German Citizenship Documents 2026: Complete Naturalization Checklist per § 10 StAG

Identity

• ☐ Valid passport (biometric) — original + copy. If you hold multiple nationalities, present all passports.
• ☐ Birth certificate from country of origin with apostille and certified translation
• ☐ Current address (registration certificate / Meldebescheinigung)

Which passport requirements apply per country of origin and what to do with expired passports is detailed in the article National passport application.

Residence

• ☐ Current residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis, Aufenthaltserlaubnis, or EU freedom-of-movement certificate)
• ☐ All previous residence permits in chronological order (copies)
• ☐ Extended registration certificate (erweiterte Meldebescheinigung) from the residents' registration office — lists all previous addresses
• ☐ Social security record (Sozialversicherungsverlauf) from Deutsche Rentenversicherung (free) — serves as independent triangulation

Language proof

• ☐ B1 language certificate (telc, Goethe, ÖSD, DTZ, or DSD) — original
• Alternatives: German school-leaving certificate, German vocational training, German-language university degree

Which alternatives are recognized is described in the article B1 certificate without exam.

Naturalization test

• ☐ Passed naturalization test certificate (minimum 17/33 points) — original

Livelihood

• ☐ Last 12 payslips or, for self-employed applicants, last tax assessments
• ☐ Last 3 bank statements
• ☐ Rental agreement and latest rent payment proof
• ☐ Health insurance certificate

Criminal record

• ☐ Certificate of conduct (Führungszeugnis) from the German Federal Central Register (max. 3 months old)
• ☐ For longer stays abroad: certificate of conduct from country of origin (with apostille + translation)

CV and declarations

• ☐ Tabular CV with complete residence history (personally signed)
• ☐ Declaration of commitment to the free democratic basic order (in writing)
• ☐ Loyalty declaration (Loyalitätserklärung) — signed in person at the authority appointment (do NOT sign in advance)

Detailed structure: CV for naturalization.

For spouse

• ☐ Marriage certificate with apostille and certified translation
• ☐ Own language certificate copy (B1)
• ☐ Own income documentation or proof of secured household livelihood
• ☐ Own certificate of conduct
• ☐ Own CV

For minor children

• ☐ Child's birth certificate (apostille + translation if born abroad)
• ☐ School certificate
• ☐ Current biometric photos
• ☐ From age 16: own B1 certificate + naturalization test certificate

Three family constellations in detail: Naturalizing family.

For previous marriages

• ☐ Divorce decree with finality notation (apostille + translation)
• ☐ In case of ex-partner's death: death certificate (apostille + translation)

For self-employment

• ☐ Business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung)
• ☐ Last 3 tax assessments
• ☐ Health insurance certificate as self-employed person
• ☐ Pension insurance certificate as self-employed person

For recipients of Bürgergeld (social welfare, SGB II)

• ☐ Current benefit decision (Bewilligungsbescheid)
• ☐ Written justification of inability to work through no fault of your own (if applicable)
• ☐ Fee reduction application per § 38 para. 2 StAG (significantly reduces the authority fee)

For criminal record

• ☐ Federal Central Register extract (mandatory in any case)
• ☐ If criminal proceedings pending: written statement with case number
• ☐ If record expunged: expungement certificate from BZR

For asylum or § 24 AufenthG

• ☐ Recognition decision from BAMF
• ☐ Travel document (for refugees or aliens / Reiseausweis) instead of home-country passport

For Turkish applicants (naturalized before 2024)

• ☐ Çıkma İzin Belgesi (if available, for Mavi Kart constellation B post-2024)
• Details: Mavi Kart and naturalization

Apostille

Foreign documents require an apostille under the 1961 Hague Convention. The apostille is affixed in the country of origin — typical costs 5–40 euros per document depending on the state. For non-member states, legalization by the German embassy replaces the apostille.

Certified translations

Translations must be produced exclusively by translators sworn before a German regional court (Landgericht). Online services or translations from abroad without apostille are not sufficient. Nationwide database: justiz-dolmetscher.de.

Costs 2026:

• Birth certificate: €30–60
• Marriage certificate: €30–60
• Divorce decree: €50–120
• Certificate of conduct from country of origin: €25–45

civitas. arranges translators with volume discounts — often 10–20% savings for multiple documents.

1. Missing extended registration certificate

Many applicants forget to request an extended (= historical) registration certificate — the standard Meldebescheinigung shows only the current address, not the residence history. Cost: €5–15 depending on municipality.

2. Apostille on the wrong document

The apostille is affixed to the original, not to a copy or already-translated version. Correct sequence: original → apostille → translation by German sworn translator.

3. Name-spelling discrepancies

If the passport has a different transliteration than the marriage certificate (e.g., "Yıldırım" vs. "Yildirim"), a written statement of spelling variation must be attached. Best option: consular confirmation of correct transliteration.

4. Outdated certificate of conduct

The German certificate of conduct must not be older than 3 months on the application date. If the preparation phase is long, request a new one.

5. Loyalty declaration signed in advance

The loyalty declaration is signed in person before the authority. Pre-signed declarations will be rejected.

Instead of gathering documents yourself, the civitas. wizard can collect the data in 14 structured steps and output a personalized document checklist — tailored to your federal state of residence, family constellation, and employment status. Start wizard.

Which documents are the most common stumbling blocks?

Certified translations (often missing or without apostille), the extended registration certificate, and the social security record — authorities triangulate the residence history from these three documents.

When must documents be submitted?

Usually at the time of application together with the completed EB form. Some authorities accept supplementary documents later — but this risks the application being held back until complete.

How long are documents valid?

Certificate of conduct: 3 months. Registration certificate: typically 6 months. Birth and marriage certificates: no time limit, but apostille not older than 6 months (some authorities expect recent ones).

Can I use online translations?

No. Only translations by translators sworn before a German regional court are accepted. International online services are generally not sufficient.

Is the apostille needed for German documents?

No. German documents are accepted without apostille.

What to do if a document cannot be obtained in the country of origin?

Attach a written statement of impossibility with justification. The authority decides case-by-case. For recognized refugees, the obligation to obtain home-country documents is typically reduced.

If you have submitted your application and are waiting for a decision, you can use the civitas. application tracker to monitor processing times at your local authority, plan for deadline responses, and have authority letters automatically translated. Track your application →

Related Articles:

• Check requirements
• CV for naturalization
• National passport application
• Naturalizing family

Legal Notice: Specific document lists vary by federal state and municipality. civitas. is a private application-assistance service, not an authority, not a law firm.