From passing the test to filing the application

Once you pass, you receive the Zertifikat Einbürgerungstest — it has no expiration date. You then file the citizenship application with your local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office) or the dedicated Einbürgerungsbehörde (naturalisation office), depending on the city.

• The modernised StAG (citizenship law) in force since 27 June 2024 cuts the standard residence requirement to 5 years (down from 8), or 3 years with exceptional integration.
• Typical documents: passport copy, residence registration (Meldebescheinigung), residence permit, proof of income, German B1 certificate, test pass certificate, criminal record check.
• Application fee (as of 2026; subject to change): €255 per adult, €51 per minor.
• Family applications can incur additional fees.

Decision letter and naturalisation ceremony

• Processing times vary widely by region. Reports indicate 12–18 months in Berlin and 6–9 months in Bavaria on average (as of 2026; subject to change).
• On approval you may first receive an Einbürgerungszusicherung (assurance of naturalisation); once any home-country formalities are settled, the Einbürgerungsurkunde (certificate of naturalisation) is issued.
• Some Länder require a public Einbürgerungsfeier with a pledge of allegiance to the Grundgesetz (Basic Law); others handle it administratively.
• You become a German citizen the moment the Einbürgerungsurkunde is handed over.

ID card and passport

You can apply at your Bürgeramt (citizens' office) as soon as the certificate is in hand.

• Personalausweis (ID card): around €37 for adults, delivered in roughly 4–6 weeks (as of 2026; subject to change).
• Reisepass (passport): around €70 for adults; can be applied for in the same appointment. 4–6 weeks for delivery.
• Express passports cost extra.
• Photos must meet biometric specs; many Bürgerämter have on-site photo booths.

Handling your prior citizenship (Mehrstaatigkeit)

This is the single biggest change in the new law: dual citizenship is now broadly allowed. The previous rule generally required giving up non-EU citizenship.

• Germany no longer asks you to renounce your original nationality.
• However, your home country may still restrict dual citizenship. Check its rules separately:
  • South Korea: voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality after age 22 generally results in loss of Korean citizenship; consult your nearest Korean consulate.
  • Japan, China, India: each restricts dual citizenship in its own way — confirm with the relevant consulate.
• If your home-country rules are unclear, contact both your local Einbürgerungsbehörde and your home-country consulate before filing.

Tax and social-security changes

• Citizenship itself does not change your tax status. German tax residency is based on Wohnsitz (residence), not nationality.
• As an EU citizen you gain free movement; if you later move to another EU country, that country's tax and health-insurance rules apply.
• Social security: EU rules automatically aggregate pension, unemployment and health-insurance periods across member states. With Korea, the Germany–Korea Social Security Agreement allows pension contribution periods to be combined.
• Foreign assets may still trigger reporting in your country of origin — consider professional tax advice.

Voting and local rights

• On naturalisation you immediately gain the right to vote and stand in federal (Bundestag), state (Landtag), and local (Kommunal) elections.
• You can also vote in European Parliament elections.
• Voter rolls update automatically; you'll receive notifications by post before each election.
• Civil-service jobs and certain political-party functions reserved for citizens also open up.

Effect on children's citizenship

• Children under 18 can be naturalised together with their parents (Mit-Einbürgerung).
• Where one parent is German and meets residency conditions, children born in Germany can acquire German citizenship at birth via the jus soli provisions of the Basic Law.
• Whether the child keeps the home-country nationality depends on that country's law — Korean children, for instance, must elect a nationality before age 22 under Korean law.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is there a deadline to apply after passing the test? A. The Zertifikat Einbürgerungstest never expires. Other requirements (residence, income, language) are re-checked at the time you file.

Q. Can I keep my original citizenship? A. Germany now allows it. Check your home country separately — some still restrict dual nationality.

Q. How can I speed up processing? A. Submit a complete file, prove B2 or higher German, and document volunteer or integration activities. Some Länder offer online portals (e.g. Berlin's Einbürgerungsportal).

Q. Can I apply for ID card and passport at the same time? A. Yes — both at the same Bürgeramt visit, with separate 4–6 week delivery windows each.

Useful links

• BAMF citizenship overview: https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Einbuergerung/einbuergerung-node.html
• Find your local foreigners' office: https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/