German Citizenship in 2026: How to Get It — and Keep Your Old Passport

What Changed — the 2024 Reform and the 2025 Rollback

Two laws reshaped German citizenship recently, and you should know both. The June 2024 reform brought the big wins: dual citizenship became generally allowed (the renunciation requirement was deleted from the law entirely), the standard residence requirement dropped from eight years to five, and children born in Germany get citizenship at birth if a parent has lived here lawfully for five years with a permanent right of residence.

In October 2025, the new government rolled one piece back: the 3-year fast track for people with exceptional integration achievements was abolished, effective 30 October 2025 — with no transition rules. Courts have since confirmed that applications filed before that date but not yet decided are judged under the new law. Everything else survived: dual citizenship, the 5-year rule and birthright citizenship were not touched.

One more thing worth knowing: dishonesty has become more expensive. Since December 2025, anyone whose naturalization is withdrawn for deception — or who is caught lying in the application — is barred from naturalizing for ten years (§35a StAG). Answer everything truthfully, including the uncomfortable questions.

The Requirements in 2026

Spouses and Children

The Einbürgerungstest — Easier Than It Sounds

The naturalization test is 33 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, drawn from a public pool of 310 (300 general plus 10 about your federal state). You pass with 17 correct answers — and the pass rate is high, because every question and answer is published in advance. You register at a licensed test centre, usually a Volkshochschule, and the fee is €25.

Step by Step to Your German Passport

The Waiting Reality (and What You Can Do About It)

Here's the part the official portals skip: meeting the requirements is the predictable half. The unpredictable half is the queue. Naturalization offices in big cities are working through enormous backlogs — in Berlin, waits well over a year between application and decision are common, while a small town might decide in a few months. Plan around that instead of being surprised by it.

Dual Citizenship and Your Home Country

Germany's side of the equation is now unconditional: you do not give anything up, and Germans who take another citizenship no longer lose their German one either. But your home country has its own law, and that's the part you need to check. Many countries are relaxed about dual nationality; some require you to ask permission before (or when) acquiring a foreign citizenship — Egypt is a well-known example — and a few don't recognize dual citizenship at all, which can mean losing your original one. The rules change, and embassies apply them differently, so confirm with your country's embassy or consulate before you apply, not after.

Practical note for your documents: birth and marriage certificates usually need a certified translation plus an apostille or legalization depending on your country — our documents guide explains the difference and the mistakes that cause delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

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