Einbürgerung — Becoming a German Citizen by Application

Document Checklist

Reisepass Valid passport Required: Original current-nationality passport plus any prior passports held during the qualifying residence period (travel-history evidence)Cost: Already issued 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.
Niederlassungserlaubnis / Daueraufenthalt-EU / equivalent Aufenthaltstitel Current unlimited residence document Required: Unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht required by § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 StAG, plus prior Aufenthaltstitel covering the 5-year qualifying period if applicableCost: Already issued 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.
Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung Extended registration certificate Required: Issued by the Einwohnermeldeamt; must show the full Meldeadresse history across the 5-year qualifying periodWhere to get: Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt of your current WohnsitzCost: Approximately EUR 5–15 (set by municipal fee schedule) The standard Meldebescheinigung shows only the current address — request the erweiterte (extended) version explicitly.
Geburtsurkunde, Heiratsurkunde, Scheidungsurteil Foreign civil-status documents 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 translatorCost: EUR 30–80 per document typical; complex documents and rare-language pairs cost more 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.
Sprachzertifikat B1 (GER) B1 language certificate 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 qualificationCost: EUR 150–250 depending on provider 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 „Leben in Deutschland" Einbürgerungstest certificate 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 centresCost: EUR 25 (set centrally by BAMF for participating providers) 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.
Einkommens- und Lebensunterhaltsnachweis Income and livelihood evidence 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 statementCost: Already issued 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.
Krankenversicherung und Sozialversicherungsnachweis Health-insurance and pension proof Required: Current Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung from the statutory or private health insurer, plus Sozialversicherungsausweis. Some Länder additionally request a Rentenversicherungsverlauf from the Deutsche RentenversicherungCost: Already issued Continuous coverage during the qualifying period strengthens the livelihood case under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG.
Mietvertrag oder Eigentumsnachweis Housing evidence Required: Current rental contract (Mietvertrag) or proof of ownership, plus most recent utility bill (Nebenkostenabrechnung or equivalent) confirming the addressCost: Already issued Reinforces the Meldeadresse history and Lebensunterhalt assessment. Format expectations vary by Bundesland — check the Land-specific Antragsvordruck checklist.

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