Citizenship & Naturalisation

German citizenship: naturalisation after five years, dual citizenship, citizenship by birth and descent, and the 2024 reform.

The Rotes Rathaus in Berlin, seat of the city government, seen from the front with its red brick facade and clock tower

Naturalisation After 5 Years: The Full Eligibility Checklist

Five years is still the rule — the three-year fast-track was repealed in October 2025. The seven conditions in § 10 StAG, and where applications actually fail.

Aug 205 min read

The Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin, Berlin’s state parliament building, with the Berlin, German and European Union flags flying outside

Voting in Berlin’s September 2026 Election: A Step-by-Step Guide for New German Citizens

New German citizen? Check your Berlin voter registration, fix a missing ID, and vote in the September 20 election — a simple step-by-step guide.

Aug 108 min read

Entrance of the Volkshochschule Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin, an adult education centre of the kind where the Einbürgerungstest is usually taken

The German Citizenship Test (Einbürgerungstest): How to Prepare

The Einbürgerungstest is a manageable hurdle to German citizenship. Learn the format, the pass mark, who is exempt, and how to prepare efficiently.

Aug 42 min read

The Reichstag building in Berlin, seat of the German Bundestag

Military Service in Germany: What the Law Says Now

Germany's 2026 Wehrdienst law revived obligations for German men. What the questionnaire, the Musterung and the travel-permission rule mean — and who is exempt.

Jul 2812 min read

Interior of the plenary chamber of the German Bundestag in the Reichstag building, Berlin

Citizenship for Children Born in Germany to Foreign Parents (Geburtsortprinzip)

A child born in Germany to foreign parents can be German at birth. Learn the post-2024 birthright rule, the 5-year parental residence test, and the end of Optionspflicht.

Jul 22 min read