The positive forecast
The certificate that you can support yourself and your family is the most important prerequisite for being considered for German citizenship, in addition to the other requirements. This important condition is laid down in § 10 of the Citizenship Act. It is crucial for the authorities to find out whether you will be able to support yourself and your family once you have been granted a German passport and for the future.
Proof of income as a single person
As a single and unmarried person without children, different criteria apply to you than to people who are married and have children. You can expect to have to prove less income than married people or people with children. The more family members you have to support, the more income you will ultimately have to show in order to receive a positive forecast from the authorities for Naturalization .
As a single person, you can assume that you will have to prove that you earn around 1500 euros gross. This sum can vary and may be a little higher or a little lower depending on the authority
Proof of earnings as a married couple
As a married person, you not only have to prove that you can financially support yourself, but also your wife or husband. The amount you have to prove as earnings increases accordingly compared to a single person.
Proof of income as a couple with a child
As a married person with a child, in addition to proving that you are able to support yourself, you must also prove that you are able to support your spouse and your child. Again, the more family members you have to support, the higher the income you have to certify to the authorities. The sum is therefore higher than for married persons without children.
When do I get German citizenship?
Further criteria of the authorities
No money from the job center or social welfare office
As a general rule, if you do not receive any money from the social welfare office or job center, you generally have a better chance of obtaining German citizenship. It is important that you do not receive social assistance, Hartz 4 or social benefit. If you receive money from the social welfare office or job center, then in principle you cannot become a German citizen.
In this case, you must prove that you were dismissed for operational reasons and must show that you are making an effort to find a new job. Another important reason may be that you have to look after your young children and are therefore not yet able to return to work. However, it must be obvious and clear to the authorities that you want to work and that your prospects of returning to work are positive.
Your place of residence is a decisive factor
In addition to your marital status, your place of residence is very important for determining the amount of money you have to declare to the authorities. In Munich, for example, you pay very different amounts for rent than in a city like Cottbus or Rostock. How expensive the standard of living is in the respective city is also included in the calculation of how much income you ultimately have to submit to the authorities and has an influence on your positive or negative forecast.
What do the authorities calculate as income?
The website of the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration specifies exactly which sums are included in income. In addition to income from employment, income as an entrepreneur is also included in the term and possible alimony if you are divorced and have to receive money from your partner is also included in the income.
Benefits without influence on the Naturalization
Whether you receive child benefit, unemployment benefit 1 or BAföG has no influence on your application for German citizenship. You can receive these benefits without any problems and still submit your application. These benefits are not included in the authorities' assessment and do not influence the prognosis that the authorities give you for the future.
Comparison with other countries
The requirements for German citizenship are different in many countries. Some countries have a similar concept to Germany and are based on the basic need to earn a living, while other countries specify clear amounts that must be earned in order to obtain a national passport from the country of residence.
Income requirements in the USA
In the USA, the US government's Historical Poverty Guideline stipulates exactly how much someone must earn in order to be eligible for an American passport. The decisive factor in calculating the amount is the size of the household.
The more people there are in the household, the higher the amount that must be documented as earnings at Naturalization . According to the latest information fromthe US government,a single person must have earnings of USD 14,580 by 2023. An additional USD 5,140 is due for each additional person. A married couple, for example, must prove earnings of 19,720 US dollars and a family with two children an income of 30,000 US dollars.
Income requirements in Canada
Canada has a similar system to Germany in terms of income requirements when applying for citizenship. Similar to Germany, it is closely monitored whether the applicant is able to support themselves and their family in the future and secure their livelihood. A positive or negative prognosis is made on the basis of this system. The decisive factor is that the applicant is in a position to provide financially for themselves and their family.
Income requirements in Great Britain
The system in the UK is similar to that in the USA. The decisive factor in determining how much income must be shown when applying for citizenship is the size of the respective family household. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an individual applicant had to prove an income of 25,500 pounds in 2022. A family with two children would have to provide evidence of £43,400.
What is the Naturalization?
The Naturalization is the step towards obtaining a German passport and German citizenship. With German citizenship, you are on an equal footing with other German citizens and have the same rights and obligations as any German.
