Germany · Citizenship by naturalisation
Naturalisation (Einbürgerung)
Reformed
Last verified July 2026
The 2024 reform stands: 5 years instead of 8, and dual citizenship generally permitted from 27 June 2024. But the 3-year 'turbo' fast track introduced alongside it was repealed with effect from 30 October 2025 — the Bundestag voted 450 to 134. A uniform 5-year minimum now applies.
The 2024 reform was genuinely transformative — Germany went from one of Europe's most restrictive citizenship regimes to one of its more accessible ones, and crucially stopped forcing renunciation. The 2025 repeal of the 3-year track is a reminder of how fast that can partially reverse: anyone who structured a plan around C1 German and volunteering to get a passport in three years lost it within eighteen months.
The facts
- Qualifying figure
- €255
- Total landed cost
- EUR 255 per adult application plus language certification and test fees; the real cost is 5 years of residence and B1 German
- Timeline
- 60–96 months — 5 years of residence to eligibility, then processing that in many municipalities runs 12–24 months on top; Berlin and Munich backlogs are notorious
- Physical presence
- 5 years of lawful habitual residence in Germany
- Family
- spouses and minor children can generally be naturalised alongsidespouses of German citizens: 3 years of residence with at least 2 years of marriage
- Permanent residency
- Niederlassungserlaubnis generally after 5 years under §9 AufenthG, with B1 German and 60 months of statutory pension contributions; faster tracks exist for Blue Card holders and graduates
- Citizenship
- 5 years
- Language test
- B1 German plus the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest)
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- 5 years of lawful habitual residence (3 for spouses of German citizens, with 2 years of marriage)B1 German and the naturalisation testfinancial self-sufficiency without social assistancecommitment to the free democratic basic order; no serious criminal record
What can go wrong
- The 3-year fast track is gone as of 30 October 2025. Advice or marketing still referencing it is stale.
- Five years of German residence means five years of German worldwide taxation at up to 47.475%, with no expat regime — and it puts you well inside the 7-of-12-year exit tax window. The citizenship is cheap; the tax cost of qualifying for it is not.
- Naturalisation requires self-sufficiency without recourse to social benefits, B1 German and the naturalisation test.
- Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) normally requires 60 months of statutory pension contributions, which self-employed applicants often lack — this catches §21 founders in particular.
- Dual citizenship is now permitted by Germany, but your other country of citizenship may take a different view. Check both sides.