🇩🇪 How to Obtain German Citizenship? Application Guide (2026)

On this page prepared by Marsel Visa, you can find up-to-date and comprehensive information about German citizenship and the German citizenship application. If you are looking for citizenship consultancy services, you can benefit from Marsel Visa's experience with individual applicants.

What are the requirements for German citizenship, how to pass the exam, how much is the fee? Manage your German citizenship process with accurate information through Marsel Visa.

German citizenship is one of the most frequently asked questions and the topic with the most misinformation for those who settled in Germany from Turkey years ago or have been living there for a long time with a residence permit; especially due to the legal changes that will come into effect in 2024 and 2025, many online resources have now become outdated. For individuals who are not citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, the transition to citizenship is an official process that requires the simultaneous fulfillment of conditions such as a certain period of legal residence, language proficiency, and financial security. At Marsel Visa, we are with you in this process; in this guide, we clarify every point you are curious about, from the most frequently asked question "Has citizenship been removed in 3 years?" to current fees.

Why is Obtaining German Citizenship Confusing?

There are concrete reasons why the German citizenship process is perceived as so confusing:

• Frequent and recent legislative changes: Dual citizenship was allowed in June 2024, and the 3-year accelerated path was removed in October 2025; many online resources published between these changes have now become outdated.
• Confusion between different paths: Acquisition by birth, acquisition through marriage, and naturalization (Einbürgerung) are subject to different timeframes and conditions; applicants who do not know which path applies to them may have incorrect expectations.
• Processing times vary from city to city: The same application may be resolved in a few months in one city while taking over two years in another city; this uncertainty makes planning difficult.
• The intersection of dual citizenship and Turkish legislation: Although Germany now allows dual citizenship, the processes for renouncing Turkish citizenship and the Blue Card are subject to separate legislation; it is unclear how these two systems overlap.
• Lack of knowledge about the concrete content of exam and language requirements: Information circulating about the format of the naturalization exam and the required level of German is often incomplete or incorrect.

What is German Citizenship, and How is it Obtained?

German citizenship is an official status that provides individuals with full legal status in Germany, the right to free movement within the EU, the right to vote and be elected, and the end of dependency on the Foreigners' Office. This citizenship can be obtained through three main paths.

Acquisition by birth: If one of the parents is a German citizen, the child is a German citizen by birth. Additionally, a child born in Germany to foreign parents acquires German citizenship at birth if one of the parents has been legally and regularly residing in Germany for at least 5 years at the time of birth and holds a permanent residence permit.

Naturalization (Einbürgerung): It is the process by which foreigners who have legally resided in Germany for a certain period and meet the necessary conditions can obtain citizenship through application; this is the main subject of this guide.

Acquisition through marriage: Individuals who are married to or in a registered partnership with a German citizen can apply for citizenship in a shorter time than the standard 5-year requirement if the marriage has lasted at least 2 years and they have legally resided in Germany for at least 3 years.

Has Citizenship in 3 Years Been Abolished? What Did the 2025 Reform Bring?

Yes, the possibility of transitioning to citizenship in 3 years through "superior integration success" (besondere Integrationsleistungen) has officially been abolished as of October 30, 2025. This regulation was introduced with the 2024 reform and allowed individuals with C1 level German proficiency and superior academic or professional achievements or voluntary social contributions to apply after 3 years of residence instead of the standard 5 years. However, since this "accelerated citizenship" pathway has been removed, even if you have demonstrated superior achievements, you must fulfill the standard 5-year legal residence requirement. Since there is no transitional provision for this change in the law, applications that have not yet been decided will also be evaluated according to the new regulations.

An important distinction: this removal only applies to the period reduced to 3 years through "superior achievement." The 3-year exception for those married to a German citizen (StAG §9) is still valid and has not been affected by this change; that is, those applying through their spouse can still apply after 3 years.

What is Required to Obtain Citizenship in Germany? (Conditions)

To obtain citizenship in Germany, all of the following conditions must be met.

• Residence duration: Legal and regular residence in Germany for at least 5 years (3 years for those applying through marriage).
• Clarified identity and nationality: Proof of identity and citizenship with a valid national passport or equivalent official document.
• Proof of livelihood: Ability to support oneself and any family members for whom one is responsible without receiving social assistance (Bürgergeld) or similar government aid.
• Language proficiency: At least B1 level knowledge of German, both spoken and written.
• Citizenship knowledge: Being knowledgeable about Germany's legal and social order; this is usually proven by the naturalization test.
• Commitment to the constitutional order: A written or verbal declaration of commitment to the liberal democratic basic order.
• Clean criminal record: No criminal convictions exceeding a certain threshold.
• Appropriate residence permit: Holding an unlimited residence permit, a limited but citizenship-eligible residence permit, or an EU Blue Card.

