Who has Entitlement.
The Citizenship Act recognizes four paths to German citizenship, and a clear matrix of requirements. Whoever fulfills them has a legal entitlement. No arbitrariness, no agency favor.
Six criteria. All six together.
The standard case is Anspruchseinbürgerung (naturalization by legal entitlement) under § 10 StAG. Tap what applies to you.
At least five years of uninterrupted, lawful residence in Germany with a valid Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit): Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit), Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) or Blaue Karte EU (EU Blue Card).
Documented oral and written German skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference. Proof, for example, via telc or Goethe certificate, DSH, or a German school-leaving certificate.
Independent ability to support oneself and dependants, as a rule without receiving Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance) or social assistance. The 2024 reform tightened this requirement.
The official naturalization test comprises 33 questions on law, society and life in Germany as well as the respective federal state. Passed with at least 17 correct answers.
Written commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) as well as, since the 2024 reform, to Germany's special responsibility arising from the NS (National Socialist) era and to the protection of Jewish life.
No conviction to a Freiheitsstrafe (custodial sentence) of more than three months or a Geldstrafe (fine) of more than 90 Tagessätze (daily rates). Minor convictions may, in certain cases, be disregarded.
Four paths to citizenship.
Which paragraph applies to you depends on your life situation. It determines how long you must have lived here.
Five years of lawful Aufenthalt (residence), German language skills at B1 level, secured Lebensunterhalt (means of subsistence), passed Einbürgerungstest (naturalization test) and commitment to the free democratic constitutional order. Whoever meets these requirements has a Rechtsanspruch (legal entitlement). This is the path for around 80 percent of all applicants.
Anyone married to a German citizen (Staatsbürger) can submit an Einbürgerungsantrag (naturalization application) after just three years of lawful Aufenthalt (residence). The marriage must have existed for at least two years at the time of application. The remaining requirements from § 10 apply accordingly.
When the standard requirements under § 10 are not met, the Behörde may carry out an Einbürgerung at its discretion in individual cases. This presupposes a public interest in the Einbürgerung, typically in cases of exceptional integration, scientific or cultural achievement, or where refusal would constitute a particular hardship (Härte).
Children of foreign parents born in Germany can, under certain conditions, become German citizens from birth (§ 4 Abs. 3 StAG). For former Germans and their descendants abroad, special Einbürgerung (naturalization) paths exist under §§ 13 and 14.
When your case deviates from the standard.
Five cases in which different rules apply. Tap what applies to you.
Spouses and registered partners of German citizens can naturalize after just three years of lawful residence under § 9 StAG, provided the marriage or partnership has existed for at least two years. The former shortening to 3 years for special integration achievements (§ 10 Abs. 3 StAG, former version), by contrast, was abolished without replacement effective 30 October 2025.
Persons entitled to asylum, recognized refugees, and persons with subsidiary protection are subject to the regular five-year residence requirement (§ 10 StAG); there is no shorter path based on protection status alone. They do, however, benefit from the fact that the duration of the asylum procedure is credited retroactively as lawful residence once protection status is granted (§ 55 Abs. 3 AsylG).
For former contract workers of the DDR (GDR) and first-generation guest workers, simplified proof requirements apply after the 2024 reform for the Einbürgerungstest (naturalization test) and German language skills. The background is the recognition of long-standing life achievements.
Persons with documented physical, intellectual, or psychological illness or disability may be exempted from the language proof and Einbürgerungstest (naturalization test) requirements. The authority examines the individual case on a medical basis.
Receiving Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance) does not necessarily exclude naturalization if it is through no fault of one's own: for example, single parents with caregiving duties, documented unemployment despite active efforts, or illness-related reduced earning capacity.
When Einbürgerung (naturalization) is refused.
These grounds exclude naturalization, regardless of the six criteria.
Conviction to a Freiheitsstrafe (prison sentence) of more than three months or Geldstrafe (fine) of more than 90 daily rates. Parallel proceedings or ongoing investigations generally lead to suspension of the decision.
Current or past membership in extremist organizations, support of anti-constitutional groups, public endorsement of terrorist acts, or demonstrable involvement in such activities.
Demonstrably antisemitic, racist, or otherwise inhumane acts, explicitly anchored in the law since the 2024 reform. Statements documented on social media may also be relevant.
Conducting a polygamous marriage is incompatible with the free democratic basic order and excludes naturalization. This also applies to polygamous marriages contracted abroad and continued in Germany.
Providing incorrect information in a naturalization or residence-law procedure, for example fake paternity, sham marriages, or false identity details. A naturalization that has already taken place can be revoked retroactively in these cases.
Identity must be established beyond doubt. Persons without valid identity documents or with irresolvable doubts about their identity generally cannot be naturalized, except for recognized beneficiaries of protection under certain conditions.
What changed in the new law.
Four changes that have applied since 27 June 2024.
The reduction to 3 years for exceptional integration achievements introduced with the reform was abolished again without replacement effective 30 October 2025. A uniform 5-year period now applies.
Previously, the original citizenship had to be relinquished except in specific cases. Now multiple citizenship is the rule, with no need to give up your country-of-origin citizenship.
Subsistence must in principle be secured without Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance) or social assistance. Exceptions for certain groups (pensioners, persons unable to work, single parents) exist but are more narrowly defined than before.
In addition to the commitment to the free democratic basic order, an express commitment to Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist regime of injustice and its consequences, in particular the protection of Jewish life, is now also required.
Detail pages on your situation.
Every naturalization application has its particularities, depending on country of origin, place of residence, and personal situation. These pages go deeper into the requirements for the most common constellations.
Your path to naturalization begins here.
If you meet the requirements in principle, civitas. guides you through every question of the application, in your language, ready for the authority.