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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 apply for German citizenship wth you. 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.
- Take the German citizenship and language test.
- Submit your documents 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.
German citizenship by marriage changed over time, and the rules depend on the date of marriage.
- Foreign women who married a German citizen between 1 April 1914 and 31 March 1953 automatically acquired German citizenship.
- Foreign women who married a German citizen between 1 April 1953 and 31 December 1969 could acquire German citizenship under certain conditions, especially through a declaration made at the time of marriage.
- Since 1 January 1970, German citizenship is no longer acquired by marriage. A foreign spouse can only become German through naturalisation if the legal requirements are met.
What are the eligibility criteria for German citizenship by marriage?
Naturalization as the spouse or partner of a German citizen is acquired through naturalization. You may be eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria:
- A legally recognized marriage or registered civil partnership with a German citizen for at least 2 years. Your spouse or partner should also be a German citizen throughout that period.
- Lawful residence in Germany for at least three years
- Your identity proof
- Permanent 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.
- Ability to support oneself and dependent family members without relying on certain social benefits.
What can make you ineligible for German citizenship?
Your application for naturalization by marriage may be denied if you fall under these conditions:
- The marriage or registered civil partnership has already broken down or ended.
- You and your spouse/partner are separated and no longer living together as a genuine family unit, even if the relationship still exists on paper.
- The relationship was a sham marriage or partnership entered into solely to obtain residence rights or citizenship.
Other reasons that can make you ineligible 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 your application with all supporting documents to the responsible authority.
- 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 your “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 minor children be naturalized together with a parent?
Yes, minor 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 custody over the child or children
- The child or children are living in Germany with their parents
- For children up to 6 years of age, they must have been residing in Germany for at least half their lives
- The child or children can communicate using German in their daily lives
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 job?
In general, it’s required to be able to financially support yourself and your dependents to be eligible for German citizenship.
However, there are some exceptions to get German citizenship even if you don’t earn enough to support yourself.
You must fulfill all these conditions:
- You are looking after your underage child at your shared home.
- Your German spouse/partner is working full-time.
- Your German spouse/partner has already rendered at least 20 months of service over the past two years.
Can I obtain German citizenship even if my partner/spouse is already deceased?
Yes, you may still acquire German citizenship via marriage even if your partner is no longer alive. However, you must apply for citizenship within one year of your German spouse/partner’s death, and ensure that the other requirements are met.
What are the special conditions for citizenship through marriage?
Special conditions for naturalization through marriage may apply in certain situations. These include:
- The required residence period may be shortened for reasons of public interest if the marriage or registered civil partnership has existed for at least three years.
- If the German spouse or registered civil partner has died, or if the marriage or civil partnership has been finally terminated, the application may still be considered if it is submitted within one year. In that case, the applicant must be the custodial parent and live in a family unit with a minor child from that relationship who already holds German citizenship.
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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.
- https://kigali.diplo.de/rw-en/service/germanhow-1470008
- https://verwaltungsportal.hessen.de/en/leistung?leistung_id=L100001_424243605
- https://www.xn--einbrgerung-whb.de/service.php?l=en
