--- title: Einbürgerung — Becoming a German Citizen by Application country: germany service: einbuergerung category: immigration difficulty: complex estimated_time: "Document gathering 6–18 months before submission (B1 certificate, Einbürgerungstest, civil-status documents with apostille and translation); authority processing ranges from about three months in the fastest cities to roughly forty-two months in the slowest, with a federal average near fourteen months and a 3-month benchmark for Bescheidung once the file is complete" cost_range: "Statutory fee EUR 255,00 per adult plus EUR 51,00 per co-naturalised minor under § 38 StAG; ancillary all-in budget commonly EUR 450–700 (B1 exam, Einbürgerungstest, translations, apostilles)" last_verified: 2026-05-17 canonical: https://publicservices.guide/germany/einbuergerung/ status: current confidence: low tags: - immigration - naturalisation - citizenship - einbuergerung - stag sources: - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__25.html - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__38.html - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__4.html - https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Einbuergerung_node.html - https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Ermessen14/Einbuergerung14_node.html - https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Online_Hinweise/Online/Sta_online_node.html - https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/downloads/DE/veroeffentlichungen/themen/verfassung/staatsangehoerigkeit/2505_anwendungshinweise-staatsangehoerigkeit.html - https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/kurzmeldungen/DE/2024/06/mod-staatsangehoerigkeitsrecht.html - https://stadt.muenchen.de/news/einbuergerung-bearbeitungszeit.html - https://www.hessenschau.de/politik/einbuergerung-36000-antraege-in-hessen-und-jahrelange-wartezeiten-v1,einbuergerungen-102.html - https://www.hamburg.de/politik-und-verwaltung/behoerden/behoerde-fuer-inneres-und-sport/online-einbuergerungsantrag-845832 - https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/ib-de/ich-moechte-mehr-wissen-ueber/einbuergerung/testen-sie-ihr-wissen-1872128 - https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/OnlineTestcenter/online-testcenter-node.html --- # Einbürgerung — Becoming a German Citizen by Application **Country:** 🇩🇪 Germany **Last verified:** 2026-05-17 **Estimated time:** Document gathering 6–18 months before submission (B1 certificate, Einbürgerungstest, civil-status documents with apostille and translation); authority processing ranges from about three months in the fastest cities to roughly forty-two months in the slowest, with a federal average near fourteen months and a 3-month benchmark for Bescheidung once the file is complete **Cost:** Statutory fee EUR 255,00 per adult plus EUR 51,00 per co-naturalised minor under § 38 StAG; ancillary all-in budget commonly EUR 450–700 (B1 exam, Einbürgerungstest, translations, apostilles) ## Required documents - **Valid passport** *(Reisepass)* - Required: Original current-nationality passport plus any prior passports held during the qualifying residence period (travel-history evidence) - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ Per § 10 StAG, identity and current nationality must be geklärt. Applicants from countries with limited consular cooperation should plan extra lead time — the single most common cause of file delay. - **Current unlimited residence document** *(Niederlassungserlaubnis / Daueraufenthalt-EU / equivalent Aufenthaltstitel)* - Required: Unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht required by § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG, plus prior Aufenthaltstitel covering the 5-year qualifying period if applicable - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ A temporary Aufenthaltserlaubnis is generally insufficient unless held for a permanent purpose recognised by the BMI Anwendungshinweise. EU-Freizügigkeitsrecht counts as equivalent for EU-citizen applicants. - **Extended registration certificate** *(Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung)* - Required: Issued by the Einwohnermeldeamt; must show the full Meldeadresse history across the 5-year qualifying period - Where to get: Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt of your current Wohnsitz - Cost: Approximately EUR 5–15 (set by municipal fee schedule) - _Note:_ The standard Meldebescheinigung shows only the current address — request the erweiterte (extended) version explicitly. - **Foreign civil-status documents** *(Geburtsurkunde, Heiratsurkunde, Scheidungsurteil)* - Required: Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde), marriage certificate where applicable (Heiratsurkunde), divorce or death certificates where relevant — apostilled or legalised, with a German translation by a publicly appointed and sworn translator (öffentlich bestellt und beeidigt) - Where to get: Civil registry of the issuing country; apostille via that country's designated authority; translation by a German court-sworn translator - Cost: EUR 30–80 per document typical; complex documents and rare-language