Apply for naturalisation on behalf of your spouse, registered partner or minor children

Citizenship Office in your place of residence

• They must have been living legally in Germany for 5 years. If you have been married for at least 2 years, or are in a registered civil partnership, the required period of residence may be reduced to 4 years.
• Your minor child may be naturalised along with you if you have custody of the child and live with them as a family. The child to be naturalised must have been resident in the country for three years.
• Their identity and nationality have been clarified.
• 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.
• 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 due to 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
  • if this is not possible for you due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or for reasons of 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 reasonable period of time, 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:
  • Business registration,
  • 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
• tenancy agreement, if applicable
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of pension provision, for example:
  • Property ownership
  • private life insurance
  • Pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient German language skills at least at B1 level, for example with a B1 certificate
• Proof of knowledge of German citizenship, for example by means of a certificate confirming attendance at the ‘Leben in Deutschland’ integration course or the naturalisation test
• 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
• 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
• Additional documents may be required depending on the individual case

• Section 10(2) of the Nationality Act (StAG)

Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)