OBTAIN GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

What benefits does a German citizen receive?

German citizenship gives you rights and freedoms that non-citizens do not have. As a German citizen, you will have the following opportunities:

• the right to vote;
• the right to freedom of movement;
• the right to assembly and association;
• the right to consular protection;
• unlimited access to the German labor market;
• the right to become a civil servant;

In addition to the rights provided by the German Constitution, you also have the responsibilities of every German citizen. This includes integration into society, respect and compliance with all laws, and even potential military service in Germany.

Methods of acquiring German citizenship

• By birth.
• Originally from Germany.
• As a result of adoption.
• Through naturalization.

Citizenship by birth can be obtained by:

• A child, one of whose parents has German citizenship.
• A child found on the territory of Germany.
• A child whose parents are not German citizens, if they have been in Germany for the past 8 years.

Citizenship by origin from Germany can be obtained by:

• A child, one of whose parents is a German citizen, if he did not acquire citizenship by birth.
• Children whose mothers lost their German citizenship as a result of marrying a foreigner.
• Children who lost their German citizenship at birth as a result of legalization by one of their parents, who is a foreigner.
• Descendants of the persons specified in items 1-3.

Obtain citizenship as a result of adoption

A person under the age of 18 acquires German citizenship as a result of being adopted by a German citizen. The acquisition of German citizenship extends to the child’s descendants.

It is possible to acquire citizenship as a result of naturalization under the following conditions:

• You must have lived in Germany for at least eight years with a residence permit, or for seven years if you have attended an integration course. For persons married to a German citizen, a three-year period of legal residence in Germany and a two-year period of marriage are sufficient.
• You must speak German at a level not lower than B1. This can be proven by submitting a certificate of completion of a course at B1 or higher (e.g. TELC certificate) or by submitting a 4-year school leaving certificate in which the language of instruction is German, or by providing a certificate of completion German language test.
• You must have the financial ability to support yourself and your family without public assistance. This is confirmed by the existence of an employment contract,
• You must be a law abiding citizen with no criminal record. At the same time, a criminal record in the form of a fine in the amount not exceeding 90 daily rates, as well as deprivation of liberty for a term of up to three months with release after the examination period, is not an obstacle to naturalization.
• You must pass a citizenship test.
• You must renounce your previous citizenship. This requirement does not apply to persons, if the law of the state of citizenship does not provide for renunciation of citizenship, or the state regularly does not grant permission to leave citizenship, or the state refuses for reasons beyond the will of the applicant, etc.

It usually includes a set of services

• translation of documents into German and their certification by a notary
• consultations and legal services
• help in filling out the application and questionnaire
• counseling and recommendations on passing the interview
• escort to the interview
• interpreter services if necessary
• help with housing and transport

The cost of getting German citizenship includes a duty of 255 euros, and for minors who receive citizenship together with their parents – 51 euros, and the cost of legal services, which depends on their volume.