Importance of the new law
In order to understand exactly how Naturalization will work after 3 years, it is important for you to know the facts and details about the new Naturalization Act. The simplification, which makes it easier to Naturalization after 3 years, has a specific reason and is supported by the German government.
Importance of the German passport
The German passport is extremely important for foreigners. The entire integration process in Germany is based on being able to apply for Naturalization and become a German citizen at some point.
The chance of a long-term perspective in Germany, planning security and the prospect of having the same rights as any other German citizen are things that particularly attract foreigners to become German citizens.
Another reason is the opportunity to travel visa-free to over 190 countries. This fact makes the German passport one of the strongest passports in the world and German citizenship extremely attractive.
Why the Naturalization is simplified
The German government has simplified Naturalization with shorter periods of residence for various reasons. Firstly, it wants to simplify Naturalization and give something back to the many people who have lived in Germany for years as guest workers.
On the other hand, the aim is to make Germany attractive as a country of immigration and to attract highly qualified skilled workers to Germany through the simplified naturalization law. In this way, the aim is to reduce the shortage of skilled workers in various professions. The aim is to make it easier for people who want to gain a foothold in Germany and integrate well to become German citizens.
What new features does the new law bring?
One simplification and new feature of the new Naturalization Act is that the basic legal residence period has been reduced from 8 years to 5 years. The new law therefore makes it possible to become a naturalized citizen after just 5 years. Another new feature is that it is now possible to become a naturalized citizen after just 3 years, instead of the previous 6 years, if you have made special efforts to integrate.
Dual citizenship is promoted and supported in the new Naturalization Act. Dual citizenship is part of the Citizenship Act and is accepted there. Until 27.6.2024, § 10 StAG para. 4 required the renunciation of the citizenship of the home country.
This paragraph on giving up citizenship has been removed by the new law, as has the exception in Section 12 of the German Citizenship Act, which is no longer necessary now that dual citizenship is permitted by Naturalization .
The Naturalization after 3 years
The Naturalization after 3 years in the new Naturalization Act has a specific purpose and a specific meaning and it has an important difference to the current regulation. The Naturalization after 3 years is also not an option for every foreigner. Certain conditions must be met.
The step to Naturalization after 3 years
The step of Naturalization after 3 years is identical to the previous Naturalization after 6 years. As a foreigner, you already meet all the requirements for Naturalization after 3 years. Furthermore, you must provide proof of special integration achievements; without these special integration achievements, you can only be naturalized after 5 years.
With the evidence and supporting documents relating to these conditions and the completed naturalization application, you submit the Naturalization and become a German citizen after the documents have been reviewed.
The difference to the old Naturalization Act
The decisive difference to the old legislation is that under the old law you had to wait 6 years before you could be naturalized early with special integration achievements. With the new law, you can Naturalization after 3 years. Another new feature is that you can fulfill special integration requirements with professional achievements and make an important contribution to integration in Germany and this is recognized.
How you used to be able to naturalize after 3 years
Until the introduction of the new law, the option of Naturalization after 3 years was only available to people under Section 9 StAG.
This regulation remains in place. If you are married to a German citizen, you can also be naturalized early. The decisive factor is that you have been married to the German citizen for 2 years and are not separated or divorced.
It is also important that you have been legally resident in Germany for 3 years and have a Residence permit with which you can apply for a Naturalization . Furthermore, you must meet all the requirements for Naturalization that are currently required for an Naturalization and are listed under § 10 StAG.
Who is eligible for Naturalization after 3 years
The Naturalization after 3 years is an option for foreigners who, in addition to the basic requirements for the Naturalization after 5 years, can present a C-1 certificate in German and a special integration achievement.
The C1 certificate and the integration achievements will then make it possible to obtain Naturalization after 3 years as recognition for the achievements.
The condition is that you already meet all the basic requirements for Naturalization after 5 years. It should be noted that the new Naturalization Act will remove the requirement to surrender the citizenship of your home country, which would be one less condition that you currently have to meet.
Naturalization after 3 years with a new law?
