Obtaining a German passport

Many people from outside the EU seek to obtain a passport of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), as it ranks 3rd in the world ranking of the strongest. On June 27, 2024, the German parliament adopted a new law “On Citizenship”, which regulates the conditions of immigration to the country. According to this document, it now takes less time to acquire a German passport than before. According to the standard procedure, German citizenship is granted to those who have lived in the country continuously for 5 years and meet all the requirements of the state.

In the international rating of World Happiness Report Germany is on the 24th place by the degree of happiness of the local population. This is mainly due to the decent level of social protection and health care system, as well as the supremacy of democracy and freedom in the country. Therefore, for foreigners who have managed to obtain German citizenship, there are promising prospects for increasing their comfort and well-being.

Our specialized lawyers can help you gather all the necessary documents to obtain a residence permit in Germany. Learn more about this during a free consultation.

Benefits of German citizenship

A German passport entitles you to vote and hold public office, as well as a number of other benefits, including:

1. the ability to travel freely throughout the European Union and Schengen area;
2. an EU-wide public health insurance policy;
3. access to visa-free travel to more than 160 countries around the world;
4. the right to receive free education in German educational institutions;
5. the opportunity to participate in scholarship programs from the state and international organizations for undergraduate and postgraduate students;
6. access to social guarantees, including pension and unemployment benefits;
7. the right to choose any country in the European Union to live and work in without the need for residence permits or other authorizations;
8. permission to retain the citizenship of the country of origin when obtaining a German passport
9. service in medical institutions with modern equipment and highly qualified specialists;
10. employment on the territory of Germany and the European Union without any permits or restrictions;
11. conducting business activities on more favorable terms compared to non-residents.

Registration of German citizenship, despite all its advantages, is a rather long and expensive process, since in most cases it is possible only through naturalization. A significant disadvantage is the need to reside in Germany for 5 years, as well as to go through numerous bureaucratic procedures related to the extension of residence permits.

It is worth noting that residence and employment in Germany are available for all citizens of the European Union. You can learn more about simple and quick ways of obtaining a European passport at a free consultation with our migration lawyers.

Main ways of obtaining a German passport

It is possible to obtain German citizenship in 2025 by birth, adoption, naturalization and restoration. All methods of obtaining a German passport have their own specifics and may be suitable for different categories of applicants depending on individual circumstances.

Citizenship by birth

A child born to parents, at least one of whom is a German citizen, receives the status automatically. Children born in Germany to foreigners can obtain a German passport if the father or mother has been permanently residing in Germany for 5 years or more on the basis of permanent residence. The law also provides for the granting of citizenship status to a child whose German parent was born abroad in the period from January 1, 2000 and has permanently resided abroad. In this case, during the first year of the child's life, an application must be made to register the child's birth in the metric book.

Adoption

A child under the age of 18 who is adopted by a German citizen acquires a German passport. The same right is retained for the descendants of such children.

Naturalization

Applicants who have resided in the country for 5 years or more on a permanent (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or temporary (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) residence permit are eligible for a German passport. To undergo the naturalization procedure, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

1. be at least sixteen years of age;
2. provide proof of German language proficiency at level B1 or above;
3. own or rent a home in Germany;
4. sign and verbally agree to the democratic order at the Citizenship Office;
5. pass a test of knowledge of the legal system of the Federal Republic of Germany or provide a German school-leaving certificate;
6. document that you have the financial means to live and support your family (if applicable) in Germany;
7. provide a certificate of criminal record.

Receipt of unemployment benefits, rental assistance, child support payments, and other similar social grants are generally not considered a barrier to citizenship. Certain categories of applicants for German citizenship also do not have to demonstrate financial means, namely:

1. salaried employees, employed full-time if they have worked for 20 months in the last 2 years receiving a full salary;
2. guest workers who came to the FRG before June 1974;
3. contract employees who moved to the GDR before June 1990.

Receiving unemployment benefits, housing assistance, child support, and other similar social subsidies is usually not considered an obstacle to obtaining citizenship. Additionally, some categories of applicants for German citizenship are exempt from demonstrating financial resources, including:

1. full-time employees who have worked for 20 months in the past 2 years, receiving their full salary;
2. guest workers who arrived in Germany before June 1974;
3. contract workers who relocated to East Germany (GDR) before June 1990.