pairs cost more - _Note:_ Documents from countries not party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention require Legalisation rather than apostille — materially slower and often involving the German embassy in the country of issue. Plan 6–12 months of lead time for non-Apostille jurisdictions. - **B1 language certificate** *(Sprachzertifikat B1 (GER))* - Required: Per § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 StAG, German at Common European Framework level B1 — Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, ÖSD B1, Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), or an equivalent German educational qualification - Cost: EUR 150–250 depending on provider - _Note:_ The Lebensleistung exception under § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 4 StAG waives the written certificate for the Gastarbeitergeneration and DDR Vertragsarbeiter cohorts — oral everyday-language competence is sufficient. - **Einbürgerungstest certificate** *(Einbürgerungstest „Leben in Deutschland")* - Required: Original or certified copy of the test certificate (33 questions, 17 correct to pass). Exempt applicants supply the documentary basis (recognised German Schulabschluss, German university degree in legal/social/political/administrative sciences, Lebensleistung cohort, age, or illness/disability) - Where to get: Volkshochschulen and BAMF-registered test centres - Cost: EUR 25 (set centrally by BAMF for participating providers) - _Note:_ Per the Federal Integration Commissioner, waivers also apply to applicants under 16 and to applicants unable to fulfil the requirement due to illness, disability, or age. - **Income and livelihood evidence** *(Einkommens- und Lebensunterhaltsnachweis)* - Required: Per § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG: Lebensunterhalt secured without Bürgergeld (SGB II) or Sozialhilfe (SGB XII). Employees: Gehaltsabrechnungen for the last 12 months plus Arbeitsvertrag. Self-employed: the last two Einkommensteuerbescheide plus most recent Gewinnermittlung or tax-adviser statement - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ Limited exceptions apply where benefit receipt is nicht zu vertreten (documented medical incapacity, full-time care obligations, employer insolvency followed by reintegration) and for the Gastarbeitergeneration and DDR Vertragsarbeiter cohorts under § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 3 StAG. - **Health-insurance and pension proof** *(Krankenversicherung und Sozialversicherungsnachweis)* - Required: Current Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung from the statutory or private health insurer, plus Sozialversicherungsausweis. Some Länder additionally request a Rentenversicherungsverlauf from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ Continuous coverage during the qualifying period strengthens the livelihood case under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG. - **Housing evidence** *(Mietvertrag oder Eigentumsnachweis)* - Required: Current rental contract (Mietvertrag) or proof of ownership, plus most recent utility bill (Nebenkostenabrechnung or equivalent) confirming the address - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ Reinforces the Meldeadresse history and Lebensunterhalt assessment. Format expectations vary by Bundesland — check the Land-specific Antragsvordruck checklist. ## Costs - **Statutory naturalisation fee — adult applicant:** 255 EUR — § 38 Abs. 2 StAG fixes this fee uniformly at 255 Euro. § 38 Abs. 4 allows reduction or full waiver on grounds of Billigkeit (equity) or öffentliches Interesse — the bar is non-trivial and Land-variable. - **Statutory naturalisation fee — co-naturalised minor child:** 51 EUR — § 38 Abs. 2 StAG fixes this fee at 51 Euro per minor child who has no independent income within the meaning of the Einkommensteuergesetz. § 38 Abs. 3 lists fee-exempt categories including naturalisation under Art. 116 Abs. 2 Grundgesetz, § 15 StAG restitution paths, and § 5 StAG declaration acquisition. - **Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis (where applicant-procured):** 13 EUR — Many Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörden procure the Führungszeugnis directly under the Regelanfrage — check the local Land checklist before paying. - **Beglaubigte Kopie at the Bürgeramt:** 5–10 EUR — Charged per item; municipal fee schedules vary across the range. ## Steps ### 1. Self-assessment against § 10 StAG (typically 6–18 months before submission) - Check the residence clock: at least 5 years of lawful ordinary residence in Germany under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 StAG, counting from first lawful registration; gaps and unlawful periods do not count - Confirm an unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht (Niederlassungserlaubnis, Daueraufenthalt-EU, EU-Freizügigkeitsrecht, or equivalent) under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG - Verify livelihood without reliance on Bürgergeld or Sozialhilfe under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG, including any nicht-zu-vertreten justification for past receipt - Confirm a clean criminal