Navigating German Citizenship

Eligibility for Citizenship
To be eligible for German citizenship, applicants must have a minimum of five years of consecutive, legal residency in Germany. Importantly, not all residency permits count toward this requirement. In particular, the following permits cannot apply for naturalisation:

- §16a, 16b, 16d, 16e, 16f, 17 (educational purposes)

- §18f (researcher)

- §19, 19b (ICT card)

- §20 (job seeker)

- §24, 25 sections 3 until 4b (temporary protection, humanitarian grounds)

- §104 (opportunity card)

However, for those with eligible permits, such as employment or family reunification visas, the five-year rule applies. The time begins from the date you officially register your address in Germany, a step known as Anmeldung.

Secured Livelihood Requirement
Another critical requirement is a secured livelihood. You must demonstrate that your livelihood is secure, meaning you can financially support yourself without relying on state assistance. If you’re employed, a stable, long-term, and unterminated work contract is essential. If you’re in a probationary period or have a termination notice, your application may be delayed or rejected. Essentially, you need to prove that your income is both ongoing and sustainable.

Language Proficiency and Integration
German language proficiency is an important part of the citizenship process. Applicants are generally required to demonstrate B1-level German by passing an official language exam. It is not enough to simply speak German fluently or to have attended classes; you must provide a recognized certificate from an accredited testing center.

For those applying after three years, more stringent language and integration requirements are in place. In these cases, applicants must demonstrate C1-level German proficiency and show they are “well-integrated.” This can include professional qualifications and proof of long-term employment in Germany.

Criminal Record and Background Checks
A clean criminal record is essential when applying for German citizenship. Any ongoing investigations or prior convictions will disqualify you from applying. This applies not only to serious crimes but also to minor infractions, so it’s important to ensure that you have no legal issues pending at the time of your application.

Key Documents You Will Need
When applying for German citizenship, the list of required documents can vary depending on your personal situation. However, there are a few common documents that almost everyone needs to prepare:

• Personal Identification: This includes your passport and, if applicable, a valid residence permit. You may also be asked to provide a birth certificate, even though it is not always mandatory. If you are married, your marriage certificate is required. If you have been married more than once, you’ll need to provide proof of divorce from previous marriages.

• Translations and Apostilles: If your documents are not in German, you will likely need an official translation. Furthermore, if your home country is part of the Apostille Convention, you will need an apostille stamp on official documents like marriage or birth certificates.

• Proof of Employment or Income: One of the essential requirements is proving your financial stability. If you are employed, you will need to submit a copy of your work contract, recent payslips (usually the last three), and a letter from your employer confirming that your job is ongoing and not subject to termination. If your application takes more than three months to process, you may be asked to submit updated documents to confirm your employment status.

• Proof of Residency: You will also need to provide a rental contract and proof that you are paying rent regularly. A simple rental agreement won’t suffice; you will need to show recent bank statements confirming your rent payments. If someone else pays your rent, such as a spouse or partner, you will need to submit their bank statements and a letter explaining the arrangement.

• Health Insurance: Proof of health insurance is another essential requirement. If you are insured with a public health provider, you can usually download a confirmation from their website. If you have private health insurance, you will need similar documentation from your provider.
  
  Requirements for Self-Employed Applicants
  If you are self-employed, the application process becomes a bit more complex. Depending on the nature of your self-employment, you may need to submit different sets of documents:

• Freelancers: You will need to provide your latest tax assessment, bank statements showing the flow of funds, and a financial report (called a Nettogewinn) from your tax advisor. Additionally, it’s helpful to submit contracts or orders to prove the sustainability of your freelance work.

• Business Owners: If you run a business (i.e., you are registered as a Selbstständiger), you will need more extensive financial documentation, such as your tax report and an official audit by a financial reviewer. The Berlin city platform has templates for these forms. Additionally, you will need a document from the Finanzamt (tax office) that confirms all your taxable assets are accounted for.
  

Language Requirements
All applicants must prove their German language proficiency at the B1 level. The language test must be an official one, such as those provided by Goethe-Institut or TELC. Basic certificates from language schools or participation certificates are not sufficient.

You can be exempt from the language test if you studied in German at a German university or attended a German school and graduated. However, if your degree was in another language, even if it was completed in Germany, you are still required to pass the B1 test.

Citizenship Test
In addition to the language requirement, applicants must pass a citizenship test, which includes questions about the German political system, society, and your federal state. The test consists of 33 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer at least 17 correctly to pass.

While most of the questions are straightforward, some can be tricky. Fortunately, there is an online database where you can practice, as the questions are drawn from a public question bank. The test includes 30 general questions and three specific questions about the federal state you live in, such as Berlin.