How to Apply for German Citizenship? Step by Step

First step: Preliminary consultation and eligibility check. Obtaining a consultation meeting from the competent Citizenship Office (Einbürgerungsbehörde) before applying clarifies many questions and prevents applications with incomplete preparation.

Second step: Obtaining and filling out the application form. The application form is obtained from the Citizenship Office in the place of residence. Individuals aged 16 and over can apply themselves; applications for children under 16 are made by parents.

Third step: Collecting the necessary documents. Pasaport, doğum belgesi, adres kaydı, gelir belgeleri, B1 dil sertifikası ve vatandaşlık sınavı sonuç belgesi gibi belgeler eksiksiz hazırlanmalıdır.

Fourth step: Completion of the citizenship exam. The exam can be taken at any desired time, independent of the application; having this document ready before the application speeds up the process.

Fifth step: Signing the declaration of constitutional loyalty. A declaration of loyalty to the liberal democratic order is signed at the Citizenship Office; in some states, this commitment can also be given verbally.

Sixth step: Evaluation and delivery of the citizenship document. After the application is reviewed and all conditions are confirmed to be met, the citizenship document (Einbürgerungsurkunde) is issued, and with this document, applications for a German identity card and passport can be made.

Naturalization Test (Einbürgerungstest)

The naturalization test is an official test that proves you have knowledge of Germany's legal and social order and living conditions. The exam consists of 33 questions; 30 of these are related to "Living in Democracy", "History and Responsibility", and "Human and Society", while 3 pertain to the state of residence. The exam duration is 60 minutes and each question has 4 options from which the correct answer is marked; at least 17 correct answers are required to pass the exam. The exam fee is 25 Euro' and it is taken by registering at the test centers of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Those with a German school diploma and those who cannot take the exam due to physical, mental, or psychological disabilities may be exempt from this exam.

How much is German Citizenship in TL / Euro?

The official fee for the German citizenship application is 255 Euro per person.'for. The fee for minors who are granted citizenship together with their parents is 51 Euro' ; however, the fee for minors applying independently without their parents remains 255 Euro. In cases of low income or when applying with multiple children, a fee reduction or installment payment option may be requested. Additionally, a 25 Euro citizenship exam fee and, if necessary, language certificate costs are added to these amounts.

Since it varies according to the current exchange rate against the Turkish lira, the calculation must be made based on the current rate on the application date.

How Long Does the Application Take to Process?

Almanya vatandaşlık başvurusunun işlem süresi, 2024 reformu sonrası başvuru sayısındaki artışla birlikte belirgin şekilde uzamıştır ve şehirden şehire çok büyük farklılık gösterir. Genel olarak işlem süresi 6 ay ile 24 ay arasında değişmekle birlikte, bazı yoğun büyük şehirlerde bu süre 2-3 yılı bulabilmektedir; küçük şehir ve ilçelerdeki Vatandaşlık Daireleri ise görece daha hızlı sonuçlanabilmektedir. Bu süreye, başvuru için randevu alma bekleme süresi de eklenmelidir; büyük şehirlerde randevu bekleme süresi tek başına birkaç ayı bulabilir. Dolayısıyla toplam süreci gerçekçi şekilde planlarken at least 1 year it would be accurate to predict.

Dual Citizenship and Its Relation to Turkish Citizenship

As of June 27, 2024, Germany generally allows dual citizenship. After this date, individuals who acquire German citizenship are no longer required to renounce their Turkish citizenship; the process of "Turkish Citizenship Renunciation Permit" (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung) that was valid in the previous period has also been abolished.

This change is not retroactive; that is, the old rules remain valid for citizenship losses or gains that occurred before June 27, 2024. The situation of individuals who have previously lost Turkish citizenship and now wish to become dual citizens should be evaluated based on the date of the relevant transaction; therefore, clarifying individual circumstances is important.

Additionally, military obligations for Turkish citizens are a separate issue: There is an established practice regarding the mutual recognition of military service between Germany and Turkey, but there is no official bilateral agreement on this matter between the two countries.

Special Cases for Spouses and Children

Individuals who are married to a German citizen or in a registered partnership, if the marriage/partnership has lasted at least 2 years and have legally resided in Germany for at least 3 years can apply earlier, exempt from the standard 5-year residence requirement. In this case, all other conditions (sufficient German language proficiency, proof of financial means, declaration of commitment to a liberal democratic order) must also be met.

