Naturalization

Since 27 June 2024, you may retain your previous nationality when you naturalize. However, this does not apply if your country of origin does not allow this - if necessary, ask your diplomatic mission abroad.

Requirements

• Commitment to the free, democratic basic order of the Basic Law and to Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences
• Possession of a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit that was not issued in accordance with §§ 16a, 16b, 16d, 16e, 16f, 17, 18f, 19, 19b, 19e, 20, 20a, 22, 23a, 24, 25 paragraphs 3 to 5 and § 104c of the Residence Act
• In possession of legal, habitual residence in Germany for 5 years

Exceptions:
The required period of residence can be reduced to 3 years for Spouses or registered life partners (in accordance with the LPartG) of Germans, if the marriage or registered life partnership (in accordance with the LPartG) has existed for 2 years

• Securing their livelihood without claiming benefits in accordance with SGB II/ SBG XII
  
  Exceptions:
  - You have entered the Federal Republic of Germany on the basis of an agreement on the recruitment and placement of workers up to June 30, 1974 or as a contract worker up to June 13, 1990 in the former German Democratic Republic. You entered the former German Democratic Republic on the basis of an agreement for the recruitment of workers or as a contract worker until June 13, 1990 or as a spouse in a temporal context and are not responsible for claiming social assistance or citizen's allowance.
  or
  - You have been in full-time employment for at least 20 months in the last 24 months.
  or
  - You live as a spouse or registered partner with a person in full-time employment and a minor child in a family community
  
  
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of German (e.g. through a school, vocational or university degree from a German school or a B1 certificate)
• Proof of knowledge of the legal and social order as well as living conditions in Germany (e.g. through a school-leaving certificate from a German school or a naturalization test)
• No record of convictions in the Federal Central Criminal Register (with the exception of convictions for fines not exceeding a total of 90 daily rates) and no pending criminal or investigative proceedings
• The identity of the naturalization applicant must be proven.

Required documents

The following documents must be submitted:

• Passport or ID card, possibly also other documents/proof of identity and citizenship
• Proof of marital status, e.g. birth or parentage certificate, marriage certificate or certified copy/excerpt from the family register
• Proof of German language skills, e.g. certificate with German school leaving certificate, studies at a German-speaking university, successful completion of German vocational training, certificate of German as a foreign language (level B1)
• Certificate of having passed the naturalization test (does not apply to applicants with a German school-leaving certificate)
• Proof of income, assets and pension provision, e.g. certificate of earnings from employer, payslip, pension statement / for self-employed persons at least the last income tax assessment and proof of income for the last 6 months
• additionally for the German spouse: copy of identity card or nationality card

If you meet these essential requirements for naturalization and your habitual residence is in Rüsselsheim am Main, you can use our online service to prepare for the obligatory consultation.

Further information on the application

Spouses
If the spouse is also to be naturalized, he or she must complete a separate form.

Underage applicants
For minors under the age of 16, the application must be submitted by the parents or the parent with sole custody. Proof of sole custody must be provided.
Minors over the age of 16 must complete a separate form and submit the application themselves.