Bundesportal | Applying for German citizenship as a foreign national with habitual residence abroad

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Publisher

Federal Office of Administration (BVA)

Last update or date of publication

April 9, 2026

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

Call 115 now

Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

Even if you live abroad, you can apply for German citizenship under certain conditions.

The prerequisite is that you have close ties to Germany, for example

through family members who live in Germany
through your German spouse or partner

If you are married or partnered with a German, the stay abroad of one of you must be in the public interest.

Naturalization is a discretionary decision by the Federal Office of Administration (BVA). This means that you are not entitled to naturalization.

If you meet the requirements for naturalization, you will receive a naturalization certificate. You will then have German citizenship.

You can also nominate an authorized person, for example a legal representative, for your application. You must enclose a power of attorney for this purpose.

Application for naturalization
Proof of parentage and identity, for example
- foreign identity documents, for example:
  - Passport
  - identity card
  - Foreigner's identity card
- birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
Proof of acquisition or possession of other nationalities
Other useful documents, if applicable:
- Name change documents or certificates
- Custody documents for applications for children under 16 years of age
- Certificates of German language proficiency, at least the German - B1 certificate of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Other documents that prove your close ties to Germany, for example

Certificates from German schools or universities
Flight tickets proving visits to Germany
Land register excerpts of German real estate in your possession
Employment contracts with German companies

Further information on the required documents:

Unless otherwise stated, you must enclose officially or notarized copies of all documents and evidence.
Foreign-language documents and evidence must be submitted with a translation by a sworn translator.

Label

Preconditions

You are a foreigner and live abroad. You have close ties to Germany.

You can prove your close ties to Germany, for example with

Certificates of German language skills, at least the German B1 certificate of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
many years of close contact with relatives or friends in Germany
longer or regular stays in Germany
property ownership in Germany
School-leaving certificate or vocational training in Germany
Membership of German cultural associations
Work for German authorities, companies or organizations

Further requirements:

Your identity and nationality have been established.
You are capable of acting. This means that you are at least 16 years old or are legally represented.
You have no criminal record.
You are able to support yourself and your family in the country in which you live without state assistance.
You have sufficient insurance cover against illness, the need for care, occupational disability or incapacity to work and for old age.
Your integration into German living conditions is guaranteed.
They do not pursue or support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities.
You declare your allegiance to the free and democratic basic order.
You pass the naturalization test.

Naturalization is a discretionary decision. It is examined whether people abroad can be naturalized as an exception. Important discretionary aspects are, for example

There is a German public interest in naturalization.
You are married or partnered with a German and the stay abroad of one of you is in the public interest

Hints

There are no indications or special features.

Please note:

Additional costs may be incurred for the procurement of documents, translations and notarizations.

Additional transfer fees may apply for transfers from a foreign account.

Naturalization certificate for adults
Fee
255.00 EUR
Advance payment
no
Naturalization certificate for a co-naturalized minor child up to the age of 18
Fee
51.00 EUR
Advance payment
no
Rejection notice for adults
Fee
25.00 to 255.00 EUR
Advance payment
no
Notice of refusal for a minor child to be naturalized
Fee
25.00 to 51.00 EUR
Advance payment
no

Basis for legal action

§ 14 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)

Legal Remedies

Contradiction

Procedure

You or a person authorized by you can apply for naturalization in writing or by appointment in person at your competent German diplomatic mission abroad or online or in writing to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA). In the course of the procedure, you must take the naturalization test.

Written or personal application:

You can obtain all the necessary information about the application and required documents and papers in advance by e-mail, telephone or after making an appointment in a personal interview at your responsible German diplomatic mission abroad.
You can download the application form directly from the BVA website.
Complete the application form in full and sign it.
Submit the signed application by post or in person together with the required supporting documents to your competent German diplomatic mission abroad.
You are not obliged to contact the diplomatic mission abroad when submitting your application. You can also submit the application with all documents directly to the BVA. However, it is recommended that you contact and submit your application via the diplomatic mission or consular post abroad, as they must issue a statement on your application.
The BVA will check your application and inform you if further documents and information are required to process the application.

Online application:

Call up the online application on the federal portal and complete the application form electronically.
Attach the required documents as files.
Submit the application.
The BVA will check your application and request certified copies of any necessary documents.
If necessary, the German diplomatic mission or consular post responsible for you will contact you to provide an opinion on your application.

Completion of the procedure (in writing and online):

You will receive an invitation to take the naturalization test from the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad.
Once the BVA has made its decision, you must pay the administrative fee.
If your application is approved, the BVA will send your naturalization certificate to your responsible German diplomatic mission abroad. They will inform you about the further procedure for issuing the naturalization certificate.
If the BVA rejects your application, you will usually also receive a notice of rejection from your competent German diplomatic mission abroad.

Deadlines

There is no deadline.

Processing time

14 months until 29 months
The examination of your application may involve time-consuming investigations.