What changed in 2024 — and again in 2025
German citizenship law went through its biggest overhaul in decades. The Act to Modernise Nationality Law took effect on 27 June 2024: it cut the standard residency requirement from eight years to five, and — for the first time as a general rule — allowed dual citizenship.
It also briefly created a three-year fast-track for people with exceptional integration. That fast-track has been repealed. The Act Amending the Nationality Law came into force on 30 October 2025, scrapping the three-year route with no grandfathering — even applications already filed under it now fall under the five-year rule. This matters because most articles online still describe the three-year route as current. It is not. Always check the date on anything you read about Einbürgerung.
Who qualifies now
Under § 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG), the core route requires:
- five years of lawful, habitual residence in Germany (reduced from eight);
- a permanent or qualifying residence title — for example a settlement permit, or a work permit such as the EU Blue Card that can lead to one;
- proof you can support yourself (see below);
- B1 German and a passed citizenship test;
- no relevant criminal record, and a commitment to Germany's free democratic basic order.
Spouses of German citizens and certain other groups follow their own timelines.
Dual citizenship is now allowed
The single biggest change: you no longer have to give up your existing nationality to become German. The old rule requiring renunciation has been abolished, so naturalising while keeping your home passport is now the norm rather than a rare exception. For many long-term residents, that requirement had been the main reason never to apply.
Language and the citizenship test
You must demonstrate German at B1 level (spoken and written), normally with a recognised language certificate. You must also pass the Einbürgerungstest: 33 multiple-choice questions on German society, law and history, of which you must answer at least 17 correctly. The practice question catalogue is published by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
You must support yourself
You generally must be able to support yourself and any dependants without relying on benefits under SGB II or SGB XII (Bürgergeld and basic social assistance). The reform made this requirement stricter, narrowing exceptions that previously applied. If your earnings cover your household this is straightforward — your tax class and payslips help evidence it.
How to apply, and what it costs
Apply at your local naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde), increasingly through an online portal. The fee is €255 per adult, and €51 for a minor child naturalised together with a parent (§ 38 StAG). Processing times vary widely by city — from several months to well over a year. Bring proof of residence, income, language level, your test certificate and your current passport. If you're not yet at five years, your residence permit is the title that accrues the qualifying time.
Children born in Germany
A child born in Germany to foreign parents acquires German citizenship at birth if at least one parent has been lawfully resident for five years (also down from eight) and holds a permanent right of residence (§ 4 (3) StAG). Thanks to the dual-citizenship reform, these children no longer have to choose between their nationalities as adults.