A national passport is a (travel) identity card/passport issued to you by the authorities of your country of origin and documents your nationality and personal details. This passport contains a photo of you and states your surname, first name, date and place of birth. You can use this ID to identify yourself and travel abroad.

Periods in Germany during which you have a residence permit, settlement permit or EU Blue Card are considered legal. If you are a national of a European Union member state or an equivalent national of an EEA state (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland, your stay in Germany is generally considered legal. For recognized refugees and persons entitled to asylum, the periods of previous permission to stay also count.

Proof of knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany is provided by taking a naturalization test or passing the "Living in Germany" test or successfully completing a general education school in Germany.

You must have at least a "German" language certificate at level B1.

You can obtain a language certificate after passing an examination at any recognized language examination center.

For a foreigner who entered the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany on the basis of an agreement on the recruitment and placement of workers by June 30, 1974 as of October 2, 1990 or as a contract worker by June 13, 1990 in the territory referred to in Article 3 of the Unification Treaty or as their spouse in the temporal context (members of the so-called guest worker generation or so-called contract workers in the GDR), it is sufficient to meet the requirements if they can communicate orally in German without significant problems in everyday life.

In principle, naturalization is only possible if you do not receive benefits under the 2nd and/or 12th Social Code.

Due to the new regulation of citizenship law, there are exceptions for guest workers who came to the FRG before June 30, 1974 or who came to the GDR as so-called contract workers before June 13, 1990.

Naturalization is not possible if you have been convicted of an unlawful act. Convictions for minor fines must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

A liberal democratic basic order within the meaning of the Basic Law is a form of government that does not recognize the rule of force and arbitrariness. State power is exercised by the people through their elected representatives in parliament. It includes a constitutional state that protects the human dignity, freedom and equality of every individual.

It is important for your naturalization that you have understood and accept the elements of the free democratic basic order. You must declare your commitment to the fundamental values of the free democratic basic order with your signature before naturalization.

Anti-Semitic, racist, anti-gender or anti-sexual orientation or other inhuman acts are incompatible with the guarantee of human dignity in the Basic Law.

If there are indications of extremist or terrorist activity, naturalization is excluded.

Due to the new regulation of citizenship law, you must also acknowledge Germany's special historical responsibility for the National Socialist reign of injustice and its consequences, in particular for the protection of Jewish life.

Naturalization is not possible if you do not have a valid residence permit or a residence permit in accordance with the following provisions of the Residence Act:

• § 16a Vocational training; further vocational training
• § 16b Studies
• § Section 16d Measures for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
• § 16e Study-related internship EU
• § 16f Language courses and school attendance
• § 17 Search for a training or study place
• § Section 18f Residence permit for mobile researchers
• § 19 ICT card for employees transferred within the company
• § 19b Mobile ICT card
• § 19e Participation in the European Voluntary Service
• § 20 Job search for skilled workers
• § 20a Opportunity card
• § 22 Admission from abroad
• § Section 23a Granting residence in cases of hardship
• § Section 24 Granting residence for temporary protection
• § Section 25 (3) to (5) Residence on humanitarian grounds
• § Section 104c Right of residence on opportunity

If you are in possession of a residence permit under one of the legal bases that does not entitle you to naturalization in Germany, you must first apply for a settlement permit. To do this, contact the Foreigners' Registration Office and ask for a consultation appointment.

As a precautionary measure, please note that a naturalization application can only be processed once all documents are complete.

Please also note that you are obliged to notify us immediately of any changes in your personal and financial circumstances by submitting suitable evidence (e.g. marriage, separation from your spouse, divorce, change of employer, receipt of benefits under the Second or Twelfth Book of the German Social Code, criminal offense, relocation, etc.).