Lawyer
Free German Citizenship Check — 3 Minutes
This is a quick self-check of the main requirements for German naturalization under the 2024 citizenship law: residence, title, language, livelihood and the citizenship test. It takes about three minutes.
Click the answer that fits and the next question appears underneath. Your answers are not stored, and the result is general information rather than legal advice. At the end you see which service fits your situation, and if you appear to qualify you can book a session or request the Full Application Service.
Start the check
Step 1 — Where do you stand? ›
→ continue with Step 2 below
→ see the result “descent claims follow different rules” below
Step 2 — Are you married to, or in a registered partnership with, a German citizen? ›
→ continue with Step 3 (if yes) below
→ continue with Step 3 (if no) below
Step 3 — if yes — How long have you lived in Germany, and how long have you been married or in the partnership? ›
Note: As the spouse or partner of a German citizen you may naturalize under § 9 StAG after three years of residence and two years of marriage. The other requirements still apply, so keep going.
→ continue with Step 4 below
Note: Then the general five-year path under § 10 StAG applies to you regardless of the length of the marriage.
→ continue with Step 4 below
Result: not yet (spouse).
Spouses and partners of German citizens may naturalize after three years of residence and two years of marriage; everyone else after five years of residence. Until then, keep your residence unbroken and work on B1. If you want the path mapped in writing, book the Citizenship Strategy Session.
Step 3 — if no — How many years of lawful residence in Germany do you have? ›
Result: not yet.
Since the 2024 reform the general requirement is five years of lawful residence; the three-year fast track was abolished in October 2025. Use the time to reach B1, secure a permit that is not limited to a temporary purpose, and keep your residence unbroken (long absences can reset the count). If you want the path planned, book the Citizenship Strategy Session; for a question about your current permit, book a consultation.
→ continue with Step 4 below
Step 4 — Which residence title do you hold now? ›
→ continue with Step 5 below
→ continue with Step 5 below
→ continue with Step 5 below
Result: your current title does not qualify yet.
Naturalization requires a permanent right of residence or a residence permit that is not limited to a temporary purpose (§ 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG). Permits for studies, training, language courses, recognition, job search, the Chancenkarte, ICT, temporary protection and most humanitarian purposes do not qualify. The usual way forward is to switch to a work permit, the Blue Card or another qualifying permit first; the years already spent in Germany still count toward the five. Book a consultation to talk through the switch.
Step 5 — German language? ›
→ continue with Step 6 below
Note: B1 is the rule. Exceptions: if you came to Germany as a recruited worker ("Gastarbeiter") by 30 June 1974, or to the GDR as a contract worker by 13 June 1990, or joined such a spouse at the time, being able to communicate orally in everyday German is enough and the citizenship test is waived. The same waiver of language and test applies if you cannot meet them because of illness, disability or age, and oral German can suffice in hardship cases where B1 is not achievable despite serious efforts. Otherwise you can prepare everything else while you study, so keep going with the check.
→ continue with Step 6 below
Step 6 — Can you support yourself and your family without benefits (Bürgergeld etc.)? ›
→ continue with Step 7 below
Result: this needs individual advice.
Receiving Bürgergeld or similar benefits usually blocks naturalization, unless the reason lies outside your responsibility (for example caring for a child or a recognized disability). Whether an exception applies depends on the details, and it is worth getting that assessed before you file.
Book the Citizenship Strategy Session for a written roadmap.
Step 7 — Have you passed the citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest) or hold a German school-leaving or university qualification? ›
→ continue with Step 8 below
Note: the test is a 33-question multiple-choice exam offered by adult education centers; book it now, as places fill up. It is waived for the recruited-worker generation and where illness, disability or age make it impossible (see Step 5). The rest of the application can be prepared in the meantime.
→ continue with Step 8 below
Step 8 — Have you already submitted your application? ›
→ see the result “you appear to meet the main requirements” below
→ see the result “check whether the delay is actionable” below
→ see the result “deadlines are running” below
Results
Result — Result: you appear to meet the main requirements. ›
Based on your answers, the general requirements for naturalization look met. The next step is a proper look at your documents. Four ways forward: a 45-minute consultation if you have specific questions; a Citizenship Strategy Session if you want the whole path, the documents and the strategy mapped in writing; the Application Check if you have prepared the application yourself and want it reviewed before you file; or the Full Application Service if you want me to prepare and file the application at a flat fee.
Book a consultation (€226.10) Book a Citizenship Strategy Session (€495) Book the Application Check (€495) Request the Full Application Service
Result — Result: check whether the delay is actionable. ›
If your application has been pending for at least three months, an action for failure to act may be available. The free check takes two minutes.
Result — Result: deadlines are running. ›
After a rejection you usually have one month to bring an action; a hearing letter sets its own deadline. Book a consultation, send me the letter in advance, and I set out your options and dates on the call.
Result — Result: descent claims follow different rules. ›
If you have German ancestors, you may already be German, or you may have a claim through the § 5 StAG declaration, § 15 StAG restoration, or Art. 116(2) Basic Law. None of these require residence in Germany. Book a consultation, send me what you know about your family history in advance, and I tell you on the call whether and how a claim can be established.
Questions people ask
Do I have to give up my current citizenship? No. Since June 2024 German law allows dual and multiple citizenship for naturalization. Whether your current country lets you keep its citizenship is a separate question under that country's law.
How long does naturalization take? It varies widely between authorities. In Berlin, applicants should currently expect more than a year from a complete application to a decision; some other cities are faster. If nothing happens for months, the Untätigkeitsklage check shows whether a court action is available.
What does it cost? The application fee is set by law and charged per person. Language and test fees, translations and any lawyer's fee come on top.
If you would rather have the whole application handled, request the Full Application Service: prepared, filed and followed through by me at a flat fee.
Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald