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Naturalization; application for the granting of German citizenship to foreigners entitled to naturalization (naturalization claim)

Naturalization - online application
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  • Brief description

    A foreigner living in Germany is entitled to naturalization under certain conditions.

  • Description

    Naturalization is the granting of German citizenship to a foreigner. It must be applied for and is carried out by issuing a special naturalization certificate.

    A foreigner whose identity and nationality have been established and who has been lawfully and habitually resident in Germany for five years must generally be naturalized upon application. Residence is lawful if the foreigner is in Germany as an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement or as another foreigner with the permission of the foreigners authority (e.g. with a settlement permit). Residence is habitual or permanent if the foreigner has the intention to live in Germany permanently and permanent residence is made possible.

    In principle, there is no entitlement to naturalization if the foreigner

    • does not acknowledge the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany and Germany's special historical responsibility;
    • does not have sufficient knowledge of the German language;
    • has no knowledge of the legal and social order or living conditions in Germany, unless the person concerned is a former guest worker or contract worker of the former GDR or their spouse who joined them at the same time;
    • has been convicted of a criminal offense;
    • engages in anti-constitutional activities;
    • is married to several spouses at the same time or shows by his or her behavior that he or she disregards the equal rights of men and women laid down in the Basic Law.

    The district offices and the municipal administrations of the independent cities decide on naturalization applications.

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

    Please give priority to using the online service "Naturalization - Online Application".

    Under the forms you will find the following templates:
    - Application for a citizenship card.
    - Application for naturalization.

  • Prerequisites

    You are entitled to naturalization if the following requirements are met:

    • clarified identity
    • Permanent right of residence at the time of naturalization
    • Proof of knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany. This proof is not required for former guest workers or contract workers from the former GDR or their spouses who have joined them in the meantime.
    • five years of legal habitual residence in Germany
    • independent means of subsistence (also for dependent family members) without social assistance and unemployment benefit II. Exceptions apply to persons who have been in full-time employment for at least 20 months in the last 2 years, spouses if they are looking after a minor child in a family relationship and former guest workers or contract workers from the former GDR and their spouses who joined them in the same period.
    • Proof of sufficient oral and written German language skills: https://www.stmi.bayern.de/media/_bayernportal/positivliste-stmi-2024.docx. In the case of former guest workers or contract workers from the former GDR and their spouses who joined them at the same time, it is sufficient if they can make themselves understood orally in German without any significant problems in everyday life.
    • No conviction for a criminal offense
    • Commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and to Germany's special historical responsibility
    • no polygamous marriages and no evidence of disregard for equal rights for men and women

    If one of these requirements is not met, you are not entitled to naturalization. However, so-called discretionary naturalization is possible in certain cases (see "Related topics").

  • Required documents

    Application for naturalization

    The application can be submitted online or alternatively in paper form. Forms are available from the district administrative authority.



    Passport

    Proof of knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany by means of a certificate of successful naturalization test or graduation from a general education school in Germany

    Proof of sufficient oral and written knowledge of German (school reports, certificates, etc.) Proof of income, old-age provision, health and long-term care insurance, if applicable for family members.)

    Proof of income, old-age provision, health and long-term care insurance, including for family members if applicable

    Proof of marital status (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, divorce decree if applicable)

    Further documents and certificates may be required. Foreign documents must be translated at the request of the competent authority.

  • Forms

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

  • Costs

    Basically: 255,00 Euro

    Minor children without their own income who are naturalized together with their parents: 51.00 euros

    Additional costs may arise

    • for the submission of civil status documents
    • for proof of civic knowledge or language skills
    • for translations of foreign documents by sworn translators and certification fees

  • Legal basis

  • Legal remedy

    An appeal against a negative decision by the authority can be brought before the competent administrative court.

  • Related services


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