Citizenship Guides
Complete guide to German naturalisation under the 2024 reformed law: 5-year residence, dual citizenship now allowed, B1 German, Einbürgerungstest 33 questions.
Germany reformed its citizenship law significantly in 2024. The Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) amendments that came into force in June 2024 represent the most substantial change to German naturalisation rules in decades. The most notable changes: dual citizenship is now permitted as a general rule, and the standard residence requirement was reduced from 8 years to 5 years. If you have been waiting to apply because of the previous dual nationality restriction, those barriers are now largely gone.
Before June 2024, German citizenship generally required renouncing any previous citizenship (with some exceptions). This prevented many permanent residents from applying who did not want to give up their original passport. The 2024 reform changed this: Germany now accepts dual and multiple citizenship as the default. You do not need to renounce your other citizenship to become German.
The standard residence requirement dropped from 8 years to 5 years. The 2024 reform also created a 3-year fast track for people with "special integration achievements" (C1 German plus, for example, exceptional professional performance or civic engagement), but this route was abolished with effect from 30 October 2025. Today 5 years is the standard minimum. For spouses or registered partners of German citizens, 3 years of residence can be enough if the marriage or partnership has existed for at least 2 years.
To apply for German citizenship by naturalisation (Einbürgerung), you must meet these requirements:
Legal residency for at least 5 years. You must hold a valid residence permit or settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and have lived legally in Germany for at least 5 years immediately before applying.
Right to remain permanently. You must hold a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or an EU long-term residence permit, or otherwise be entitled to permanent residence. Applicants with only a temporary residence permit typically need to convert to a settlement permit before applying for citizenship.
Secure livelihood, no public benefits. You must be able to support yourself and your family without drawing Bürgergeld (the basic income support, formerly Hartz IV) or social assistance. Exceptions exist for cases where you are not responsible for needing support, for example, disability or long-term illness. This requirement is strictly applied.
B1 German language level. You must demonstrate German language skills at B1 level of the CEFR (§ 10 Abs. 4 StAG). This can be evidenced by the Zertifikat Deutsch (B1) or an equivalent certificate, for example the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) at B1, telc Deutsch B1, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, TestDaF or DSH, a German secondary school leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss or higher), or a university degree obtained in Germany.
Pass the Einbürgerungstest. You must pass the official naturalisation test administered by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF).
Commitment to the free democratic basic order. You must declare in writing that you support the free democratic basic order of Germany (freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung). Membership in or support for organizations opposing this order is grounds for refusal.
No serious criminal convictions. Convictions resulting in more than 90 daily rates (Tagessätze) of fines, or more than 3 months of suspended prison sentence, are generally a bar to naturalisation. Minor convictions may be disregarded.
The Einbürgerungstest is a written multiple-choice test administered at BAMF-approved test centres. The test contains 33 questions. You need to answer at least 17 of 33 correctly to pass (approximately 51%). You have 60 minutes.
The general question catalogue contains 300 questions covering three topic areas:
Living in a democratic state (Leben in der Demokratie). The German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), the division of powers, the federal structure, the Bundestag and Bundesrat, the role of the Federal President, political parties, elections, the Federal Constitutional Court, human rights and basic rights
German history and culture (Geschichte und Verantwortung). The Weimar Republic, the rise of the Nazi regime, World War II, the Holocaust, the German Democratic Republic (DDR), German reunification, post-war German society, European integration
People and society (Mensch und Gesellschaft). Social market economy, healthcare and social security systems, freedom of religion and secularism, the role of women and equality, education system, German federal states
3 of the 33 questions are specific to your federal state (Bundesland). They are drawn from a separate set of 10 questions per state (160 across all 16 states), so you study 310 questions in total: the 300 general ones plus the 10 for your state. The state questions cover the history, culture, constitution, and institutions of the state where you are applying.
The test can be retaken without limit, and there is no waiting period between attempts. If you have a German school-leaving certificate (deutscher Schulabschluss), you are exempt from the test. The test is also waived if you cannot take it because of illness, disability or age (§ 10 Abs. 6 StAG), and age-appropriate rules apply to children under 16.
Citizenship applications are handled by your local Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde (citizenship authority), typically at the Einbürgerungsbehörde within your city or Landkreis administration (Landratsamt). Some cities have dedicated Einbürgerungsstellen.
The process:
Required documents typically include: valid passport and residence permit, birth certificate (with certified German translation if not in German), proof of residence in Germany for 5+ years, proof of income and employment (payslips, tax assessments), proof of no public benefits for at least 2 years, criminal record extract (Führungszeugnis), Einbürgerungstest pass certificate, German language certificate (B1 or higher), and for married applicants, marriage certificate.
The application fee is 255 euros per adult applicant. Children of an applicant who are being included in the naturalisation pay 51 euros each. These are the federal fees; some states may have additional administrative costs.
Processing times vary significantly by city and authority. In major cities with high volumes (Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg), processing times of 12 to 24 months or more are reported after filing. In smaller cities, 6 to 12 months is more typical. The reform brought a surge in applications in 2024 to 2025 that created backlogs in many offices.
Children of non-German parents born in Germany after 23 December 2000 can claim German citizenship by birth if at least one parent has been legally residing in Germany for 5 years (previously 8 years) before the child's birth.
Descendants of Nazi persecution victims have simplified pathways to German citizenship, including Section 15 applications for restoration of citizenship and citizenship by declaration in some cases.
Zum Üben empfehlen wir 30 echte Einbürgerungstest-Fragen mit Antworten und Erklärungen oder die vollständigen Übungsserien auf CivicPass Deutschland.