There are several ways in which a foreigner can obtain citizenship in Germany. In some cases, the applicant must live in the country for a certain period of time, while in others, a German passport is easier to secure.
Our immigration lawyers in Germany are at the service of those who want to move to this country and remain here until they can become citizens. You can read below about the main ways to secure German nationality.
Table of Contents
There are different ways to become a German citizen, and they all imply specific qualifications.
Here are the main ways in which one can obtain citizenship in Germany:
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Residency options | There are various ways to obtain residency in Germany, among which temporary and permanent ones are the most common |
| Ways to acquire citizenship | – Naturalization; – descent; – birth; – marriage. |
| Living requirement for citizenship by naturalization | Citizenship by naturalization is available after 8 years of living here, or 7 if an integration course is followed |
| Living requirement for citizenship by marriage | Citizenship by marriage is available after 3 years for the foreign spouse |
| Conditions for citizenship by ancestry | Ancestry based on the relation with a parent or grandparent is a way to obtain German citizenship |
| Citizenship by investment availability (YES/NO) | No, Germany does not have a citizenship by investment scheme |
| Special requirements for EU citizens (if any) | No |
| Special citizenship requirements for non-EU citizens (if any) | No, non-EU citizens are subject to the same criteria as EU nationals |
| Documents to obtain citizenship by naturalization | – Proof of residency or ancestry; – proof of proficiency in German language; – clean criminal record; – proof of self-sustenance. |
| Timeframe for obtaining citizenship | A few weeks |
| Access to dual citizenship (YES/NO) | A new law allows dual citizenship |
| Benefits after obtaining German citizenship | – Voting rights; – work, study, and open a business without restrictions; – become the holder of one of the strongest passports in the world |
| Fastest way to secure citizenship | Ancestry is the fastest way to German citizenship as it does not require living here |
| Best way to obtain citizenship in Germany | Marriage is the best way to acquire citizenship in Germany |
| Support in filing for citizenship (YES/NO) | Yes, we offer support in applying for German citizenship. |
The criteria and procedures for obtaining German citizenship through each of the channels can be explained in detail by our immigration law firm.
Naturalization implies living in Germany for a legal period of time to obtain citizenship, as well as getting accustomed to the language, culture, and lifestyle of the German people. Subsequently, you must have lived in Germany for a minimum of 8 years in order to be eligible for citizenship by naturalization. However, you just need 7 years of German residency if you completed an integration course.
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, you must also meet one of the following conditions in order to obtain a German passport:
Citizenship by naturalization is one of the safest ways to secure a passport for this country, and if you need assistance with the application, do not hesitate to get in touch with our German immigration lawyer.
The rules of the German Nationality Law had been changed and the Act to Modernise Nationality Law officially entered into force on June 27, 2024. The main changes that were made regarding the process of acquiring citizenship in Germany were the acceptance of multiple citizenships, the shorter residency requirement for citizenship, from 7 to 5 years, and stricter anti-racist requirements.
You can now own dual or multiple citizenship in Germany, which represents a great step forward for the German legal system and a major benefit for those who immigrate to Germany. The acceptance of dual citizenship now changed the laws regarding the citizenship by descent too.
The Fast-Track Naturalisation Option was changed too. In the past, this option required 5 years of legal residency in Germany, but now skilled workers and those who follow the special programme who relocate to Germany can only reside here for 3 years before getting their citizenship.
Marriage is another route to German citizenship. However, this also implies going through the naturalization process. The main distinction is that the required residence period in Germany is 3 years. Also, additional requirements imply to:
Moreover, the couple must also submit proof that:
This is one of the simplest ways to obtain citizenship in Germany. Our specialists in immigration can help you apply for a passport this way.
If you need information about the other ways through which you can obtain a German passport, you can set up a meeting with our immigration lawyers in one of our offices.
A child that has at least one parent who is a German citizen at the time of their birth, regardless of the child’s birthplace, automatically obtains the citizenship by descent. People that are interested in immigrating to Germany through citizenship by descent should be aware of the “Generational Cut-Off Point”.
This rule applies to children born to German parents who are themselves the second generation born abroad. If the German parent was born abroad after December 31, 1999, and the child is also born abroad and acquires another citizenship at birth, the child does not automatically get German citizenship. The parents need to register the birth at a German registry office before the child’s first birthday to ensure the child acquires German citizenship.
Before January 1, 2000, the German citizenship law was based almost completely on the ‘right of blood’, meaning anyone born before January 1, 2000 is automatically a German citizen, regardless of the country they were born in.
The biggest exception is if you were born between April 1, 1953, and December 31, 1974 to a German mother and a non-German father. At the time, citizenship was only passed automatically through the father, meaning that, if you are in this situation, you do not have German citizenship. However, since August 2021 the people in this situation have the right to apply for the citizenship. If you need help in this situation or any other scenario regarding citizenship, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Germany.
We present you a short comparison between obtaining citizenship in Austria and Germany:
Germany is one of the most if not the most appealing EU countries to move to. This is also reflected in the increasing numbers of foreigners established here in recent years. In numbers:
Obtaining citizenship in Germany can be complicated at times and working with a lawyer will make the process easier and quicker. If you meet the eligibility criteria for citizenship in Germany, contact us for assistance with the application!