record within the thresholds of § 12a StAG, with the absolute bar for antisemitic, racist, xenophobic, or other anti-human-dignity motives - Verify language and civic-knowledge readiness — B1 certificate path, or test-exemption path, or Lebensleistung path under § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 4 StAG > **Tip:** Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and several other cities offer an online Quick-Check tool to confirm eligibility before formal application — use it early to surface gaps before document gathering begins. _Links:_ - [StAG — consolidated text on gesetze-im-internet.de](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html) - [§ 10 StAG — Anspruchseinbürgerung](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) ### 2. Document gathering — language, test, civil status, livelihood - Obtain the B1 language certificate (Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, ÖSD B1, Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, or equivalent German educational qualification) — or document the Lebensleistung exception - Book and pass the Einbürgerungstest „Leben in Deutschland“ at a VHS or BAMF-registered provider — or document a test exemption - Obtain foreign civil-status documents (Geburtsurkunde, Heiratsurkunde, divorce/death certificates where relevant) with apostille or Legalisation and certified translation by a publicly appointed and sworn translator - Gather livelihood evidence (Gehaltsabrechnungen + Arbeitsvertrag, or Einkommensteuerbescheide for self-employed) plus Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung and Sozialversicherungsausweis - Request the Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung covering the full 5-year residence history > **If this fails:** Start apostille/Legalisation early — non-Apostille jurisdictions can require 6–12 months of lead time and often involve the German embassy in the country of issue. ### 3. Submit the application (online portal or paper) - Identify the competent Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde at your municipal or Land level (Bürgeramt, Einwohnermeldeamt, Landratsamt, or a dedicated Einbürgerungsbehörde depending on your Bundesland) - If your Land or city accepts digital applications: submit via the Land portal or the Bundesportal using eID Personalausweis with PIN or an eIDAS-compliant high-assurance method, and upload documents as PDFs - Otherwise: download the current Antragsvordruck from the competent authority, fill it out, sign it, and submit by post or at an in-person counter slot - Wait for the Eingangsbestätigung (receipt) — typically electronic if applied online > **Tip:** Always download the current Antragsvordruck from the competent Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde — the one corresponding to your registered Wohnsitz. Forms changed materially in many Länder during 2024–2025 and a generic or out-of-Land form will be returned. _Links:_ - [Hamburg — Online-Einbürgerungsantrag (Quick-Check)](https://www.hamburg.de/politik-und-verwaltung/behoerden/behoerde-fuer-inneres-und-sport/online-einbuergerungsantrag-845832) - [Bundesportal — naturalisation online-Antrag instructions](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Online_Hinweise/Online/Sta_online_node.html) ### 4. Authority review — Nachforderungen, security check, livelihood verification - The Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde verifies documents and issues Nachforderungen (requests for missing items) — respond promptly to keep the file moving - The authority runs the criminal-record check against the Bundeszentralregister and the security-clearance check (Regelanfrage) with the Verfassungsschutz - Livelihood and identity files are reviewed against § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG and the identity-clarification standard - Communication during this phase is normally by post; most file delays are attributable to slow applicant response to Nachforderungen, not authority delay > **If this fails:** If the authority's silence extends beyond a reasonable period after the file is complete, administrative escalation (Sachstandsanfrage, supervisor request) is the first step. Untätigkeitsklage under § 75 VwGO is available but practitioners typically counsel 6–12 months of waiting and administrative escalation first. ### 5. Vorsprache and Loyalitätserklärung signing - Once the file is complete and checks return clean, the authority invites you to a Vorsprache (in-person appearance) to sign the current-wording Loyalitätserklärung - Per the post-Modernisierungsgesetz framework, the declaration includes acceptance of the freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung, recognition of Germany's special historical responsibility regarding the Nazi regime and its consequences (particularly the protection of Jewish life), and rejection of antisemitism - Declarations signed before mid-2024 may need to be re-executed in the current wording — bring identification and be prepared to re-sign - In some Länder this step is folded into the Einbürgerungsfeier ceremony; in others it precedes the Bescheid ### 6. Bescheid and fee payment - The authority issues the Einbürgerungsbescheid (or, where transitional handling of a prior citizenship is needed, a Zusicherungsbescheid first) - Pay the fee against the Gebührenbescheid — EUR 255,00 per adult plus EUR 51,00 per co-naturalised minor under § 38 Abs. 2 StAG - Where § 38 Abs. 4 hardship reduction or waiver applies, submit supporting evidence and await the adjusted Gebührenbescheid > **Tip:** Keep the Bescheid and proof of payment with your records — banks, employers, and the Bürgeramt may rely on them. ### 7. Einbürgerungsfeier (ceremony) and Einbürgerungsurkunde - The Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde invites you (and any co-applying family) to the Einbürgerungsfeier - The ceremony includes a commitment statement on the Grundgesetz, a short address by the authority, and handover of the Einbürgerungsurkunde (naturalisation certificate) - Citizenship takes legal effect on the date specified in the Einbürgerungsurkunde - Apply for a German Personalausweis and Reisepass at your local Bürgeramt afterwards > **Tip:** The Einbürgerungsfeier is often modest and warm — a few hundred new citizens in a Rathaus hall, a Wappen on the certificate, a handshake. Friends and family can usually attend; check the invitation for capacity rules. ## FAQ ### How long does the residence clock under § 10 StAG actually take to start running? Per § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 StAG, the 5-year clock runs from the date of first lawful ordinary residence registration in Germany. Per the BMI Anwendungshinweise zum StAG (Stand 1 May 2025), short trips abroad do not interrupt the clock provided the centre of life remained in Germany. Periods of unlawful stay and gaps in lawful residence do not count toward the threshold. ### Is the 3-year fast-track naturalisation pathway still available? No. The accelerated pathway introduced by the Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (in force 27 June 2024) for applicants with C1-level German and besondere Integrationsleistungen was repealed by a subsequent amending act effective 30 October 2025. The live § 10 StAG text marks Absatz 3 as weggefallen (repealed). The standard 5-year residence requirement under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 remains the only Anspruchseinbürgerung threshold. Guidance published between June 2024 and late October 2025 that still describes a 3-year route is out of date — always cross-check the date of any source. ### Can I keep my original nationality after naturalising as a German? Per the BMI policy framing of the Modernisierungsgesetz, Mehrstaatigkeit (multiple nationality) is generally permitted and applicants are no longer required to give up their previous nationality. The other country's law may still treat acquisition of German citizenship as automatic loss of original citizenship, however — several countries do not permit dual nationality and will deregister citizens who naturalise abroad. Always check the rules of your country of origin separately. The operative architecture of § 25 StAG (loss of German citizenship through voluntary acquisition of another nationality) is not present in the live consolidated public statute text — confirm current loss mechanics with the BMI Anwendungshinweise or a Fachanwalt für Migrationsrecht. ### Who qualifies for the Lebensleistung language exception? Per § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 4 StAG, oral everyday-language competence in German is sufficient — no written B1 certificate required — for the Anwerbeabkommen-generation Gastarbeiter who entered up to 30 June 1974, DDR Vertragsarbeiter who entered up to 13 June 1990, and the spouses of these cohorts who joined within close temporal connection. The waiver recognises decades of de facto integration without forcing late-life formal testing. ### What does the Einbürgerungstest contain? Per the Federal Integration Commissioner, the Einbürgerungstest „Leben in Deutschland“ has 33 multiple-choice questions, of which 3 are Bundesland-specific to the applicant's Wohnsitz. The pass threshold is 17 correct answers. Waivers cover applicants under 16, the Lebensleistung generation, applicants holding a recognised German Schulabschluss or a German university degree in legal, social, political, or administrative sciences, and applicants who cannot fulfil the requirement due to illness, disability, or age. ### Why are processing times so different across Bundesländer and cities? There is no statutory deadline. The BMI Anwendungshinweise reference a 3-month benchmark for Bescheidung once the file is complete, but this is widely missed. Documented current spread: fast cities (Meerbusch around 3 months, Bonn, Erlangen, Heidelberg, Wolfsburg) under 6 months; mid-range (Berlin, Hamburg, much of Niedersachsen and Rheinland-Pfalz) 8–18 months; slow Länder and cities (Munich 18+ months and rising, Hessen averaging around 24 months, Leipzig around 42 months) materially longer. Application volume doubled across most Länder after the June 2024 reform and continues at elevated levels; digitisation maturity is also uneven. ### What is the Untätigkeitsklage and when should I consider it? If the authority does not decide within a reasonable period (angemessene Frist), § 75 Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (VwGO) opens an Untätigkeitsklage — an inactivity lawsuit at the Verwaltungsgericht — that can compel a decision. The 3-month threshold is judicially construed and varies by Land and file complexity. Practitioners often counsel 6–12 months of waiting and administrative escalation first. Specialist legal advice is appropriate before filing. ### Why is recent Bürgergeld receipt a problem under § 10 StAG? Per § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG, the Lebensunterhalt must be secured without reliance on Bürgergeld (the post-2023 successor to Arbeitslosengeld II) or Sozialhilfe under SGB XII. Receipt is excused only where it is nicht zu vertreten (not the applicant's fault) — a narrow test usually limited to documented medical incapacity, full-time care obligations, or employer insolvency followed by demonstrable reintegration. Aufstockerbezug (in-work top-up benefits) is typically also disqualifying. Limited statutory exceptions cover the Gastarbeitergeneration and DDR Vertragsarbeiter cohorts under § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 3. ### Can I apply through the Bundesverwaltungsamt if I live in Germany? No. Per the BVA's own scope statement, the Bundesverwaltungsamt is competent under § 14 StAG only for applicants residing abroad, and for federal coordination of § 13 re-naturalisation, § 5 Erklärungserwerb, § 15 restitution, and Art. 116 Abs. 2 Grundgesetz restitution. A resident applicant submits to the locally competent Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde at municipal or Land level — never directly to the BVA. The § 14 pathway is Ermessen (discretionary) — there is no statutory entitlement. ## Sources - [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — Consolidated StAG text in the post-Modernisierungsgesetz architecture: § 10 sets the Anspruchseinbürgerung framework — 5-year residence threshold (Abs. 1 Nr. 1), Bekenntnis zur freiheitlichen demokratischen Grundordnung (Nr. 2), Lebensunterhalt clause (Nr. 3), clean-record clause (Nr. 5), B1 language requirement (Nr. 6), Kenntnisse der Rechts- und Gesellschaftsordnung (Nr. 7), with the Lebensleistung oral-language alternative at § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 4. § 12 is marked weggefallen; § 25 historically governed loss of citizenship through voluntary acquisition of another nationality. - [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — StAG § 10](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 10 StAG live text shows Abs. 3 marked (weggefallen) — the 3-year accelerated naturalisation pathway introduced by the Modernisierungsgesetz (in force 27 June 2024) was repealed by a subsequent amending act effective 30 October 2025. The standard 5-year residence requirement under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 remains the only Anspruchseinbürgerung threshold. - [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — StAG § 25](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__25.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 25 StAG live text returns (weggefallen) — the historic provision on loss of German citizenship through voluntary acquisition of another nationality is no longer present in the consolidated public text. Confirm current operative dual-nationality loss mechanics through the BMI Anwendungshinweise zum StAG (Stand 1 May 2025) before relying on pre-reform commentary. - [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — StAG § 38](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__38.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 38 Abs. 2 StAG fixes the statutory fee at 255 Euro for naturalisation and 51 Euro for the co-naturalisation of a minor child without independent income within the meaning of the Einkommensteuergesetz. § 38 Abs. 3 lists fee-exempt categories (including Art. 116 Abs. 2 GG and § 15 StAG). § 38 Abs. 4 allows reduction or full waiver of the fee on grounds of Billigkeit (equity) or öffentliches Interesse (public interest). - [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — StAG § 4](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__4.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 4 Abs. 3 StAG sets the ius soli rule for children born in Germany to foreign parents: at least one parent must have at least five years of lawful ordinary residence in Germany and an unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht at the time of birth. - [Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) — Einbürgerung overview](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Einbuergerung_node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BVA hub for federally-coordinated naturalisation. The BVA is competent under § 14 StAG for applicants abroad, for § 13 re-naturalisation, § 5 Erklärungserwerb, § 15 restitution, and Art. 116 Abs. 2 Grundgesetz restitution. Residents in Germany apply to the locally competent Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde at municipal or Land level, not to the