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Apply for naturalization

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Schleswig-Holstein (Linie6Plus)

Service Description

If you have lived in Germany for at least five years, you can be naturalized and receive German citizenship under certain conditions.

If you are a foreigner living in Germany, you can obtain German citizenship under certain conditions.

With German citizenship, you will then also receive a German passport and may also stay in Germany indefinitely.

You may retain your previous citizenship.


Process flow
  1. You contact the naturalization authority responsible for your place of residence to apply for naturalization and, if necessary, to obtain advice. If you are not sure which naturalization authority is responsible for you, you can research this at www.zufish.schleswig-holstein.de.
  2. Your naturalization authority will check your application and the evidence you have submitted. If evidence is missing, the naturalization authority will request it from you. This can also happen during the ongoing naturalization process, for example if an update is required.
  3. Once your application and the evidence you have submitted have been checked, you will receive a notification from your naturalization authority as to whether you can be naturalized.
Who should I contact?

Naturalization authorities of the districts and independent cities

Requirements
  • You have been living in Germany for five years.
  • Your identity and previous nationality have been clarified.
  • You are committed to the free and democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You acknowledge Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences, in particular for the protection of Jewish life, as well as for the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging a war of aggression.
  • You have an unlimited right of residence or a permanent residence permit.
  • You can finance the cost of living for yourself and your dependent family members. This includes your spouse and, for example, your children for whom you pay maintenance.
  • You must not have been convicted of a criminal offense.
  • You have sufficient knowledge of German, at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
  • There are no other reasons that would prevent naturalization, such as disregarding the equal rights of men and women or a polygamous marriage.
Which documents are required?

For proof of:

of identity and nationality:

  • Passport of the country of origin or recognized identity card/ID card of the country of origin

for marital status:

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce certificate

the right of residence:

  • Electronic residence permit

the housing situation:

  • Current rental agreement and proof of rent actually paid

OR

  • Purchase contract for residential property and proof of monthly loan payments and proof of monthly operating/ancillary costs and heating costs

of maintenance:

  • For self-employed persons: Income tax statements, proof of existing health and long-term care insurance, proof of pension provision
  • For employees: Employment contract, payslips

For language skills B1 CEFR:

  • German B1 language certificate

OR

  • German school-leaving certificate from secondary school, secondary modern school, vocational school or technical school certificate

OR

  • Four years of successful attendance at a German-speaking school (promotion to the next higher grade)

OR

  • Proof of promotion to the 10th grade of a German secondary school (Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule)

Knowledge of the German legal and social system:

  • Passed naturalization test

OR

  • Passed the "Life in Germany" test

OR

  • German school-leaving certificate from a secondary school, secondary modern school, vocational school or technical school certificate
What are the fees?
  • Naturalization fee: 255,00 Euro,
  • for underage children to be naturalized without own income: 51,00 Euro
Legal basis

§ 8ff Nationality Act (StAG)

Appeal
  • Objection to the naturalization authority
  • Action before the administrative court
Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Teaser

If you have lived in Germany for at least five years, you can be naturalized and receive German citizenship under certain conditions.

Process flow

  1. You contact the naturalization authority responsible for your place of residence to apply for naturalization and, if necessary, to obtain advice. If you are not sure which naturalization authority is responsible for you, you can research this at www.zufish.schleswig-holstein.de.
  2. Your naturalization authority will check your application and the evidence you have submitted. If evidence is missing, the naturalization authority will request it from you. This can also happen during the ongoing naturalization process, for example if an update is required.
  3. Once your application and the evidence you have submitted have been checked, you will receive a notification from your naturalization authority as to whether you can be naturalized.

Who should I contact?

Naturalization authorities of the districts and independent cities

Requirements

  • You have been living in Germany for five years.
  • Your identity and previous nationality have been clarified.
  • You are committed to the free and democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You acknowledge Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences, in particular for the protection of Jewish life, as well as for the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging a war of aggression.
  • You have an unlimited right of residence or a permanent residence permit.
  • You can finance the cost of living for yourself and your dependent family members. This includes your spouse and, for example, your children for whom you pay maintenance.
  • You must not have been convicted of a criminal offense.
  • You have sufficient knowledge of German, at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
  • There are no other reasons that would prevent naturalization, such as disregarding the equal rights of men and women or a polygamous marriage.

Which documents are required?

For proof of:

of identity and nationality:

  • Passport of the country of origin or recognized identity card/ID card of the country of origin

for marital status:

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce certificate

the right of residence:

  • Electronic residence permit

the housing situation:

  • Current rental agreement and proof of rent actually paid

OR

  • Purchase contract for residential property and proof of monthly loan payments and proof of monthly operating/ancillary costs and heating costs

of maintenance:

  • For self-employed persons: Income tax statements, proof of existing health and long-term care insurance, proof of pension provision
  • For employees: Employment contract, payslips

For language skills B1 CEFR:

  • German B1 language certificate

OR

  • German school-leaving certificate from secondary school, secondary modern school, vocational school or technical school certificate

OR

  • Four years of successful attendance at a German-speaking school (promotion to the next higher grade)

OR

  • Proof of promotion to the 10th grade of a German secondary school (Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule)

Knowledge of the German legal and social system:

  • Passed naturalization test

OR

  • Passed the "Life in Germany" test

OR

  • German school-leaving certificate from a secondary school, secondary modern school, vocational school or technical school certificate

What are the fees?

  • Naturalization fee: 255,00 Euro,
  • for underage children to be naturalized without own income: 51,00 Euro

Legal basis

§ 8ff Nationality Act (StAG)

Appeal

  • Objection to the naturalization authority
  • Action before the administrative court

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

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