Naturalisation is a state matter.
The Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG, Nationality Act) applies in the same way across Germany. The application, however, goes to the Einbürgerungsbehörde where you live, and every federal state uses its own administrative regulation to set which documents are required and how long it takes.
A schematic arrangement, not a map to scale. North at the top, west on the left. The fill shows the number of Einbürgerungsbehörden in the directory.
The range is an observed value, not an official figure and not a commitment. Only the information given by your authority is binding.
Your authority
Type a town or district, or select a state on the map above.
Same law, sixteen interpretations.
The Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz is federal law. The requirements for naturalisation are the same throughout Germany.
The federal level sets the requirements
Length of residence, means of support, language level and the declaration of commitment are laid down in the StAG and apply in the same way everywhere. No state changes that.
The state governs how it is carried out
Through its own administrative regulation: which proofs are required in practice, whether an online portal exists and how strictly means of support is interpreted.
The municipality decides
The application goes to the Einbürgerungsbehörde where you live. It reviews it, it asks for what is missing, it decides.
That is why it is worth looking at your state before you put your documents together.
Find your authorityAll 103 Einbürgerungsbehörden.
Ordered by federal state. Every authority has its own page with the local particularities.
Nordrhein-Westfalen28 authorities
Bayern11 authorities
Hessen9 authorities
Berlin1 authority
Hamburg1 authority
Niedersachsen9 authorities
Baden-Württemberg14 authorities
Bremen2 authorities
Rheinland-Pfalz6 authorities
Saarland1 authority
Sachsen-Anhalt4 authorities
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern3 authorities
Not sure whether you qualify for naturalisation?
The civitas. requirements check tells you in three minutes whether you meet every requirement under § 10 StAG. Free, no sign-up.