Naturalization

Frequently asked questions

I only have a German course A 2. Can I still be naturalized?

In principle, you can make up for the B1 language certificate or the naturalization test during the current longer processing period. At the time of the final examination of your naturalization requirements, the B1 certificate is mandatory. Exceptions only apply to applicants over 70 years of age and under special circumstances.

I am a recognized refugee. Do I still need a passport?

In principle, yes. Your identity must be verified. The first step is to provide a valid national document. In special cases, an expired document can also be used as proof of identity. Please contact the Jena Citizenship Office.

Do I need a passport for a child born in Germany?

This is a case-by-case decision. If the child is fully registered by the registry office in Germany and you have "registered" the child in the respective home country, i.e. had it registered, you do not need to obtain a passport.

Will it be quicker if I hire a lawyer?

Everyone is free to seek legal advice, ideally from a lawyer who has experience in the field. Everyone should carefully weigh up their own costs, as legal representation does not guarantee faster processing or the success of the application, i.e. naturalization. The statements that the authorities have to write for the courts and the legal office are often an additional obstacle to speedy processing.

How is the application processed?

In principle, applications are processed after they are received, but there are exceptions. If you require naturalization due to civil service regulations (fire department, police, etc.) and are about to be employed as a civil servant, please contact us directly.

If you are interested in submitting an application, please send us an e-mail at einbuergerungen@jena.de with details of

• Your name,
• your date of birth
• your marital status,
• your country of origin and
• your period of residence, if applicable.

You will receive a list of the documents required for naturalization tailored to your individual case.

Current processing time: 18 months

We kindly ask you to refrain from asking about the current processing status within the processing period of 18 months. On the consultation days (TUESDAY or THURSDAY) you are welcome to enquire personally about the status of your application or submit additional documents. Your request will NOT be processed on closing days. By doing so, you help us to use our resources to process your application.

To ensure equal treatment of all applicants, applications are always processed according to the date of receipt. We would like to point out that hiring legal counsel will not speed up the processing of a naturalization application. Filing an action for failure to act will also not result in faster processing.

We will record your expression of interest and send you an appointment. We are currently allocating appointments for 2026.

Regularly required documents are for example

• extended registration certificate (application at the Citizens' Service)
• Passport or other documents to establish identity and to prove citizenship and residence status
• Proof of marital status (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, final divorce decree)
• Current passport photo (only for over 16-year-olds)
• Proof of income and assets (e.g. certificates of income, rental agreement, tax assessment notices, pension assessment notices, social benefit notices)
• Certificate of health insurance
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of German according to the requirements of the language test for the German certificate (language level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in oral and written form
• Naturalization test to prove knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (naturalization test is not required if proof of graduation from a German secondary school or a comparable or higher school-leaving certificate from a German general education school can be provided)
• school-leaving certificates from schools, universities, etc.
• Handwritten, completed curriculum vitae (for persons over 16 years of age)
• for pupils, the end-of-year reports from the last four years

Further documents may be required, e.g. proof of special residence status (asylum seeker, foreign refugee, etc.).

For documents in a foreign language, in addition to the original, a German translation by an interpreter based in Germany and publicly appointed or sworn for courts or authorities is required.

Payment is due at the end of the application process. Please pay by EC or credit card.

Naturalization confers German citizenship on a foreign national. In order to acquire German citizenship, the following requirements must be met:

1. eligibility for naturalization in accordance with Section 10 of the Citizenship Act (StAG)

• Legal residence in Germany for at least five years
• In the case of special integration achievements (e.g. integration course, language level C1 and economic independence), the required period of residence can be reduced to three years
• the naturalization applicant is an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement or holds a settlement permit or a specific residence permit
• Commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law (declaration of loyalty)
• No anti-constitutional activities or conviction for a criminal offense
• Securing a livelihood without claiming social benefits (in particular benefits according to SGB II and SGB XII)
• No conviction for a criminal offense
• Sufficient German language skills
• Knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (successful participation in a naturalization test)

Under certain circumstances, spouses and minor children can also be naturalized, even if they have not been legally resident in Germany for five years.

2. discretionary naturalization according to § 8 and 9 StAG

If the legal requirements are met, naturalization can be granted at the discretion of the supervisory authority (Thuringia State Administration Office) if a public interest in naturalization is established in the individual case or if naturalization serves to avoid particular hardship.

3. information on the processing of personal data can be found under the following link:

Information on the processing of personal data can be found here: Data protection.