The challenge for many applicants, particularly in Berlin, is securing a spot for the test. The test is administered by the Volkshochschule (VHS), but availability is limited. You can check online for test dates, but many Volkshochschulen have waiting lists and might not update their online portals frequently. It is often better to contact them directly to inquire about availability or registration processes.

Applying in Berlin
Since January 2024, the process for applying for German citizenship in Berlin has been centralized and digitized. Previously, each district in Berlin had its own citizenship office, but now all applications are handled by the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), the same office that processes visas and residence permits.

While the digital process is designed to be more efficient, there have been significant delays due to the large volume of applications and ongoing cases. Some applicants report that their applications were processed in two to three months, while others have been waiting since January with no response.

To apply, you must complete an online form and submit all required documents in PDF format. The form is detailed and may take up to an hour to fill out, so make sure you have all your documents scanned and ready before starting. One important point to note is that the form requires you to provide your full address history, going back to your birth, including the dates you lived at each address.

By preparing thoroughly and staying organized, you can navigate this complex process and submit your application with confidence.

Can I Apply for Citizenship if I’m Receiving Unemployment Benefits?
We are often asked whether receiving unemployment benefits disqualifies you from applying for citizenship or residency. The answer depends on the type of unemployment benefits you’re receiving:

• Unemployment Benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I): Receiving this benefit does not automatically exclude you from applying. However, you must still prove that your livelihood is sustainable. If your income is solely based on unemployment benefits, you are not eligible because these benefits are temporary. If you’re married and your spouse has a stable income, you may still apply, as household income is considered in such cases.

• Unemployment Benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II) or Bürgergeld: If you receive these benefits, you cannot apply for citizenship. Moreover, this disqualification might last for several years after you stop receiving the benefits.

• Social Welfare Benefits: If you're receiving welfare benefits (Sozialhilfe), you are also ineligible to apply.
  In general, if you've previously received benefits, you'll need to show evidence of stable, full-time employment (usually for 21 consecutive months) before reapplying.
  

Sufficient Income Requirements
A common concern is how much income is considered "sufficient" to apply for citizenship. Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific number. Each case is evaluated based on personal circumstances, including expenses, family size, and other financial obligations. However, it’s generally expected that after covering all expenses (like rent and insurance), an adult should have around €500-€600 in disposable income, with smaller amounts required for children.

If you’re a freelancer, your income might be scrutinized more closely. Savings can support your application but cannot be the sole proof of financial stability. Having retirement savings, especially if you’re not contributing to the German public pension scheme, can be an advantage in the evaluation process.

Application Waiting Times
One frustrating aspect of the citizenship application process is the waiting time. Depending on the situation, processing can take anywhere from a few months to over two years. After recent reforms, some cases are being processed faster, but applications from before the reforms may still face delays. For now, it’s difficult to predict how long an individual case will take.

Residence Permits and Moving in and Out of Germany
Many people wonder if they can apply for citizenship without a permanent residence permit. The answer is yes. A valid temporary residence permit is sufficient, as long as it doesn't fall into any of the restricted categories mentioned earlier (like unemployment benefits).

If you’ve lived in Germany but moved away temporarily, as long as your absence was less than six months, your time in Germany is still counted. Longer absences may affect your application, and you’ll need to consult immigration authorities for a detailed assessment of your case.

Dual Citizenship: What’s the Real Story?
There’s been a lot of media discussion around dual citizenship in Germany, but the law doesn’t specifically mention the term "dual citizenship." Germany doesn’t require you to renounce previous citizenships to apply for German citizenship. However, keep in mind that some countries may not allow dual citizenship, and Germany’s laws won’t influence those regulations. So, while Germany is more flexible, your country of origin might have different rules.

The Case of Freelancers and Self-Employed Individuals
Freelancers often ask whether contributing to a public pension system or having retirement savings helps their case. If you are self-employed, proving that you’re saving for retirement (whether through a private or public scheme) is essential. This shows you’re preparing for long-term financial stability, which can positively affect your application.

Special Cases and Exceptions
There are several unique situations people ask about. For instance:

• Stay-at-home parents: If you’re not working but your spouse has a stable income, you can still apply based on your spouse’s financial situation.

• Spouses of German citizens: The process is somewhat simpler for those married to German citizens, with the main difference being that you can apply after three years of residence if you’ve lived with your German spouse for two of those years.

• Relatives of Holocaust victims: If your ancestors lost German citizenship due to the Holocaust, a different legal pathway exists for restoring that citizenship, which is handled separately from standard naturalization.