Interior Ministers Call for an Increase in Naturalization Fees
The fee for naturalization ( Naturalization ) is currently 255 euros. This amount is specified in § 38 of the German Naturalization Act (StAG) and applies to anyone who submits an application for naturalization ( Naturalization ). For minor children who are naturalized together with their parents and have no income of their own, the fee is 51 euros.
Important: The 255 euros or 51 euros is an administrative fee for processing the application. The fee is therefore intended to cover the costs incurred by the authorities in connection with the naturalization process.
As BILD is currently reporting, the federal states are now calling for an increase in the fee. As early as the end of 2025, the state interior ministers had already spoken out in favor of charging at least 500 euros for a " Naturalization " in the future.
The states cite, above all, the increased costs for government agencies as well as the rise in the number of applications since 2024. The naturalization process requires, among other things, the verification of personal data, documents, language proficiency, and all other eligibility requirements. Security checks conducted with other agencies also require time and personnel. At the same time, costs for personnel, administration, and IT have risen in recent years.
Federal Government Considers Possible Increase
It has not yet been decided whether the fee for the German Social Security Card ( Naturalization ) will actually increase. A bill to amend the current fee regulations has not yet been drafted. However, the Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed to BILD that the federal government is currently considering an increase.
In order for the fee to actually be increased, the law (Section 38 of the StAG) would have to be amended. Only once an amendment is adopted and takes effect would a new fee apply.
For people who are currently applying for naturalization or planning to do so, nothing will change for the time being. The standard fee remains 255 euros. For minor children who are naturalized along with their parents, the fee remains 51 euros.
