Naturalization in Germany in 2026: What Has Changed in the Citizenship Law

In Germany, following the reform of the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG), it has become possible to obtain citizenship through naturalization more quickly than under the old rules: the general residency requirement has been reduced from eight to five years. However, there is an important clarification for 2026: the separate accelerated naturalization track—which allowed for naturalization in three years and was introduced by the 2024 reform—has already been repealed.

What Has Changed Since the StAG Reform

The Citizenship Modernization Act took effect on June 27, 2024. Its main implications for applicants are:

The standard minimum period of legal residence required for naturalization is now five years, down from the previous eight;
Germany has generally stopped requiring applicants to renounce their other citizenship when obtaining German citizenship;
For children born in Germany to foreign parents, the requirements for acquiring citizenship by birth have been relaxed;
Some of the requirements for applicants have been clarified, including integration, language proficiency, financial self-sufficiency, and recognition of a free democratic system.

This does not mean an automatic right to a passport after five years. Naturalization remains a procedure that involves verifying all requirements: residence status, income, language proficiency, absence of serious criminal convictions, integration, and documentation.

Residency Period: Five Years as the Basic Rule

As a general rule, you can apply for naturalization (Einbürgerung) after five years of lawful, regular residence in Germany, provided the other requirements of the StAG are met. In practice, this means that simply living in Germany is not enough: the authorities will examine what type of residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) you hold, whether you can support yourself financially, whether you have verified knowledge of the German language, and whether other conditions are met.

Before submitting your application, you should check:

Does your type of residence count toward the naturalization period?
Do you have a complete set of documents regarding your income, housing, insurance, and marital status?
whether the naturalization test is required or if there are grounds for an exemption;
whether the applicant’s German language proficiency is sufficiently documented;
Are there any circumstances that could delay the processing of the application?

Three-year naturalization is no longer a viable option

The original 2024 reform provided for the possibility of naturalization after three years in cases of exceptional integration achievements, such as very good German language skills and additional signs of strong integration. However, this provision was repealed by a law that took effect on October 30, 2025.

Therefore, in 2026, you should not base your plan for applying for citizenship on the “three years + C1 + special achievements” formula. For most applicants, the benchmark remains a minimum of five years of residence, provided the other conditions are met.

If you have already prepared documents based on the old “turbo-naturalization” guidelines, check the current status with the naturalization office (Einbürgerungsbehörde) in your area of residence. It is especially important to clarify transitional cases—such as if your application was submitted before the rules changed or if the office has already been corresponding with you regarding your case.

Multiple Citizenship: What Germany Has Permitted

Following the reform, Germany generally permits multiple citizenship. This means that, as a general rule, German authorities no longer require applicants to renounce their previous passport upon naturalization.

However, it is important to consider the other side of the issue: citizenship in another country is governed by that country’s laws. Some countries restrict or do not recognize dual citizenship, and sometimes require notification or a separate procedure. Therefore, before submitting an application, you should check not only German regulations but also the regulations of the country of your current citizenship.

Marriage to a German Citizen

For spouses of German citizens, the StAG has separate rules that, in some cases, allow them to apply earlier than the general five-year period. However, this does not mean that a passport is automatically issued after marriage. Typically, the agency reviews the length of residence in Germany, the duration of the marriage, shared family life, language proficiency, income, and other naturalization requirements.

If your situation involves marriage, it’s best to check the current requirements of your Einbürgerungsbehörde rather than relying on brief summaries found online. Procedures and the list of required documents may vary by federal state and municipality.

What to Prepare Before Applying

Minimum checklist for self-preparation:

Check with the relevant agency at your place of registration.
Check whether your Aufenthaltstitel counts toward naturalization.
Gather proof of residence in Germany for the required period.
Prepare your income and employment documents.
Check the language requirements and the naturalization test.
Order the necessary documents in advance if there are long wait times in your city.
Check the rules for retaining your previous citizenship under the laws of your country.

Common Mistakes

refer to the older articles on the three-year naturalization process;
to assume that five years of residence automatically grant citizenship;
Do not check whether a specific residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) is eligible;
forget about documents related to family, marriage, divorce, children, or a change of last name;
submit an incomplete set of documents and thereby prolong the process;
Do not take into account the rules of the second country in cases of multiple citizenship.

In Brief

In 2026, the main rule is as follows: standard naturalization in Germany is possible after five years of residence, provided all other conditions are met. Obtaining German citizenship has become significantly easier, but the three-year fast-track naturalization is no longer a general option. Before submitting your application, you should check the StAG requirements and the instructions from your local naturalization office (Einbürgerungsbehörde), because that office will be the one evaluating your specific set of documents.