Apply for naturalisation on the basis of marriage or registered civil partnership with a person who has German citizenship

• You must be married or in a registered civil partnership with a person who has been a German citizen for at least 2 years.
• The marriage or registered civil partnership must be valid in Germany and must have existed for 2 years.
• You must have been living legally in Germany for 3 years. This period can be shortened under certain circumstances if the marriage or registered civil partnership has existed for 3 years.
• Your identity and nationality must be clarified.
• You have the capacity to act or are legally represented. Capacity to act means, for example, that you can conclude contracts.
• At the time of naturalisation you have
  • an unlimited right of residence, for example a settlement permit, or
  • another permanent residence permit
• For example, a residence permit for the purpose of studying is not suitable for naturalisation.
• You are able to provide for your own living expenses and those of your dependent family members without receiving certain public benefits.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offence.
  • If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offence, the citizenship authority will suspend the naturalisation procedure until the proceedings have been concluded.
• You have sufficient knowledge of the German language, at least at level B1. This does not apply if you are unable to fulfil this requirement due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability or due to age.
• You have civic knowledge, which you usually prove by taking a naturalisation test. This is not required if you are unable to fulfil this requirement due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability or due to age.
• You are not married to more than one person at the same time.
• They commit themselves to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law and make a declaration of loyalty. This means,
  • You do not support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities
  • If you have supported such activities in the past, you must have credibly turned your back on them.
• They acknowledge Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences, in particular
  • for the protection of Jewish life and
  • on the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging aggressive war

• Valid passport or official identity document with photograph
• valid residence permit
• Civil status documents, for example:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree or death certificate, with translation, legalisation or apostille if necessary
    • the previous wife or husband, or
    • of the previous life partner
• Proof of German citizenship of the spouse or partner, for example
  • German passport
  • German identity card
  • Extended registration information
  • Naturalisation certificate
• School, vocational, training or study qualifications obtained in Germany
• if you are a pupil: current school certificate
• if you are a student: current certificate of enrolment
• if you are employed: Employment contract and proof of income
• when you receive your pension: Pension certificate and pension insurance history that you receive from the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung)
• if you are self-employed:
  • Business registration
  • current income tax assessment
  • Proof of the profit made, for example by means of an informal certificate from the tax office on the net income or a business analysis
• Rental agreement
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of pension provision, for example
  • Property ownership
  • private life insurance
  • Pension insurance
• Proof of sufficient German language skills, for example with a B1 certificate
• Proof of civic knowledge, for example through the "Living in Germany / Naturalisation Test" certificate
• If you come to see us in person, please hand it in:
  • Their commitment to the free democratic basic order and
  • Their acknowledgement of Germany's special historical responsibility for the unjust National Socialist regime and its consequences, and
  • the signed declaration of loyalty
• Further documents may be added depending on the individual case

• § Section 9 of the Nationality Act (StAG)

There are no indications or special features.

• Naturalisation with shortened period of residence possible after 3 years of legal residence in Germany if marriage or civil partnership has existed for 2 years
• German citizenship with all rights and obligations is acquired with naturalisation
• German citizenship, for example:
  • the right to vote and stand for election in the municipalities, in the federal states and to the German Bundestag,
  • Freedom of movement within the European Union (EU), i.e.
    • move freely within the EU
    • employed or self-employed in the EU
  • travelling outside the EU without a visa to many countries

• Minor children of the applicant can also be naturalised, even if they have not yet been living legally in Germany for 3 years
• Naturalisation becomes effective upon delivery of the naturalisation certificate

• General information on naturalisation in Germany on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• Information on naturalisation on the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration
• Search function on the interpreter and translator database website
• Information on international documentary transactions on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (AA)

Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI)