Significance and history of Naturalization Ukrainian citizens
In order to understand the importance of Naturalization for Ukrainian citizens, it is important to know the history of the integration of Ukrainian citizens in Germany. This will also help you to understand the significance of German citizenship and the integration of Ukrainian citizens.
History of the integration of Ukrainian citizens
The first people from Ukraine moved to Germany at the end of the 19th century due to social and economic circumstances. During the world wars in the last century, there was another wave of Ukrainians who settled in Germany.
The largest influx of Ukrainians to Germany has occurred since the end of the Soviet Union. According to statistics from the American Wilson Center, the steady decline in the population has fallen from 52 million (1991) to 32 million (2023). One reason is demographic problems and another is the emigration of people from Ukraine.
Importance of Naturalization for Ukrainian citizens
Data from the Federal Institute for Population Research from July 12, 2023 shows the importance of integration in Germany and also the potential Naturalization of Ukrainian nationals. Almost half of all the more than one million Ukrainians who came to Germany in 2022 as a result of the war (44 percent) want to stay in Germany for longer or stay in Germany completely.
An example of the integration of Ukrainians is the fact that, according to the same study, 75 percent attend or have completed an integration test. The integration test is an important prerequisite for Naturalization. Another identification factor is the integration of children. 58 percent of Ukrainian children aged 3-6 who came through the war have a place in a daycare center.
Studies show that people who come to Germany are highly likely to stay in the country in the long term if their integration works well. According to the study, this appears to be the case for refugees from Ukraine.
Naturalization Ukrainian citizen?
Conditions of Naturalization Ukrainian citizens
There are certain conditions that must be met for Ukrainian citizens to be able to visit Naturalization . These requirements for Naturalization are set out in § 10 StAG. You can always use this paragraph as a guide if you are unsure which requirements apply.
Proof of residence and means of subsistence
A prerequisite for Ukrainian citizens at Naturalization is to have proof of residence and means of subsistence. The rental agreement for the apartment is sufficient proof of residence. It is also important to have a registration certificate confirming that you are a citizen of the place of residence where you are applying for Naturalization .
It is also important that you can show the last three payslips / proof of income from your employer. It is also helpful if you can also show proof of savings. As a general rule: the more proof, the better!
There is no set amount. This varies depending on where you live. The decisive factor is, for example, how high the rents are in your place of residence and how high the cost of living is.
In the end, the naturalization authority must make a prognosis as to whether you can support yourself and your family independently. It does not matter whether you have a temporary or permanent job. The naturalization authority's prognosis must always be decisive!
Legal duration of residence and right of residence
Another very important aspect when applying for Naturalization is that you have the legal duration of residence. The current legal period of residence is 8 years.
With a successful integration test and all other requirements, Naturalization can be obtained after 7 years. If you can demonstrate special integration achievements, such as voluntary work or the language certificate C1-C2, you can also obtain Naturalization after 6 years and if you have been married to a German citizen for two years, you can be naturalized after 3 years.
The prerequisite for Naturalization after 6 years and after 3 years is that all other conditions are met.
Some residence rights do not permit Naturalization. This includes, for example, the student visa in accordance with Section 16b AufenthG. A Tolerance permit does not entitle you to Naturalization and is also not a legal Residence permit. The periods from a Tolerance permit can therefore not be included in the calculation of the period of residence.
Language certificate at B1 level and naturalization test
A language certificate at B1 level is important for Ukrainian nationals applying for Naturalization . The only exceptions to this are applicants who have completed a school-leaving certificate, university or university of applied sciences degree or training qualification in Germany and can therefore prove their B1 level.
The B1 certificate is a crucial way of demonstrating your willingness to integrate in Germany and is therefore a prerequisite for Naturalization . You are expected to be able to communicate in German and thus master everyday life in Germany linguistically.
In addition, a successful naturalization test is crucial for the Naturalization. The test has 33 questions and at least 17 must be answered correctly. You can practice the test at Migrando and you can also find all the test centers you need to contact here.
Clarification of identity and other conditions
Another important part of the requirement for Naturalization for Ukrainian citizens is Clarification of identity. For Clarification of identity it is sufficient if you can prove that you have a valid Ukrainian national passport or identity card.
An additional condition is the signed declaration of loyalty. With this declaration, you declare your commitment to the fundamental values of Germany and the German constitution. You can obtain the declaration of loyalty form from the naturalization office in your place of residence. You can print it out as a PDF and then fill it in.
Naturalization Ukrainian citizens with planned new law
The federal government has planned a new naturalization law in May 2023. This law has now passed through the coalition, will be discussed in the Bundestag in the coming weeks and is due to be implemented at the end of 2023. The planned new law would also simplify Naturalization for Ukrainian nationals.
Naturalization after 5 years for Ukrainian citizens
With the new law, § 10 StAG will be significantly changed. Currently, 8 years of legal residence in Germany is still a prerequisite for Naturalization . With the planned new law, Naturalization could work after 5 years.
According to the German government's plan, the basic requirement of 8 years of legal residence is to be reduced. This means that if applicants meet all the conditions, Ukrainian citizens will be able to apply for Naturalization after just 5 years if the planned law is passed by the Bundestag.
Naturalization after 3 years for Ukrainian citizens
According to the federal government's plan, there would be a further innovation with Naturalization after 3 years for people who demonstrate special integration achievements. Special integration achievements for the Naturalization are volunteer work, a C1 or C2 language certificate or a special achievement at work.
With these special integration achievements, you could be naturalized after 3 years if you meet all other requirements. Currently, the Naturalization with special integration achievements takes 6 years.
Application for the Naturalization of Ukrainian nationals
The application for Naturalization for Ukrainian citizens has a specific procedure. It is helpful to have these steps for Naturalization in mind as a guide. The ultimate goal is always to receive the naturalization certificate and the certainty of being in possession of a German passport.
Organizing and sorting the required naturalization documents
The very first step in applying for Naturalization for Ukrainian citizens is organizing and sorting the necessary documents.
Once you have organized and filled out all the documents, it is very important to check that they are correct. Are all the documents really included? Has every form been completed in full? Now fill out the application form completely and sort the documents point by point.
Submission of the naturalization application
Now it's time for the next step. You go to the appointment at the naturalization office that has already been arranged in advance before organizing and sorting and hand in the complete application to Naturalization . Beforehand, it is a good idea to go over the documents again with a lawyer who specializes in Immigration law .
Processing time and costs of the application
Once the application has been received, the naturalization authority has 12 weeks to review and respond to your application. Recently, the duration of naturalization applications has become longer and longer.
When the planned new naturalization law comes into force, it is likely to take even longer to process applications. The reason for this is that the authorities are overwhelmed by the high number of applications that need to be processed.
If the naturalization authorities do not respond after 12 weeks, you as the applicant have the right to file a Lawsuit for failure of act to speed up the procedure. The administrative court will then set the authorities a further deadline and your application must be processed within this period. You will then receive a decision on your application.
The cost of Naturalization is 255 euros for each adult and 51 euros for underage children.
Allocation of the Naturalization of Ukrainian nationals
The final step for Ukrainian citizens at Naturalization is to apply for Naturalization. To do this, you will be contacted by the naturalization authority, which will arrange an appointment with you for the granting of your citizenship. At the appointment, you will then receive a certificate of your Naturalization and are officially a German citizen upon receipt of the certificate.
Dual citizenship for Ukrainian citizens
Dual citizenship at Naturalization for Ukrainian nationals is a very crucial point for many Ukrainians when deciding whether to apply for German citizenship. In the last year and a half, the situation regarding dual citizenship for Ukrainians has changed.
Position of the Ukrainian government on dual citizenship
The war in Ukraine has changed the issue of dual citizenship for Ukrainian citizens over the last year and a half. German citizenship can only be obtained if you have renounced your Ukrainian citizenship. The reason for this is that Ukrainian citizenship law does not allow dual citizenship. You need documents that can only be obtained in Ukraine.
By Decree No. 64 2022 issued by the President of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and confirmed by Law of Ukraine No. 2102-X, all activities in Ukraine that do not concern martial law, military activities, military supplies or the evacuation of the population have been suspended.
According to a notification from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, this also applies to the withdrawal of Ukrainian citizenship. For this reason, it is not possible for Ukrainian nationals to withdraw from the citizenship of their home country as stipulated in Section 10 (4) StAG.
The exemption regulation § 12 StAG applies and applicants to Naturalization in Germany who are Ukrainian citizens automatically receive dual citizenship at Naturalization . This regulation will remain in place until the situation in Ukraine has stabilized.
Dual citizenship according to the current situation
Dual citizenship for Ukrainian citizens is possible according to the current situation, which has not changed in Ukraine. The requirement from the notification of the Federal Ministry of the Interior applies. The requirement would only change if the situation in Ukraine stabilizes.
The time to obtain dual citizenship is therefore currently very good for Ukrainians. However, as the situation can always change, it makes sense to act quickly if you meet the conditions for Naturalization .
Withdrawal and withdrawal costs from Ukrainian citizenship
Withdrawal from Ukrainian citizenship must be applied for at the Ukrainian consulate. A naturalization assurance must be submitted for this. This assurance of naturalization assures the applicant that they will be naturalized. This means that the applicant is not stateless if they renounce their Ukrainian citizenship.
According to the Ukrainian Consulate General in Frankfurt, the cost of the consular application for expatriation is 300 euros. Additional documents must be obtained from Ukraine for this step.
Apart from the costs, Ukrainians are very interested in having both citizenships. This is possible due to the current situation in Ukraine and the current martial law.
Dual citizenship for Ukrainians with planned new naturalization law
If the German government's planned naturalization law actually comes into force at the end of the year, dual citizenship for Ukrainians would be possible completely independently of Ukrainian legislation.
The federal government plans to delete Section 10 (4) StAG and Section 12 StAG for dual citizenship in 2023 and to enshrine dual citizenship in law. It would then no longer be necessary to give up Ukrainian citizenship.
The possibilities of Ukrainians with the Naturalization
Naturalization in Germany offers Ukrainian citizens many advantages and opportunities. These advantages vary and mainly concern various rights of freedom to which German citizens are entitled.
Rights and obligations due to the new situation
With Naturalization and German citizenship, Ukrainians are free to choose their profession. As a Ukrainian, you can therefore decide who you work for and where you work. You can also vote in all elections in Germany (European elections, federal elections, state elections, local elections).
Other important civil liberties are the right of assembly and the right of association. The right of association allows you, for example, to form organizations or parties and to unite and join forces with other people in organizations and parties.
German citizenship also means having duties. This includes working for the German state. As a German citizen, you have civic duties. Some of these civic duties have been suspended, as is the case with the border guard duty.
Further integration step for Ukrainians in Germany
With German citizenship, Ukrainian citizens take a further step towards integration in Germany. The Naturalization Ukrainian citizenship is a final step for Ukrainians, which they work towards just like many other foreigners when they come to Germany. It is also a decisive testimony of belonging to Germany
Planning security through the Naturalization
For you as a Ukrainian citizen, the Naturalization of Ukrainian citizens primarily provides planning security. You can better plan and organize the lives of yourself and your family members. You also have the opportunity to travel to over 190 countries without a visa, which is a great advantage.
Summary
As you can see, the Naturalization of Ukrainian citizens is a complex subject area. We have summarized the most important points for you here:
- Under the conditions of § 10 StAG, it is possible for Ukrainian citizens to Naturalization after 8 years of legal residence in Germany
- In addition to legal residence, the requirements are the B1 certificate, a successful naturalization test, clarification of identity, a signed declaration of loyalty and proof of livelihood.
- Dual citizenship for Ukrainians is currently possible due to the martial law in force in Ukraine and you do not have to give up your Ukrainian citizenship at Naturalization .
- Due to the applicable martial law, it is not possible to withdraw from the citizenship of Ukraine and § 12 StAG therefore applies as an exception.
- With the German government's planned naturalization law, dual citizenship would work for you regardless of the situation in Ukraine, as the new law would enshrine dual citizenship in law.
- With the Federal Government's planned naturalization law, you could be naturalized after 5 years of legal residence and after 3 years with special integration achievements.
Do you still have questions about Naturalization Ukrainian nationals?
FAQ - The most important questions and answers about Naturalization Ukrainian citizens
Yes, you can be naturalized as a Ukrainian with the requirements of § 10 StAG. You do not currently have to give up your Ukrainian citizenship.
Before martial law was declared in Ukraine, the application to renounce Ukrainian citizenship cost 300 euros. Due to martial law, all procedures, including the renunciation of citizenship, are postponed and you cannot be expatriated. Therefore, as long as the situation in Ukraine does not change, § 12 StAG currently applies and you can retain your Ukrainian citizenship and then become a dual citizen at Naturalization .
You would lose your Ukrainian citizenship if the situation in Ukraine changed and martial law was abolished. For this to happen, the situation in Ukraine would have to normalize. It would then be possible to withdraw your citizenship and the current exemption under Section 12 of the Citizenship Act would not apply.
A Naturalization for Ukrainians costs 255 euros per adult and 51 euros for a minor child, just as it does for every applicant to Naturalization .
For Ukrainians, as for all foreigners, the requirements according to § 10 StAG apply. These include Clarification of identity, a successful naturalization test, proof of livelihood, 8 years of legal residence in Germany, the B1 certificate and a signed declaration of loyalty
