Apply for discretionary naturalisation

Citizenship Office in your place of residence

The following minimum requirements apply to discretionary naturalisation:

• You must have been living legally in Germany for 5 years. The required period of residence may be reduced in certain circumstances, for example, if your spouse, registered partner or minor children are also granted citizenship.
• Their identity and nationality must be established.
• You have legal capacity or are legally represented. In the naturalisation process, you are generally deemed to have legal capacity if you have reached the age of 16.
• At the time of naturalisation, you hold a right of residence for an indefinite period, for example:
  • a settlement permit, or
  • another long-term residence permit.
  • For example, a residence permit issued for the purpose of studying is not eligible for naturalisation.
• In principle, you are able to provide for your own livelihood and that of your dependants without receiving benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code. For reasons of public interest or to avoid particular hardship, the requirement to be able to support yourself may be waived.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offence by a final judgement. If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offence, the citizenship authority will suspend the naturalisation procedure until the proceedings have been concluded.
• You have a sufficient command of the German language, at least at B1 level. This does not apply, for example, if
  • You are unable to meet this requirement due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or because of your age.
  • If you entered the country as a guest worker by 30 June 1974, or as a contract worker by 2 October 1990, or if you followed that person as their spouse within the relevant timeframe, it is sufficient if you are able to communicate orally in German without any significant difficulties in everyday life.
  • In the case of children under the age of 16, age-appropriate language development is sufficient.
• You have a knowledge of civics. You do not need to provide evidence of your knowledge of civics if
  • you are unable to do so because of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or due to old age, or
  • you entered the country as a guest worker on or before 30 June 1974, or you joined them as their spouse within a relevant timeframe, or
  • You entered the country as a contract worker on or before 2 October 1990, or you joined them as their spouse shortly afterwards.
• They are not married to more than one person at the same time and do not engage in any behaviour that disregards the equality of men and women as enshrined in the Basic Law.
• They pledge their commitment to the free democratic basic order enshrined in the Basic Law and make a declaration of loyalty. This means that,
  • They do not support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities.
  • If you have supported such activities in the past, you must have credibly distanced yourself from them.
• They acknowledge Germany’s particular historical responsibility for the Nazi regime of oppression and its consequences, in particular
  • for the protection of Jewish life, and
  • for the peaceful coexistence of peoples and
  • the prohibition on waging a war of aggression.

• Application for naturalisation
• a valid passport or official identity document with a photograph
• valid residence permit
• Civil status documents, for example:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • where applicable, a divorce decree or death certificate, with a translation, legalisation or apostille where required
    • the former spouse, or
    • the previous civil partner
• if you are at school: a current school certificate
• if you are a student: a current certificate of enrolment
• if you are in employment: your employment contract and proof of income
• if you are in receipt of a pension: your pension notification and pension insurance history, which you will receive from the German Pension Insurance Scheme
• if you are self-employed, for example:
  • most recent income tax assessment,
  • Proof of the profit made, for example in the form of an informal certificate from the tax office stating net income or a business analysis
  • Proof of health insurance cover
  • Proof of pension provision, in particular:
    • Property ownership
    • private life insurance
    • Pension insurance
  • Business registration
• tenancy agreement, if applicable
• Proof of pension provision, for example:
  • Property ownership,
  • private life insurance or
  • Pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of German, for example through a B1 certificate or a school, vocational, apprenticeship or university qualification obtained in Germany
• Proof of knowledge of German citizenship, for example by having successfully passed a naturalisation test, or by having achieved at least 17 points in the ‘Leben in Deutschland’ test, or by holding a school-leaving certificate, vocational qualification, apprenticeship certificate or university degree obtained in Germany
• for minors: proof of custody, for example, in the case of divorced or unmarried parents, by means of a custody order
• in cases of joint parental responsibility: a declaration of consent from the other parent with parental responsibility
• When you come in person, please hand in:
  • Their commitment to the free democratic basic order and
  • Their commitment to acknowledging Germany’s special historical responsibility for the Nazi regime of oppression and its consequences, as well as
  • Your declaration of loyalty
• Additional documents may be required depending on the individual case. Please seek advice from your local citizenship authority on this matter.

• Section 8 of the Nationality Act (StAG)

Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)