Your steps to Naturalization after 3 years
There are two different steps you can take to get to Naturalization after 3 years. Both paths are different and require special additional efforts on your part. The reward in the end is that you can be naturalized early and have even more planning security for yourself and your future in Germany.
Language skills at C1 level are mandatory
The C1 certificate is the basic requirement for you to be accepted for the Naturalization after 3 years and to be able to submit the application. You must therefore prove that you have a command of the German language at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and that you have professional language skills.
Integration option 1: Volunteering
The federal government stipulates that as a foreigner you must also provide evidence of a special integration achievement. A special integration achievement is, for example, voluntary work. What is meant by voluntary work?
For example, if you regularly volunteer with the volunteer fire department, volunteer with the food bank, volunteer with a cultural association, volunteer with a sports club, volunteer with a civic association or volunteer with the THW (German Federal Agency for Technical Relief).
Translations for other foreigners can also be counted as a special integration achievement and voluntary commitment if you can provide proof of this translation work.
Integration option 2: Strong performance at work
Alternatively, you can also demonstrate special integration achievements through strong performance at work. If you excel at work with very strong performance and results and your employer can prove this, then this also counts as a special integration achievement.
You make an effort at work and are an absolute asset to the company and therefore also to the area in which you work. The whole of Germany will benefit from this and you will therefore also be making a special contribution to integration. This effort will then also be rewarded by the German state and you can aim for Naturalization after 3 years at an early stage.
Integration option 3: School certificate
With a special school certificate, you can also prove a special integration achievement. This can be particularly good grades in training, studies or school, which prove that your integration in Germany is possible and foreseeable in the long term.
Naturalization process for Naturalization after 3 years
The naturalization process at Naturalization after 3 years has a specific procedure. It is important to have this process in mind. It is helpful to know exactly how the individual steps of the application work and what the subsequent process looks like until you receive your German passport.
Further requirements for Naturalization after 3 years
Before you even submit an application for Naturalization after 3 years, you must collect and organize all the evidence relating to the requirements for Naturalization .
These are the signed declaration of loyalty, clarification of identity (valid national passport or alternative identification document), successful naturalization test, proof of livelihood, C1 language certificate and proof of legal residence in Germany for 3 years and proof of a legitimate Residence permit to Naturalization.
Of course, you will also need proof of the special integration service. You must arrange these documents together.
Then obtain the application form for Naturalization after 3 years from the nearest naturalization authority on request. You now complete the application form for Naturalization after 3 years.
Viewing the documents and applying for the Naturalization
Now comes one of the most important and decisive steps in the naturalization process: checking the documents. Nothing is worse than applying for Naturalization with incorrect documents or no documents at all. If you make mistakes here, it costs time, nerves and a lot of trouble.
So you go through all the documents again step by step and also check very carefully whether your application form has been filled out correctly and only when everything is correct and complete do you submit the application to Naturalization. You make an extra appointment with the naturalization office for this application and hand in your documents.
Waiting time for the application to be processed
Once the documents have been submitted to the naturalization authority, there is an unpleasant wait for the application to be processed. The naturalization authorities have 12 weeks to respond to the application and process it. If you are lucky, the naturalization authority will process your application.
If there is no response after 12 weeks, you have the right to file a Lawsuit for failure of act to file a complaint. The purpose of this complaint is to put pressure on the naturalization authority to process your application. The administrative court then sets a deadline for the naturalization authority and then, in 99% of cases, the application to Naturalization is processed and you receive your result.
Naturalization is granted
The final step is the granting of Naturalization. The naturalization authority will make an appointment with you for the ceremonial handover of the naturalization certificate. Once you have received this certificate, you are a German citizen. You have overcome the final hurdle and the same rights and obligations apply to you as to any other German.
Positive and negative points of the new law
The new Naturalization Act and the Naturalization after 3 years offer many opportunities and positive changes and innovations. At the same time, these innovations that would come with the new law also create problems. There are advantages and disadvantages that speak for and against the law, depending on the situation.
