How can I, as a foreign national, apply for German citizenship?
March 9, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Leonie Eiserfelder
Dear Sir or Madam,
My name is Anna Voigt and I have been living in Germany as a foreign national for several years. Recently, I have decided to apply for German citizenship, as I feel very comfortable here and want to build my life in Germany in the long term.
Currently, I am living in Germany with a residence permit and I already meet some requirements for naturalization, such as holding an unlimited residence permit, sufficient knowledge of German, and integration into German society.
However, I am unsure of the specific steps I need to take to apply for German citizenship. I am worried that I may have overlooked something or done something wrong, which could result in my application being rejected.
Could you please explain to me exactly what documents I need for the application and which authority I need to contact? Are there specific deadlines I need to adhere to? And what other requirements do I need to meet in order to ensure a successful naturalization?
Thank you in advance for your help and guidance.
Sincerely,
Anna Voigt
Dear Mrs. Voigt,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the application for German citizenship. It is understandable that you are concerned and want to ensure that your application is successful. I will now explain in detail the steps you need to take to apply for German citizenship.
First and foremost, it is important that you meet the requirements for naturalization. These include, among others, having a permanent residence permit, sufficient knowledge of German (at least at level B1), and integration into German society, for example through participation in integration courses or volunteer work.
To apply for German citizenship, you must submit an application to the naturalization authority responsible for your place of residence. This is usually the Citizens' Office or the District Office. There you will also receive information about the required documents, which may vary depending on the federal state. However, the following documents are usually required: a valid passport, a biometric passport photo, a certified copy of the birth certificate, proof of holding a permanent residence permit, proof of sufficient knowledge of German, and proof of integration into German society (for example, certificates from integration courses or volunteer work).
It is important that you submit all required documents completely and correctly to ensure a smooth naturalization process. Please also note that there are specific deadlines that must be met. In general, the application must be submitted within a certain period after you have met the requirements.
In addition to the mentioned requirements and documents, you must also pass a naturalization test, which includes questions on the topics of politics, history, and society in Germany. The test can be taken in various languages, but the answers must be written in German.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am of course available to help. I wish you success with your naturalization application and good luck with becoming a German citizen.
Sincerely,
Leonie Eiserfelder
Attorney specializing in foreigner law
