Naturalisation – German citizenship after 5 years (§ 10 StAG)
Ausländerbehörde · Nationality law · Legal position after the amendment of 30 October 2025
Through naturalisation you acquire German nationality – and with it the right to vote in elections to the Bundestag and the state parliaments, full freedom of movement within the European Union, unrestricted access to the civil service and protection against expulsion and extradition. The legal basis of the standard route is naturalisation based on entitlement (Anspruchseinbürgerung) under § 10 of the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, StAG): anyone who meets all the requirements listed there has a legal entitlement that can be enforced in court – the authority does not decide at its free discretion but must grant naturalisation.
Legal position: Two reforms shape the current situation. Since 27 June 2024 (Act to Modernise Nationality Law), five instead of eight years of lawful habitual residence have been sufficient, multiple nationality has been generally accepted, and § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1a StAG requires, in addition to the commitment to the free democratic basic order (Nr. 1), an express commitment to Germany’s special historical responsibility and to the resulting protection of Jewish life.
Important change – naturalisation after three years no longer exists. The so-called fast-track naturalisation (Turboeinbürgerung) for special integration achievements (§ 10 Abs. 3 StAG, old version) was abolished without replacement with effect from 30 October 2025 by the Act Amending the Nationality Act (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256). Since then, the required period of prior residence of five years has applied without exception; a C1 certificate, voluntary work or outstanding professional achievements no longer shorten the period. Naturalisations that have already been granted remain effective. The Act does not provide for any transitional arrangement for older applications that have not yet been decided – what counts is the legal position at the time of the authority’s decision; the competent naturalisation authority will clarify how your specific application is handled. If you have not yet reached the five years, the only routes you can consider are discretionary naturalisation under § 8 StAG or naturalisation of spouses under § 9 StAG (both under Important notes); the regular five-year route is described under Step by step.
