Citizenship rules (2024 reform, updated 2025)
- Citizenship after 5 years of legal residence (reduced from 8)
- Dual citizenship now allowed — you do not have to give up your original passport
- The 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025 — 5 years is now the minimum
- B1 German language minimum — must be demonstrated
What counts as proof of B1?
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1
- telc Deutsch B1
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) passed at B1, for example at the end of an integration course
- German secondary school certificate
Other Einbürgerung requirements
- 5+ years of legal residence in Germany
- Financial self-sufficiency (no Bürgergeld/social welfare)
- No serious criminal record
- Commitment to Germany's democratic values
- Passing the Einbürgerungstest (citizenship knowledge test)
Practise for this step
Practise for the B1 exam you need for citizenship B1 level · paid See what’s inside →More practice
Grammar guides
Free A1 grammar lessons
Sources
- § 10 StAG – Einbürgerung (Gesetzestext)
- Deutscher Bundestag – Einbürgerung nach drei Jahren abgeschafft (Okt. 2025)
Last checked: November 2026
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so please confirm your case with the German embassy or the responsible authority.