German citizenship requirements: the complete overview

To become a German citizen by naturalisation, you need at least five years of lawful residence in Germany and a residence status that is meant to be permanent at the time you naturalise. You also need B1 German, a pass in the citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest), enough income to live without Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld) or social assistance, and a clarified identity. You must commit to Germany's constitutional order, and there must be no relevant criminal convictions or other grounds for exclusion. If you meet every requirement, Section 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG) gives you a legal entitlement to naturalisation – the authority has no discretion to refuse.

The requirements at a glance

Residence: five years and the right permit

Since 27 June 2024, five years of lawful habitual residence are enough – it used to be eight. “Habitual” means Germany is genuinely where you live, not just somewhere you visit. When you naturalise, you also need a status intended to be permanent, for example:

• a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU)
• an EU Blue Card
• a residence permit that can lead to permanent residence

Some temporary permits don't qualify, such as a residence permit for studying, vocational training, job-seeking or temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act – the status many refugees from Ukraine hold. EU and Swiss citizens rely on free movement instead of a permit.

The 3-year “turbo” route no longer exists: it was abolished with effect from 30 October 2025, and Section 10(3) StAG has been repealed. No transitional rule for applications filed before that date has been officially confirmed, and a first administrative court has already judged such an application under the new law – ask your authority. The background is in our guide to German citizenship after 3 years.

B1 German and the citizenship test

You must prove German at B1 level of the Common European Framework (Section 10(4) StAG). Typical proof is the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) at B1, a Goethe, telc or ÖSD certificate at B1 with all modules, or any higher certificate. Some people don't need an exam at all: a German Hauptschulabschluss or higher, four years of successful attendance at a German-language school, or a degree or vocational training completed in Germany in German also count. English-taught degree programmes don't count automatically. Children under 16 only need age-appropriate German, and some naturalisation authorities run their own language test. Every option is explained in the German language requirement for citizenship.

Your knowledge of the legal system, society and everyday life in Germany is tested in the Einbürgerungstest: 33 questions, 60 minutes, pass mark 17. Each attempt costs €25, and you can retake it as often as you need. The “Leben in Deutschland” test from the integration course counts too if you score at least 17 out of 33. Children under 16, people with a German school-leaving qualification and graduates of a German degree in law, social sciences, political science or public administration are among those exempt – see who doesn't have to take the citizenship test. To see where you stand, take a practice exam with the real questions.

Income: only three exceptions left

You must be able to support yourself and any dependants without Grundsicherungsgeld (SGB II) or social assistance (SGB XII). Since 27 June 2024 the law allows only three exceptions:

• Guest worker and contract worker generation: you came to West Germany under a recruitment agreement by 30 June 1974, or to the GDR as a contract worker by 13 June 1990 (or joined such a spouse), and you are not responsible for needing benefits.
• Full-time workers: you currently work full-time and have done so for at least 20 of the last 24 months.
• Families with a child: you live as a spouse or registered partner with such a full-time worker and a minor child.

The old general rule that benefits don't count against you if you're not to blame has gone. People who receive benefits and don't fit an exception – some pensioners, single parents, carers or people with disabilities, for example – can only hope for discretionary naturalisation (see below). More detail in the income requirement for German citizenship.

No relevant criminal record

As a rule, you must not have been convicted of a criminal offence. Under Section 12a StAG, however, the following are disregarded:

• educational or disciplinary measures under juvenile criminal law
• fines of up to 90 daily rates (Tagessätze)
• prison sentences of up to three months that were suspended and then remitted after probation

Several sentences are added together; if the total is only slightly over the limit, the authority decides case by case. If a court found an antisemitic, racist or otherwise inhumane motive, any conviction rules out naturalisation. Foreign convictions can count as well under certain conditions, and if you are under investigation, the authority waits for the outcome before deciding. See German citizenship with a criminal record.

Commitment to the Basic Law and exclusion grounds

During the procedure you sign a commitment to the free democratic basic order and a loyalty declaration, confirming that you don't pursue or support activities against the constitution. Since 27 June 2024 you also commit to Germany's special historical responsibility for the Nazi regime and its consequences – in particular the protection of Jewish life, the peaceful coexistence of nations and the ban on wars of aggression. Acts with an antisemitic, racist or otherwise inhumane motive are explicitly incompatible with this. Children under 16 don't make these commitments or the loyalty declaration, and they don't take the citizenship test either (Section 10(1), second sentence, StAG).

Under Section 11 StAG, naturalisation is excluded if, for example, you are married to more than one person at the same time, your behaviour disregards the equal rights of men and women, you support extremist activities, or your commitment isn't genuine. A circular from the Federal Ministry of the Interior dated 18 August 2025 says authorities should normally hold a personal interview – partly to check that you understand what you are signing. What you should be able to explain there is covered in the loyalty declaration explained. And since 24 December 2025, anyone who deceives, threatens, bribes or knowingly gives false information during the procedure is barred from naturalisation for ten years (Section 35a StAG).

Identity and dual citizenship

Your identity and nationality must be clarified, usually with a valid passport. Since 27 June 2024 you generally no longer have to give up your current citizenship – Germany accepts multiple nationality. Whether you keep it, though, depends on your other country's law: some countries revoke it or require permission. Check with its embassy before you apply, and read our guide to dual citizenship in Germany.

Special cases and discretionary naturalisation

• Spouses of Germans (Section 9 StAG): you should be naturalised after just three years of lawful residence if the marriage or registered partnership has lasted two years. B1, the test, income and the other conditions still apply – see German citizenship through marriage.
• Joint naturalisation (Section 10(2) StAG): your spouse and minor children can be naturalised with you even if they haven't lived here for five years. From 16, children file their own application – see German citizenship for children.
• Illness, disability, age: if you can't reach B1 or pass the test for these reasons, you are exempt (Section 10(6) StAG). This isn't at the authority's discretion – it applies by law, though you usually need a medical report to prove it. The guest worker and contract worker generation needs only spoken everyday German and no test – see German citizenship for older people.

If something is missing: discretionary naturalisation

If you don't meet every requirement, the authority can still naturalise you under Section 8 StAG. This is discretionary naturalisation (Ermessenseinbürgerung): you have no entitlement, and the authority looks at your individual case. It can waive the income requirement and the clean-record requirement in the public interest or to avoid particular hardship. Your identity and nationality must still be clarified, and you need your own home or other accommodation. It is not a way around the residence and language rules, though: under the Federal Interior Ministry's guidance on the Nationality Act (in German), authorities normally still expect five years of residence, a suitable residence status, B1 German and the citizenship test. If this applies to you, talk to your naturalisation authority early.