The exemption from the requirement to provide for yourself also applies to spouses of the above categories of foreigners. You can shorten the period of compulsory residence in Germany and can apply for citizenship after 3 years if:

1. you have been integrated into society and have a C1 level command of the national language and have been active in society for many years;
2. you have been married to a German citizen for 2 years and have been living together and legally residing in Germany for 3 years or more;
3. you are applying for citizenship together with your family members (spouses, civil partners, children).

Successfully completed integration courses will not shorten the required period of residence in Germany, but they can contribute to a faster and more intensive assimilation into German society.

Restoration of citizenship

Due to the events that took place in Germany between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945, many Germans renounced their citizenship or were forcibly deprived of it for a number of reasons, including government persecution. These categories of applicants and their descendants may regain their status in the Republic provided that:

1. the renunciation or loss of German citizenship occurred before February 26, 1955;
2. residence in Germany was established before January 30, 1933 or in childhood even later than that date, but was lost;
3. exclusion from citizenship was due to marriage or collective naturalization.

Procedure for obtaining a German passport and requirements for applicants

In the process of acquiring German citizenship, the collection of a personal dossier plays an important role. Depending on individual circumstances, the list of required documents may differ, but the basic list is as follows:

1. a completed application for citizenship;
2. passport or ID card;
3. marriage or divorce certificate (if applicable);
4. documents proving that you have the financial means to live in Germany (income certificate, bank statements, notification of unemployment benefit or pension);
5. health insurance policy;
6. an extract from the land register (if you own your own home) or a rental agreement;
7. a certificate proving German language proficiency at least at B1 level;
8. proof of knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany (certificate of passing the naturalization test, German school certificate or university diploma).

Most often, immigrants obtain a German passport by naturalization - this is a complex process, the specific details of which may vary depending on the individual situation. As a rule, to become a German citizen, you need to go through the following steps:

1. Obtaining an entry permit. Most immigrants from outside the EU need a D visa to come to Germany, which can be obtained by contacting the consulate or embassy where you live.
2. Obtaining a residence permit. The grounds for obtaining a residence permit can be employment, study, family reunification, business activity and so on. To apply for a residence permit, you should apply to the State Migration Service. The residence permit is issued for a period of up to 4 years and can be extended for a similar period.
3. Residence in Germany. To obtain the right to citizenship, you must live in Germany for 5 years or more. During this time, one should take integration courses, learn the state language, as well as actively participate in public life and be law-abiding.
4. Collecting a package of documents. To successfully obtain citizenship in Germany, it is important to collect a comprehensive package of documents, which should include evidence of your compliance with the requirements of the law. The dossier should be supplemented with certificates of German language proficiency at the B1 level, as well as passing the naturalization exam.
5. Submission of an application for citizenship. The application for citizenship must be submitted to the authorized institution at the place of residence together with the package of documents. You can find out where exactly to apply at the Migration Counseling Center, district office, city administration or the Office for Foreigners. When the application is being processed, the applicant may be invited to an interview to check his or her knowledge of German society, the national language and the purpose of the application. Applicants usually receive an answer on granting or refusing citizenship within 18 months.
6. Taking the oath of allegiance. After a positive decision, you will be invited to a ceremony where you will have to swear an oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Germany. At the end of the event, you will be given a certificate of citizenship, which will allow you to execute the internal documents of the country.
7. Application for internal documents. To obtain a German passport, which allows you to visit visa-free countries, as well as an ID card, you must go to the Citizens' Office where you are registered and submit your recent photographs, your citizenship certificate and residence registration, as well as a completed application for an ID card. The staff of the competent authority will check your status and then produce your documents and notify you when you can pick them up.

How much time and money it takes to obtain a German passport

Depending on the method of acquiring citizenship in Germany, the length of the procedure may vary. In the standard case, it is necessary to fulfill the requirement for a mandatory period of residence in the country, wait for the processing of the immigration request and the decision of the authorized bodies.