After Settlement permit , German citizenship is the final step towards permanent residence in Germany and your security of being able to lead your life in Germany in the long term. How long the application and processing process takes depends, among other things, on how quickly your application is processed by the authorities and how complete your documents are. With the support of a lawyer, experience has shown that the duration of Naturalization is shorter. Without a lawyer, an application can take years.
What do you need to bring with you to Naturalization ?
The correct length of stay
The requirements for Naturalization are clearly defined. As a general rule, you must have resided legally in Germany for at least 8 years to be eligible for Naturalization . Legal residence means that you were in possession of a temporary or permanent right of residence during your stay. This does not include Tolerance permit . There are exceptions that allow you to be naturalized after 7, 6 or 3 years. However, these only apply to a limited number of people.
A clarified identity
In order for you to be eligible for Naturalization , it is necessary that your identity and thus your citizenship is clarified. In some cases, it is not possible to obtain confirmation of identity and therefore citizenship. Some countries of origin do not issue national passports. In this case, it is not your fault that you are not in possession of proof. You must then present alternative documents such as birth certificates, driving licenses or marriage certificates. These must state when you were born and your nationality
Surrender of citizenship of the country of origin
Another important point is giving up the citizenship of your home country. Germany does not actually recognize dual citizenship. However, there are many exceptions, for example when dual citizenship is automatic because you cannot renounce the citizenship of your country of origin.
Declaration of loyalty, integration test and language skills
For a successful Naturalization application, you must present a signed declaration of loyalty, have successfully passed the integration test and have language skills at level B1. In addition to attending a course, there are alternative ways of certifying your language skills, such as attending school.
No criminal record
An important prerequisite for Naturalization is that they have not received a prison sentence and have not been sentenced to a fine of far more than 90 daily rates for a criminal offense.
Why is Naturalization useful?
The Naturalization brings many advantages for a foreign citizen. The German passport is one of the strongest and most powerful passports in the world and German citizenship gives access to the rights and obligations of a German citizen and automatically of an EU citizen
Advantage of freedom to travel
With a German passport, you can enter over 190 countries without a visa. With a German passport, you will never have to worry about being deported to your country of origin again and can leave and re-enter Germany as often as you like. You also have more freedom of movement and can exercise your right to free development. This right gives you the opportunity to change the center of your life in Germany, but also in the EU, and to decide freely which profession you pursue and with which employer.
Benefits: Political rights and obligations
With German citizenship, you have the right to freedom of assembly and can take part in meetings just like any other German citizen. You also have the freedom of association and can become a member of a political party or found a political party. Candidacy for political office is also possible with German citizenship. You also have the right to take part in any election held in Germany and are entitled to vote.
Profit: planning security and social security
With a German passport, you have more planning security and can plan your life in Germany for the long term. The fear of having to return to your country of origin at some point is a thing of the past. The German passport also gives you social security. You can return to Germany at any time and enjoy the benefits of the German state and its healthcare system. As a German, you have this right for the rest of your life.
Conclusion
There are various important things to bear in mind when providing proof of income for Naturalization . These are summarized for you here:
- Single people have to prove a lower income than married people or people with children.
- The larger your family household, the higher your income must be.
- Without money from the job center and the social welfare office, a positive prognosis is more likely.
- Your place of residence is a decisive factor in the amount of income you need.
- BAföG, child benefit and unemployment benefit 1 have no influence on the authorities' forecast.
Do you still have questions?
FAQ - All questions and answers about the proof of income at the Naturalization
The amount of income is not precisely defined. The decisive factor is that you must be able to support yourself and your family. As a single person, you can expect proof of income of around 1,500 euros gross. The larger the household, the higher the amount you have to prove to the authorities.
Benefits from the job center or social welfare office make it difficult to Naturalization. In this case, you have to prove that you are seriously looking for work and that you were dismissed for operational reasons. In the end, the authorities will decide whether you will still receive a positive prognosis.
Child benefit and BAföG as benefits have no negative influence on the income forecast of the authorities and are no reason to refuse you the Naturalization .
It has no negative impact if you receive unemployment benefit 1 and does not affect the calculation of your income forecast. This income is irrelevant for Naturalization .
The verifiable income is also measured against the cost of living in your place of residence. The rent for an apartment in Munich or Hamburg is higher than in Cottbus, Gelsenkirchen or Wilhemshaven, for example. The amount you have to prove to cover your living costs is correspondingly higher.
