Naturalisation · City
Naturalisation in Paderborn.
Responsible authority, processing time, application route and the documents required — compiled for applicants resident in Paderborn.
Place of residence
Paderborn
Responsible authority
Kreis Paderborn — Einbürgerungsbehörde
Destination
German passport
The route in four stagesFederal state
Nordrhein-Westfalen
Your procedure follows the competence of the federal state
Submission
Online portal
Standard route: the authority's online portal
You receive
civitas application
PDF ready for the authority — completed and verifiable
In four steps · The route in Paderborn
From the check to the application.
civitas. is a digital form-filling aid. We guide you through every requirement in a structured way.
Check eligibility
Free eligibility check: length of residence, language, income, identity — along § 10 StAG.
Enter your details
Structured questions in several steps, in multiple languages. Every entry is checked for plausibility.
Compile your documents
A checklist tailored to Paderborn — which evidence, in which form.
The following documents are usually expected in Paderborn for a naturalisation under § 10 StAG. The specific list may vary from case to case — family applications require additional annexes for each person.
- Valid passport (biometric) — present all of them in case of multiple nationalities
- Residence title with evidence of at least 5 years of lawful residence
- B1 language certificate (telc, Goethe, ÖSD or DTZ) or a recognised alternative
- Naturalisation test certificate with at least 17 out of 33 points
- Proof of income for the past 12 months
- Certificate of good conduct from the German Federal Central Criminal Register
- Birth certificate with apostille and certified translation
- Marriage certificate with apostille (if married)
- Extended registration certificate to triangulate your residence history
- Tabular CV with a gapless residence history
Stopover · Not ready to start yet?
Document checklist by email
Sign up and we'll email you the document checklist for naturalisation under § 10 StAG straight away. You can start the eligibility check right now.
Arrival
Receive your application
You receive the application for Paderborn ready for the authority — completed and verifiable.
NRW-EfA-Portal via BundID-Login.
The first step is the check — free of charge and without signing upAlready applied?
Keep track of processing time and status.
Keep deadlines, processing status and § 75 VwGO options in view — the civitas. application tracker reminds you of documents to submit and translates letters from the authority.
Processing time as stated by the authority: Erste Sichtung des Einbürgerungsantrags nach derzeitigem Stand nach 6-8 Monaten; danach Aufforderung zur Nachreichung aktueller Unterlagen (Gesamt-Verfahrensdauer ist länger, nicht beziffert)
Source: Digitales Serviceportal Paderborn (Stadt Paderborn, Einwohneramt - Staatsangehörigkeiten) — Einbürgerung · As at: geprüft 2026-06-07
Authority's own assessment
Die Stadt Paderborn (Staatsangehörigkeitsstelle) gibt an, dass ein Einbürgerungsantrag "nach derzeitigem Stand" erst nach 6-8 Monaten gesichtet wird und Antragstellende dann zur Nachreichung aktueller Unterlagen aufgefordert werden - die 6-8 Monate sind also die Zeit bis zur ersten Bearbeitung, nicht die Gesamtdauer bis zur Einbürgerung, die deutlich länger ist. Die Angabe gilt nur für Einwohner der Stadt Paderborn (für das übrige Kreisgebiet ist der Kreis Paderborn zuständig, ohne vergleichbare Zeitangabe) und ist ausdrücklich als Momentaufnahme formuliert.
Naturalisations in the state · 2024
68,705
Nordrhein-Westfalen — rank 1 among the sixteen federal states. Your procedure is not an exception but everyday administrative business.
Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), Tabelle Einbürgerungen nach Bundesländern · As at: 2024
Context & references
Around Paderborn.
Federal state
Paderborn is located in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Responsibilities, particularities and all recorded authorities of the state are brought together in the overview.
More cities in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Common topics
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about naturalisation in Paderborn.
Answers to the most common questions, with reference to the responsible office.
01Where do I file the naturalization application in Paderborn?
You file the naturalization application with the naturalization authority of your city or district in Paderborn. Civitas. is not an authority — it prepares your application and all your documents in full so you can submit them to the responsible office yourself.
02Which requirements must I meet for naturalization?
For naturalization under § 10 StAG you generally need five years of lawful residence, a secure livelihood, German at B1 level, a passed Einbürgerungstest (citizenship test) and a commitment to the free democratic basic order. A clean criminal record is checked as well.
03Which documents do I need for naturalization in Paderborn?
Typically a passport, residence permit, B1 language certificate, Einbürgerungstest certificate, proof of income for the last twelve months, a police clearance certificate plus birth and, if applicable, marriage certificates with translation. Civitas. builds a complete checklist for your case.
04How long does naturalization take in Paderborn?
Processing time depends on how busy the authority is and is usually between 12 and 24 months nationwide. A complete, correctly filled-out application with all documents avoids follow-up queries and can noticeably speed up the process.
Ready to apply?
Naturalisation in Paderborn —
in four steps to your application.
civitas. guides you through all the requirements and produces the application ready for the authority — tailored to the requirements of Paderborn.
Free eligibility check
Check your eligibility in Paderborn.
The eligibility check goes through your requirements along § 10 StAG — length of residence, language, income, identity.
Free of charge and without signing up.