For certain categories of applicants, the residency requirement is 3 years, but most immigrants who wish to obtain the status of a German citizen must live in the country for 5 years. More detailed terms of the procedure of obtaining a German passport and the amount of administrative fees are shown below:

1. Obtaining a national visa: processing time is 2-3 months, and the cost is 75 EUR.
2. Residence permit (RP) application: processing time is up to 1.5 months, and the cost is 100 EUR.
3. Extension of RP: the cost is 93 EUR.
4. Naturalization test: the timeframe is determined individually, and the cost is 25 EUR.
5. Application for standard naturalization: the process takes approximately 12 months, with a cost of 255 EUR for adults and 51 EUR for children.
6. Application for expedited naturalization: the cost is 255 EUR.
7. Passport issuance: for individuals under 24 years old: processing time is 4-6 weeks, and the cost is 69 EUR; for individuals over 24 years old: processing time is 4-6 weeks, and the cost is 101 EUR.
8. ID card issuance: for individuals under 24 years old: the cost is 63.80 EUR; for individuals over 24 years old: the cost is 78 EUR.
9. Express issuance of a passport or ID card: processing time is 3 working days, with an additional cost of 32 EUR.

Feedback from immigrants who have obtained a German passport often mentions the need to add to the total cost of citizenship registration the fees of a certified translator and a notary who will help in the preparation and legalization of documents. Also, long-term residence in the country implies spending on rent, utilities, food and so on.

What doesn't work: how you can't get a German passport

Obtaining the status of a German citizen directly depends on strict compliance with the requirements and conditions of the legislation. However, there is often a belief in society that it is possible to use roundabout ways of obtaining a passport - these include the following:

1. Buying a ready-made passport. The sale and purchase of a passport of any country is an offense punishable by law. It is not possible to buy German citizenship and any such action is fraudulent.
2. Fake marriage. Marriage to a German citizen for the sake of obtaining citizenship will not work, because the migration service and other authorized bodies perform a thorough check of all unions between Germans and foreigners. If evidence of a fictitious relationship is found, the marriage is annulled and the perpetrators are prosecuted.
3. Childbirth in Germany. A child born to foreign parents in Germany acquires German citizenship only if one of the parents has had a legal permanent residence in Germany for 5 years. In other cases, the birth in the country will not give the opportunity to issue a passport of German citizenship to either the child or the parents.
4. Investments. Investing financial resources in the purchase of real estate does not allow you to make a request for a German passport, and investing in an existing business or launching your own business on the territory of the state is only the basis for obtaining a residence permit. Citizenship is granted to investors only if the residency requirement is met.

To live and work on the territory of Germany, it is not necessary to have its passport. Having obtained citizenship of any EU country, you can legally move to Germany without the need to obtain any permits. A number of EU countries have simplified programs with a reduced list of requirements for applicants, allowing you to obtain a second passport in up to 14 months. To find the best way to move to the EU, contact migration lawyers.

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Dual citizenship in Germany: Is it allowed to hold more than one passport?

According to the latest changes in German legislation, from 2024 German citizens are allowed to have a second passport. Until then, one of the mandatory requirements in the naturalization procedure was the refusal of the current national document. The reason for the permission to have a second citizenship was the desire of the country's authorities to facilitate the integration of immigrants into the local society without forcing them to renounce their roots.

Dual citizenship implies simultaneous possession of passports of two countries, with each state recognizing the second status under the terms of international treaties. At the moment Germany has no such conventions with any other country.

Where it is easier to get a second passport: an overview of alternatives

One of the easiest ways to obtain an EU passport is repatriation, which implies that the applicant has ethnic or territorial affiliation to a nation or country of the European Union. At the moment, programs of this type exist in Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria - registration of citizenship under them takes up to 14 months and costs significantly cheaper than going through the naturalization procedure.

In the XX century the borders of states in Europe changed many times and migration processes were extremely intensive. Therefore, almost any person, if desired, can find roots that would allow them to obtain citizenship of one of the EU countries. To check your eligibility for the repatriation program, contact international law lawyers - they will analyze your situation and offer a personal immigration plan. Take the first step towards European citizenship by signing up for a free consultation.