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Key Takeaways
- You can apply for German citizenship by marriage after at least two years of marriage or civil partnership and at least three years of lawful residence in Germany.
- Your underage children can also obtain German citizenship. Children who are 16 or above must apply for German citizenship by naturalization.
This is how you do it
- Visit your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or nationality authority (Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde) to know more about the specific requirements and procedures.
- Prepare your documents and submit them to the assigned authority. Pay the German naturalization application fee of 255€.
- Upon approval, collect your German naturalization certificate.
Table of Contents
Applying for German Citizenship
Obtaining German citizenship grants various benefits, including voting rights, employment (e.g., civil servant, member of parliament, etc.), and travel rights.
You can get German citizenship via one of the six ways.
- Naturalization
- Descent
- Adoption
- Birth
- Marriage
- Citizenship by declaration
This guide focuses on how you can become a German citizen through marriage.
What are the eligibility criteria for German citizenship by marriage?
- Legally recognized marriage or registered civil partnership with a German citizen for at least two years.
- Your spouse or partner should be a German national for at least two years during the naturalization process.
- Lawful residence in Germany for at least three years.
- Your identity proof.
- Permanent residence permit or a long-term residence permit.
- No criminal record
- Proof of German language proficiency (at least B1 level)
- Proof of knowledge of German culture, laws, and civic life
- Commitment to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz)
- Declaration of Loyalty (Loyalitätserklärung)
- You declare commitment to Germany’s special historical responsibility for the tyrannical National Socialist regime and its consequences.
What can make you ineligible for German citizenship?
You are ineligible to apply for naturalization by marriage if you fall under these conditions:
- Marriage or civil partnership has already ended or failed.
- If you have custody over your minor child from the marriage or partnership and still reside together within a family community, you may still be considered for naturalization via marriage.
- The partners are living separately and are planning for a divorce or separation.
Other reasons that can make you illegible for German citizenship are.
- Violating the constitution or participating in actions against the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Holding anti-constitutional beliefs in the past. You must declare to the “Office for the Protection of the Constitution” and the “nationality authority” that you no longer hold these beliefs.
- Disrespecting the equal rights of all genders as stated in the Basic Law.
- The practice of polygamy or being married to someone who is polygamous.
Documents required to apply for German citizenship
| Purpose | Examples of Valid Proof |
| Identity | – Passport – Driving license – Work ID – Birth certificate – Travel document (for stateless persons) |
| Civil status | – Marriage certificate (if applicable) – Divorce certificate (if applicable) |
| Current living situation | Rental contract |
| Lawful residence | Finance-related documents: Pension insurance records, Bank statements (with Germany-based transactions) Work-related documents: Certificate of employment (Arbeitgeberbescheinigung), or payslips School-related documents: University certificate of enrollment or deregistration (Immatrikulation or Exmatrikulation), Proof of school registration (Schulbescheinigung), School reports Other documents: Certificates from training courses, volunteer work, or club involvement, Documentation from doctor’s visits |
| Permanent residence | – Residence permit – Settlement permit – Temporary residence permit (for skilled workers or for family reunification purposes) |
| Financial stability | – Employment contract – Proof of income (ex. payslips) – Income tax statements |
| No criminal record | Certificate of conduct (Führungszeugnis): You need this to prove you have no criminal record. You can apply it online using your electronic identity card here. If you are a citizen of another EU member state or Great Britain in addition to Germany, you’ll receive a European Certificate of Good Conduct instead. This contains information about the criminal record entries in Germany and other EU member states. |
| Language proficiency | – Language course completion certificate from BAMF – Certification or an equivalent from the German Test for Immigrants (DTZ) – Proof of completing at a German-speaking school for at least four years (excluding years for repeating courses) – School-leaving certification from lower secondary school (Hauptschulabschluss) – Proof of reaching the tenth grade of secondary school – Certification of completed university degree (including universities of applied sciences) |
| Knowledge of civic and legal systems | Result of German naturalization test. You must clear it successfully to prove your knowledge. You can join our free course to ace your German naturalization test in 15 days. |
| Declaration of Loyalty (Loyalitätserklärung) | You can download the declaration of loyalty below. You must sign it and attach it with other documents when applying for German nationality. |
Declaration of Loyalty (Loyalitätserklärung)
- Download the Declaration of Loyalty (Loyalitätserklärung).
- You must sign this document and submit it when applying for German citizenship.
How do you apply for German naturalization by marriage?
Applying for German citizenship via marriage is the same as applying for citizenship via naturalization. Here is the summary of the process.
- Inquire about the process and requirements at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or your respective nationality authority (Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde).
- Take the German naturalization test (Einbürgerungstest). You can join our free course to prepare for the German citizenship test.
- Take the German language test.
- Submit all the required documents.
- Pay the German naturalization application fee of €255 (for adults) and 51€ (for minors applying with parents).
- Wait for the decision on your German naturalization application. It usually takes 18 months or more.You can file a “failure to act lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage)” against the immigration office if you don’t hear from them in six months. Filing a lawsuit can accelerate your German citizenship application process. You can book the services of an immigration lawyer we recommend here.
- Once your naturalization application is approved, you’ll receive an invitation to collect the “Naturalization Certificate (Einbürgerungsurkunde).”
You can read the detailed process here.
Consult an Immigration Lawyer
- An immigration lawyer can help you accelerate your German citizenship application.
- The lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf.
- You can clarify your doubts regarding German citizenship.
FAQS
Can children of a German parent obtain German citizenship?
Yes, children of at least one German parent may also acquire German citizenship if they fall under these conditions:
- They are under 16 years old
- The parents have full custody over the child or children
- They are living in Germany with their parents
- For children up to 6 years of age, they must be residing in Germany for half their lives
- German language proficiency for their respective age level
Children 16 years old or above may still be naturalized with their parents. However, they must meet the eligibility criteria for German citizenship by naturalization.
Can I obtain German citizenship even if I don’t have a full-time job?
Generally speaking, you must be able to financially support yourself and your dependents to be eligible for German citizenship.
However, there are some exceptions.
You can get German citizenship if you fulfill all these conditions:
- Your German spouse/partner is working full-time.
- Your German spouse/partner already rendered at least 20 months of service over the past two years.
- You are looking after your underage child at your shared home.
Can I obtain German citizenship even if my partner/spouse is already deceased?
Yes, you can get German citizenship via marriage even if your partner is no more. However, you must apply for the citizenship within one year of your German spouse/partner’s death.
More topics
References
- https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/resource/blob/1864184/2294760/09515e96026f31fbf2953a8950cd9854/einbuergerung-broschuere-en-data.pdf?download=1
- https://www.lrakn.de/,Len/-/allgemeine+dienstleistungen/apply-for-naturalisation-as-the-husband-or-wife-of-a-person-with-german-citizenship/vbid261
- https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html
- https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/03-Citizenship/german-citizenship-obtain/919576
- https://www.xn--einbrgerung-whb.de/service.php?l=en#:~:text=You+must+have+been+in,are+then+entitled+to+naturalisation.