Advantage: earlier Naturalization
The most important advantage of the new law would be that Naturalization can be applied for earlier. Currently, the Naturalization with special integration services is still valid after 6 years. With the new law, Naturalization will work after 3 years for special integration services.
This renewal offers the positive aspect that you no longer have to wait so long and that you can become a German citizen early if you meet the requirements and have worked hard.
Advantage: Additional planning security
A very important advantage of the new Naturalization Act is that Naturalization after 3 years and Naturalization after 5 years creates more planning security for many foreigners in Germany. The application to Naturalization means that you can tackle the final integration step in Germany.
This process alone provides planning security for you as the applicant and, of course, for your family if you apply with your wife and children. After a successful Naturalization you no longer have to worry about being deported to your country of origin. This uncertainty factor is therefore eliminated earlier.
Disadvantage: Long machining process
The main disadvantage of the new Naturalization Act is the longer processing time. Due to the higher number of applications since the introduction of the new law, the authorities are correspondingly overloaded with the processing of applications on Naturalization .
This overload will continue to increase in the future. There will be even more applications and it will take longer for the applications to be processed.
Advice on Naturalization after 3 years
There are a few good ideas that can make the naturalization process at Naturalization
less stressful and ensure that the duration of Naturalization itself is not extremely protracted. This applies both to Naturalization after 3 years and to any other form of Naturalization naturalization.
Advance the application as quickly as possible
If you currently meet the requirements to apply for Naturalization , you should do so immediately. Time is pressing, especially because of the new Naturalization Act. Once the law has been implemented, more foreigners will automatically be entitled to long waiting times. So the faster you react and submit your application, the faster the naturalization process will work in the end.
The following also applies to Naturalization with the new law: the more you prepare, the better. The ideal situation is when you already have all the documents arranged and organized and only need to fill out the application form. As soon as the new law comes into force at the end of this year, you can finally complete the application form and apply for Naturalization after 3 years or 5 years, depending on which conditions you meet.
Only with legal help can the process be completed in less than 4 years
Our advice is to get legal help with the naturalization process. We at Migrando have many years of experience in the area of Immigration law and in particular with the application to Naturalization and Settlement permit. Our prediction is that the process of Naturalization will not be feasible in less than 4 years without legal help such as Migrando .
With the new Naturalization Act, more new applicants are coming into consideration and this means even more applications for the employees of the naturalization authority. If you don't have the legal know-how to take action against long processing times, the Naturalization process will be unnecessarily protracted.
Do you still have questions about Naturalization after 3 years?
FAQ - Questions and answers about Naturalization after 3 years
Yes, with the new naturalization law of the federal government, Naturalization is possible after 3 years. In addition to the normal naturalization requirements, the condition is a C1 certificate and that you provide proof of special integration achievements. An old rule still applies: If you have a German spouse, you can also apply for Naturalization after 3 years.
The new Naturalization Act has been in force since 27 June 2024. The Naturalization is possible after 5 years and with a C1 certificate and special integration achievements also after 3 years. In addition, the citizenship of the home country no longer has to be surrendered to Naturalization and dual citizenship is recognized by law.
The Naturalization after 3 years with the planned new law is identical to the old Naturalization after 6 years. The important thing is that, in addition to the C1 certificate, you must provide proof of special integration achievements. In addition, you must meet all other requirements for Naturalization . The difference is that the Naturalization can then be applied for after just 3 years.
Special integration achievements can be voluntary work and particularly strong performance at work, as well as special achievements in the school sector.
The Naturalization after 3 years without C1 only works if you have a German school-leaving certificate, a university degree or a training qualification, or are married to a German citizen (then you need all the requirements for the Naturalization after 5 years). If you do not have these qualifications, then Naturalization after 5 years would be an option and you would need a B1 certificate.
The Naturalization currently costs 255 euros for each adult. This has not changed with the new Naturalization Act. If you apply for Naturalization with a child, the Naturalization costs an additional 51 euros per minor child.
The Naturalization can be applied for after 5 years. With a C1 certificate and a special integration achievement, or if you are married to a German citizen, the Naturalization can be obtained after 3 years.
