Germany’s citizenship law changed twice in quick succession — a sweeping 2024 reform that opened the door to dual citizenship for everyone, followed by an October 2025 amendment that rolled back part of that same reform. If you’re researching naturalization (Einbürgerung) in 2026, it’s easy to land on an article written in mid-2024 that describes a “3-year fast track” that no longer exists. Here’s what actually applies today.
Who can apply, and after how long
The standard route requires 5 years of lawful residence in Germany before you can apply — this is now the only residency track. A shorter 3-year path for applicants who could show “exceptional integration achievements” (near-native German, strong civic engagement) existed under the 2024 reform but was repealed effective October 30, 2025, after Germany’s governing coalition agreed to abolish it while keeping the rest of the 2024 reform intact (Bundestag, October 2025). If you’re planning around the 3-year route, stop — it’s gone, and the 5-year period now applies uniformly.
Beyond the residency period, you generally need to show:
- German language ability at level B1 on the Common European Framework — speaking, writing, and comprehension at an independent-user level.
- Financial self-sufficiency: you and any dependents must be able to support yourselves without relying on Bürgergeld or other means-tested social benefits, with limited exceptions (for example if you arrived in Germany as a child, or lost income involuntarily through no fault of your own).
- A clean criminal record and, since the 2024 reform, an explicit commitment to Germany’s free democratic constitutional order — antisemitic, racist, or other inhumane conduct or statements are now a codified bar to naturalization, not just a discretionary one.
- Knowledge of German society and law, demonstrated either through the citizenship test (below) or an equivalent German school qualification.
(BAMF — official Einbürgerung page)
Dual citizenship: what actually changed
Since June 27, 2024, Germany allows dual and multiple citizenship as the general rule for everyone naturalizing — not just EU and Swiss nationals, as under the old law. You are no longer required to renounce your existing citizenship to become German (Federal Ministry of the Interior, June 2024). The October 2025 amendment only removed the 3-year fast track described above — it left the dual citizenship rule untouched. Whether your other country of citizenship allows you to keep it too is a separate question governed by its own law, not Germany’s.
The Einbürgerungstest (citizenship test)
Most applicants aged 16 and over must pass the standard naturalization test unless they hold a qualifying German school-leaving certificate. The test is 33 multiple-choice questions (30 general-knowledge questions plus 3 questions specific to the state you live in) with a 60-minute time limit, and you need 17 correct answers to pass. All 310 possible questions (300 general plus 10 per state) are published in advance by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), so there’s no element of surprise — the test covers democracy and basic rights, German history (including Nazism and reunification), and civic life, with content on Jewish life and antisemitism added as part of the 2024 reform. The test itself costs €25 and can be retaken if you don’t pass (BAMF — Einbürgerungstest).
Fees (2026)
- Adult applicants: €255 per person.
- Minors naturalizing together with a parent: €51.
- Minors applying independently: the full €255 adult fee applies.
- The citizenship test is billed separately at €25 per attempt.
Fee reductions or installment plans are available for applicants who can’t afford the standard fee (BAMF fee schedule).
How the process works
- Consultation — most local naturalization offices (Einbürgerungsbehörde, often part of the Ausländerbehörde) offer or require an initial meeting to check your eligibility before you file.
- Application and documents — you submit the application form with your passport, proof of your residence history, income and employment records, your B1 language certificate, and evidence you passed (or are exempt from) the citizenship test.
- Background check — the office requests a criminal-record check through Germany’s central register.
- Decision and certificate — if approved, you receive the Einbürgerungsurkunde (naturalization certificate), often at a formal ceremony, and you become a German citizen from that point.
Processing time varies enormously by local authority — some offices report decisions in under six months while others, particularly in high-volume cities, have taken well over a year following the sharp rise in applications after the 2024 reform. There’s no single official national figure, so ask your specific Einbürgerungsbehörde for their current timeline rather than assuming a fixed wait.
What trips applicants up
- Absences that break residency continuity — long stretches outside Germany during your qualifying years can reset or interrupt the clock; keep records of every trip.
- B1 certificates that don’t meet the required standard — the certificate must cover speaking, writing, and comprehension, not just one skill.
- Relying on the repealed 3-year track — if you were counting on “exceptional integration” eligibility, confirm with your local office whether your case still qualifies under transitional rules, since the standard 5-year period now applies to new applications.
FAQ
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to become German? No. Since June 2024, Germany allows dual and multiple citizenship for everyone naturalizing, not just EU/Swiss nationals. Check whether your original country permits you to keep its citizenship too.
Is there still a fast route for highly integrated applicants? No — the 3-year “exceptional integration” track was repealed on October 30, 2025. The 5-year residency requirement is now the only route to naturalization.
What German level do I need? B1 on the Common European Framework, demonstrated through an approved test or equivalent qualification.
Can I bring my family’s naturalization applications together? Minors are generally naturalized alongside a parent’s application at a reduced fee, but each family member still needs to meet or be covered by the relevant eligibility rules.
This is general preparation guidance, not legal advice. Naturalization rules changed twice in 2024–2025 and may change again — confirm current eligibility and fees with the BAMF or a licensed immigration adviser before applying.
If you’re still working toward the residence permits that lead here — the Opportunity Card, EU Blue Card, or a German student visa — VisaMet’s AI assistant can help you track eligibility milestones and prepare documents at every stage. Join the waitlist for early access.