Children born to foreign parents in Germany acquire German citizenship by birth if at least one of their parents has been legally residing in Germany for more than 5 years at the time of birth and has permanent residency rights, and they can also retain their parents' citizenship.

Tips for a Fast and Smooth Citizenship Application

1. Take the citizenship test before applying: The test can be taken at any time independently of the application process; having this document on hand prevents delays in the assessment at the Citizenship Office.
2. Obtain your B1 language certificate from a recognized institution (Goethe, telc), ensuring there are no questions about the validity of the certificate speeds up the process.
3. Keep your income and insurance documents up to date: Documents such as pay slips, tax returns, and pension insurance statements must be complete and current; missing income documents are one of the most common reasons for delays.
4. Create your appointment request as early as possible, as the waiting time for appointments in large cities can take months.
5. Research the processing time in your city in advance, as intercity time differences within the same country can be years, consider this information if you have plans to move.
6. Clarify your dual citizenship rights after June 27, 2024, do not unnecessarily initiate the process of renouncing Turkish citizenship; this is no longer mandatory.
7. If you have the right to apply through your spouse, consider it, as the opportunity to apply after 3 years instead of the standard 5 years can provide significant time savings.
8. Avoid receiving social assistance or at least document that you have worked full-time for at least 20 months in the last 24 months., this exception may help you meet the income security requirement.

👉 Planning these steps in the correct order can prevent the process from dragging on for years — if you want to expedite your citizenship process, you can contact Marsel Visa. ile iletişime geçebilirsiniz.

📂 Just Preparing Documents Is Not Enough Determining the correct path for your application (whether the standard 5 years or 3 years through a spouse) and making a realistic timeline based on your city is as crucial as document preparation. Marsel Visa will be with you in this strategic aspect of the process.

What Happens If the Application Is Rejected?

If the citizenship application is rejected, the Citizenship Office sends a written decision notification and explains the reasons for the rejection in this notification. The notification also states whether there is a right to appeal or whether a direct application can be made to the administrative court; it is important to pay attention to the deadlines specified in this process. In most cases, the Citizenship Office requests missing documents or evidence before rejecting the application; some conditions (such as B1 certificate, exam result, current income document) can also be completed later while the process is ongoing, but this may cause delays in the process.

Manage Your Citizenship Process with Marsel Visa

The German citizenship process consists of many stages, from correctly determining which path to apply through to condition checks, exam preparation, and document tracking, and acting on outdated information can lead to significant time loss. As Marsel Visa, we follow your process on your behalf according to current regulations through our headquarters in Istanbul and our office in Berlin, and we determine the correct roadmap together.

You can reach us through the following channels to manage your process securely:

📞 Phone: +90 554 017 52 52 ✉️ Email: info@marselvisa.com 💬 WhatsApp: Write to us now, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Applicants wishing to obtain German citizenship in Istanbul can contact Marsel Visa's office at the Sosko Business Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required to obtain citizenship in Germany? At least 5 years (3 years through marriage) of legal residence, B1 level German, proof of financial means, passing the citizenship test, a clean criminal record, and a declaration of commitment to a liberal democratic order are required.

Has citizenship in Germany been removed after 3 years? Yes, the possibility of obtaining citizenship after 3 years through "superior integration success" has been removed as of October 30, 2025; the standard path is now 5 years for everyone. However, the 3-year exception still applies for those married to a German citizen.

How much is German citizenship in TL / Euro? The application fee is 255 Euros for adults, and 51 Euros for minor children applying with a parent; additionally, there is a 25 Euro citizenship test fee. The TL equivalent varies according to the current exchange rate.

How can I obtain German citizenship? The application form is obtained from the Citizenship Office of the place of residence, the necessary documents (passport, income statement, B1 certificate, exam result) are prepared, a declaration of constitutional commitment is signed, and when all conditions are met, the citizenship certificate is issued.

Do Turkish citizens have to renounce their Turkish citizenship when obtaining German citizenship? No, as of June 27, 2024, dual citizenship is generally allowed, so the obligation to renounce Turkish citizenship has been lifted; however, this change is not retroactive for situations prior to this date.

How long does it take for a German citizenship application to be processed? It varies between an average of 6 to 24 months; in some large cities, this period can reach 2-3 years, while it may take less time in smaller cities.

Sources: The conditions, fees, and dates listed on this page are based on the amendments to the German Citizenship Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz - StAG) that will come into effect in 2024 and 2025, as well as the current announcements from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). It is recommended to check the official announcements of the relevant Citizenship Office for current processing times and fees.

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