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Citizenship Eligibility
Check if you qualify for German citizenship.
German citizenship offers numerous benefits, including unrestricted work and residence rights, EU freedom of movement, and voting rights. The requirements and process vary depending on your situation.
Citizenship Eligibility Paths
Naturalization
Timeframe: 8-12 months processing time after application
Requirements:
- • Legal residence in Germany for 8 years (reduced to 6-7 years with integration courses)
- • Financial self-sufficiency without social benefits
- • German language proficiency (B1 level)
- • Passing the citizenship test
- • No serious criminal record
- • Commitment to the German constitution
Marriage to German Citizen
Timeframe: 6-10 months processing time after application
Requirements:
- • Marriage to a German citizen
- • Legal residence in Germany for at least 3 years
- • At least 2 years of marriage
- • German language proficiency (B1 level)
- • German language proficiency (B1 level)
- • Integration into German society
- • No serious criminal record
Birth in Germany
Timeframe: Automatic at birth, but may need to choose between German and parents' citizenship between ages 18-23
Requirements:
- • Born in Germany after January 1, 2000
- • At least one parent has lived legally in Germany for 8+ years
- • Parent has permanent residence permit
Citizenship Test Preparation
The German citizenship test consists of 33 multiple-choice questions about German society, politics, and history. You need to answer at least 17 correctly to pass.