BVA. - [Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) — § 14 StAG Auslandseinbürgerung](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Ermessen14/Einbuergerung14_node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — The § 14 StAG pathway covers applicants who live abroad and wish to acquire German citizenship. It is an Ermessen (discretionary) procedure — there is no Anspruch on naturalisation under § 14. Taking up residence in Germany during the procedure changes the competent authority and the procedural footing. The BVA is the Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde for these abroad-resident applications. - [Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) — Online-Antrag instructions](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Online_Hinweise/Online/Sta_online_node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — The Bundesportal supports a digital naturalisation application route using online identification via the eID function of the Personalausweis with PIN, or another eIDAS-compliant high-assurance electronic identification method. Supporting documents are uploaded as PDFs. - [Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI) — Anwendungshinweise zum StAG, Stand 1 May 2025](https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/downloads/DE/veroeffentlichungen/themen/verfassung/staatsangehoerigkeit/2505_anwendungshinweise-staatsangehoerigkeit.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BMI Anwendungshinweise zum StAG (AH StAG 2025) — the current caseworker reference for the post-Modernisierungsgesetz framework. Cites the 5-year standard residence threshold as the canonical Anspruchseinbürgerung pathway. The PDF carries Stand 1 May 2025 and therefore predates the 30 October 2025 amendment repealing § 10 Abs. 3 — cross-check the live StAG text for any 3-year pathway references. - [Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI) — Kurzmeldung Modernisierungsgesetz](https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/kurzmeldungen/DE/2024/06/mod-staatsangehoerigkeitsrecht.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BMI policy framing of the Modernisierungsgesetz (in force 27 June 2024): naturalisation generally possible after five rather than eight years; applicants no longer required to give up their previous nationality (general acceptance of Mehrstaatigkeit); Lebensleistung recognition for Gastarbeitergeneration and former DDR Vertragsarbeiter. - [Landeshauptstadt München — Bearbeitungszeit Einbürgerung](https://stadt.muenchen.de/news/einbuergerung-bearbeitungszeit.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — Munich processing-time disclosure: applications take roughly 18 months and continue to rise, driven by a sustained doubling of incoming applications since 2024. - [Hessischer Rundfunk (hessenschau) — Hessen-wide reporting](https://www.hessenschau.de/politik/einbuergerung-36000-antraege-in-hessen-und-jahrelange-wartezeiten-v1,einbuergerungen-102.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T2_ — Hessen state-broadcaster reporting: roughly 36,000 outstanding applications statewide with an average Bearbeitungszeit near 24 months, reflecting the sustained post-reform application surge. - [Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg — Online-Einbürgerungsantrag](https://www.hamburg.de/politik-und-verwaltung/behoerden/behoerde-fuer-inneres-und-sport/online-einbuergerungsantrag-845832) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — Hamburg digital naturalisation application: online Quick-Check available to confirm eligibility before formal submission; in-person Erstberatungsgespräch no longer required as a precondition. - [Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration — Einbürgerungstest](https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/ib-de/ich-moechte-mehr-wissen-ueber/einbuergerung/testen-sie-ihr-wissen-1872128) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — Einbürgerungstest structure: 33 multiple-choice questions including 3 Bundesland-specific items, pass threshold 17 correct answers. Waivers cover the Anwerbeabkommen-generation Gastarbeiter (entry up to 30 June 1974), DDR Vertragsarbeiter (entry up to 13 June 1990), holders of a recognised German Schulabschluss or German university degree in legal, social, political, or administrative sciences, applicants under 16, and applicants unable to fulfil the requirement due to illness, disability, or age. - [Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge — Online-Testcenter](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/OnlineTestcenter/online-testcenter-node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BAMF Online-Testcenter for Test ‚Leben in Deutschland' and Einbürgerungstest: a 310-question Gesamtfragenkatalog (300 federal + 10 state-specific) underlies both tests; the booklet contains 33 questions over 60 minutes, with 17 correct answers required to pass. Functional equivalence between the two tests is established by BAMF practice. --- Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state. Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/germany/einbuergerung/