countries
Frequently asked questions
How many years do you need to live in Germany to get citizenship?
Five years of lawful, habitual residence under Section 10 of the Nationality Act. Spouses of German citizens can apply after three years of residence if the marriage has lasted two years.
Can I still get German citizenship after three years?
Not through the former fast-track route for special integration achievements. The current text of Section 10 marks that paragraph as repealed. A three-year period remains in Section 9 for spouses and registered partners of German citizens.
How much does German citizenship cost?
255 euros per person, and 51 euros for a minor child without own income who is naturalised with a parent. The naturalisation test costs 25 euros.
What German level is required for citizenship?
Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. For children under 16, age-appropriate language development is enough.
How hard is the German citizenship test?
You answer 33 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes and need 17 correct. The Federal Ministry of the Interior says more than 90% of applicants have passed in recent years.
Does Germany allow dual citizenship?
The current Section 10 of the Nationality Act does not list giving up your previous nationality among its conditions. Whether you keep the other nationality depends on the rules of that country.
Do I need permanent residence before applying?
Not necessarily. The law accepts a permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card, or a residence permit for a purpose that can lead to permanent residence. Permits for study and some other temporary purposes do not qualify.
Official sources
- Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz), Section 10 — gesetze-im-internet.de, the federal law portal
- Nationality Act, full text (Sections 4, 9, 12b, 38)
- Federal Ministry of the Interior — Naturalisation
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) — Naturalisation in Germany
All figures verified against the official texts above on 13 October 2026. The law text is in German; the English wording here is our own summary. Your naturalisation authority decides individual cases. Information, not legal advice.