If you have been married to a German citizen for at least 2 years, you only need to have lived in Germany for 3 years before applying for citizenship. Refugees and asylum seekers in Germany can seek citizenship 8 years after they have been granted official asylum status and received their residence permit. Time spent in Germany before receiving asylum status generally does not count.
Most language schools and community colleges in Germany offer language courses and exams.
You can find integration courses at language schools or German community colleges, known as Volkshochschule. You may either take a full language course if you need to learn German or a much shorter culture orientation course if you’re already proficient in the language. Language courses usually take 600 hours of instruction while culture orientation courses only take 100 hours. At the end of each course, there will be an exam. Once you pass this exam, you will receive a certificate.
Children with 1 German parent and 1 parent from the UK, US, EU, or former Soviet Union can apply for dual citizenship. This means that you can be both a citizen of Germany and another country. If you do not have German parents, you cannot get dual citizenship from the US or UK, but you may still be able to get it from the EU or former Soviet countries.
To prove that you can support yourself, you may provide pay stubs, tax records, or bank statements.
If you were adopted by a German citizen, you can apply for citizenship through them. If your citizenship was revoked by the National Socialist regime (commonly known as the Nazis), you may be eligible to regain your German citizenship. This includes cases where your citizenship may have been denied at birth.
You can call +49 911 943-0 for advice from a migration specialist. This line is operated by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm.
If you are applying for citizenship while abroad, visit your closest German embassy for more information. If you are an adult, you will fill out Form F. Children under 16 should have a legal guardian fill out Form FK. If you are applying for German citizenship because you were born to or adopted by a German citizen, you will need to also fill out Appendix V. If you are unable to fill out the form yourself, you will need a Vollmacht or power of attorney to allow someone to fill it out for you.
If you are applying for German citizenship because 1 parent was a citizen, you will need to submit information regarding their citizenship as well. If you are applying for children as dependents, fill out their applications for them.
Your most recent German identification card Your most recent passport Birth certificate or certificate of parentage Marriage certificates (if you are married) Family registers or proof of relationship to a German citizenship (if you are applying for citizenship by descent) Adoption papers (if you were adopted by German citizens) Proof of financial stability, such as pay stubs, bank statements, or tax records Proof of military service in Germany or work as a civil servant (if applicable) Proof that you were a citizen stripped of citizenship by the Nazis (if applicable) Proof of language proficiency, such as a German university degree, a certificate from a language course, or a certificate from an integration course.
If the documents are not in English or German, you must have them translated by a certified translator. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees can refer you to a certified translator.
The test is completely in German. As of January 2018, it will cost €25 to take. There is a practice test online in German here: http://oet. bamf. de/pls/oetut/ If you have a degree from a German university or if you are under the age of 16, you do not have to take this test.
The length of the application process can vary based on your locality. It can take between a few weeks and a few months to get a response. At the ceremony, you will be given an oath to swear. This oath states that you will follow the laws and customs of Germany.
If your application was denied, you will receive a negative certificate in the mail. Talk to your local immigration office to see if you are eligible to reapply.
The German government has made it clear that they want to allow full dual nationality, but as of November 2021 the bill has not made its way through parliament. Do not send the original copy of your naturalization certificate. You do not have to do this if you are able to have dual citizenship with the US, UK, EU countries, and former Soviet countries. If your previous nationality does not allow you to relinquish your citizenship (as is the case with Syria, Iran, and Morocco), then you do not have to relinquish your citizenship.
You may also be asked to bring your old ID and a new passport photo with you when you apply. Do this as soon as you receive your naturalization certificate. It will take a few weeks for you to get your new identity card and passport. Applying for these as soon as possible will prevent any problems if you have to prove your citizenship.
