Exam requirements guide
Which German certificate do I need for citizenship?
Germany's 2024 citizenship reform shortened timelines and opened the door to dual citizenship. Here's what each pathway asks for.
Last verified April 2026. Rules are sourced from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Government, and Make it in Germany. The Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts-Modernisierungsgesetz (StARModG) took effect on 27 June 2024.
Level required · B1
Standard naturalisation
- Years of residence
- 5 years · Reduced from 8 under StARModG (2024)
- Language
- B1
- Tests
- Einbürgerungstest + loyalty declaration · Plus financial self-sufficiency, clean record
The standard pathway is available after 5 years of legal residence in Germany. Applicants must show B1 German, pass the Einbürgerungstest (a 33-question test on German law, history, and values), declare their commitment to the democratic order of the Basic Law, support themselves and their dependants financially, and have no significant criminal record.
Sources: BMI press release (2024), Make it in Germany, Naturalisation.
Level required · C1
Accelerated naturalisation
- Years of residence
- 3 years · Reduced from 6 under StARModG (2024)
- Language
- C1 · Plus outstanding integration
- Also required
- Independent financial support · No state assistance for you or dependants
The 3-year fast track is open to applicants with particularly good integration: C1 German, plus at least one of (a) outstanding professional or academic achievement, or (b) sustained voluntary civic engagement. In every case, you must also cover living costs for yourself and any dependants without state assistance. The assessment is done by the local naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde).
Sources: BMI press release (2024), Federal Government press release.
Level required · B1
Spouse or partner of a German citizen
- Years of residence
- 3 years
- Marriage or partnership
- At least 2 years · Marriage and residence can overlap
- Language
- B1
Spouses and registered partners of German citizens can apply after 3 years of legal residence, provided the marriage or partnership has existed for at least 2 years at the time of application. All other standard requirements still apply: B1 German, the Einbürgerungstest, loyalty declaration, clean criminal record, and financial self-sufficiency.
Source: Make it in Germany, Naturalisation.
Level required · Automatic
Children born in Germany
- Parent's legal residence
- 5 years · Reduced from 8 under StARModG (2024)
- Citizenship at birth
- Automatic · Ius soli applies under the condition above
- Optionspflicht
- Abolished · No more choice forced at age 23
A child born in Germany to foreign parents acquires German citizenship at birth if at least one parent has been legally resident in Germany for 5 years. The 2024 reform also abolished the Optionspflicht: young adults no longer have to choose between German citizenship and that of their parents' country of origin.
Source: BMI press release (2024).
At a glance
Exam comparison
Standard Einbürgerung needs B1 proof. The 3-year accelerated track needs C1 proof. Always confirm accepted certificates with the Einbürgerungsbehörde that will decide your case.
Scroll horizontally to compare all columns →
| Exam | Purpose | CEFR | Format | Where accepted | Retakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat B1 | B1 proof for standard naturalisation | B1 | Paper + digital | All naturalisation authorities | Anytime |
| Goethe-Zertifikat C1 | C1 proof for the 3-year accelerated path | C1 | Paper + digital | All naturalisation authorities | Anytime |
| telc Deutsch B1 | Integrationskurs-linked B1 proof | B1 | Paper | All naturalisation authorities | Anytime |
| telc Deutsch C1 | C1 proof for the 3-year accelerated path | C1 | Paper | All naturalisation authorities | Anytime |
| Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) | Integrationskurs final exam (A2/B1) | A2 / B1 | Paper + oral | Widely accepted as B1 proof | One free retake per BAMF-funded course |
| ÖSD Zertifikat B1 / C1 | DACH-wide proof | B1 / C1 | Paper | Austrian + many German authorities | Anytime |
Policy highlight
Dual citizenship is now allowed
Before the 2024 reform, Germany generally required applicants to renounce their previous nationality, with limited exceptions. Under the StARModG (in force since 27 June 2024), multiple citizenships are permitted in all cases. You can become German without giving up your original citizenship, subject to the other applicable rules of your country of origin.
Source: BMI press release (2024).
Continue the guide
Other chapters
Official sources
Trusted references
The naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) in the district where you live decides applications. Austria: migration.gv.at. Switzerland: sem.admin.ch.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about German citizenship after the 2024 reform.
What changed under the 2024 citizenship reform?
What is 'particularly good integration' for the 3-year path?
Do I still need the Einbürgerungstest?
Can I keep my original citizenship?
What about children born in Germany?
Explore further
Where to go next
How requirements differ by country
Germany
All four pathways above apply under the StARModG reform in force since 27 June 2024. Your local Einbürgerungsbehörde decides your application.
Austria
Austrian citizenship has different rules and is generally stricter than the German regime (tighter limits on dual citizenship). See country-specific details for requirements.
Switzerland
Swiss citizenship is decided at federal, cantonal, and municipal levels and has its own residence and language rules. See country-specific details for official sources.
Requirements by profession
Nursing, medicine, teaching, engineering and more.
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