The digital path to German citizenship.
civitas. guides you step by step — from residence-permit renewal to the naturalization certificate. Multilingual, pausable and authority-ready, at a fixed price.
Your journey starts earlier.
Renewing your residence permit is a stage along the way. At every station, civitas. prepares the official application authority-ready — you choose, you answer, you submit.
Your lawful residence in Germany — this is where the journey begins.
Your official renewal application, filled in and ready to submit.
Start renewalYour application for the permanent settlement permit (§ 9 AufenthG) — the official form, prepared authority-ready.
Start settlement permitThe complete § 10 application: 83 questions, prepared authority-ready, with a document checklist.
Check eligibilityAfter the application: the application tracker. Waiting time 2026: 6–18 months depending on the authority · deadline reminders · authority-letter translation.
Calculate waiting timeA procedure under structural strain.
In 2024, Germany fundamentally reformed its nationality law. The legal hurdles are lower than ever — the administrative hurdles have remained.
Persons with foreign citizenship and lawful residence, in principle eligible for naturalization.
Between submission and decision — depending on authority and case. In large cities sometimes over 30 months, extended by incomplete applications.
Municipal Einbürgerung (naturalization) forms are predominantly monolingual — paradoxical for those seeking Einbürgerung.
Legal representation costs €1,500–3,500, even though most cases don't require a law firm.
Three steps to the application.
You choose. You answer. You submit.
From the first eligibility check to the authority-ready PDF. No counseling appointments, no waiting time, no duplicate registrations.
Four paths in the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (Citizenship Act).
All lead to the same goal — German citizenship. Which path applies to you depends on your personal situation.
5 years of residence (Aufenthaltstitel), permanent residence title, B1 German, naturalization test, no criminal record, secured livelihood. About 85 percent of all naturalizations.
3 years of residence (Aufenthaltstitel), of which 2 years married or in a registered civil partnership. Shorter periods, otherwise the same conditions as § 10.
8 years of residence (Aufenthaltstitel), individual authority decision. Higher hurdles, suitable for constellations outside the standard case.
Spätaussiedler (late repatriates), Germans living abroad, re-naturalization (Wiedereinbürgerung). Each with its own deadlines and review criteria.
Four application packages for naturalization.
One-time flat prices for the naturalization application, depending on your life situation — you start for free with the eligibility check and decide afterward. The residence permit renewal is a separate product with its own price.
For simple situations without special cases. Wizard + authority-ready PDF.
The standard scope for individual applicants — with priority support by email.
Up to 4 people total — e.g. you, your spouse and two children. One application for everyone involved.
Dispatch-ready documents with mailing instructions and prioritized email support.
Separate product, separate price — your official renewal application, filled in and ready to submit.
The statutory authority fee (€255 per adult) is not a civitas. service — you pay it directly to the Einbürgerungsbehörde (naturalization authority).
All services comparedInfrastructure instead of consulting.
civitas. is the digital layer for the German naturalization procedure — for applicants via einbuergerungsservice.de, for municipal Einbürgerungsbehörden and for law firms that support their clients.
Operated from Düsseldorf. Multi-tenant, multilingual, DSGVO-compliant, servers located exclusively in Germany. Purely technical procedural support.
More about the companyThree worlds on one platform.
civitas. is not only for private individuals — but also for Einbürgerungsbehörden, law firms and Migrationsberatungsstellen. Three independent interfaces on a common technical core. Multi-tenant, DSGVO-compliant, hosted in Germany.
Structured application capture in six languages, automatic completeness check; interfaces to municipal specialist systems are under development (Phase 2). Relief for the caseworker team without interfering with existing structures.
To the authorities pageCooperation partner instead of competition: hand standard engagements over to civitas., source complex engagements from civitas., a workflow tool for your own engagements. Case handover in both directions without a referral commission (§ 49b Abs. 3 BRAO) — DATEV and beA integration planned (Q3 2026).
To the law-firm pageThe Wizard takes over the administrative part of the counseling work. Funding reports are generated automatically from the counseling appointments, multilingual without an interpreter, with multi-user access for team and volunteers. For recognized organizations there is a subsidized rate.
To the counseling pageThree points that are frequently asked about.
The 30 most frequently asked questions about naturalization, civitas. and the application process are answered in 5 categories at /fragen.
Is civitas. a law firm?
No. civitas. is a digital software service. We do not provide legal advice within the meaning of the Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz (Legal Services Act) and do not represent anyone before authorities or courts. The service is designed as structured self-help — legal decisions are made solely by the Einbürgerungsbehörde (naturalization authority).
How long must I have lived in Germany?
Since the StAG-Reform of 27 June 2024, 5 years of lawful Aufenthalt (residence) is the standard. The former reduction to 3 years for special Integrationsleistungen (integration achievements: C1 German, voluntary engagement, outstanding professional accomplishments) was abolished without replacement effective 30 October 2025. A naturalization after 3 years remains possible for spouses of German citizens (§ 9 StAG: 3 years of residence where the marriage has existed for at least 2 years).
Is dual citizenship allowed?
Yes. The 2024 reform abolished the general requirement to give up previous citizenship. You retain your previous citizenship and additionally receive German citizenship. Whether your country of origin permits multiple citizenship is governed by that country's own law.
Track your application.
In 2026, the waiting time between application and naturalization certificate is between 6 and 18 months — depending on the authority. The civitas. application tracker shows the waiting time for your authority, reminds you of deadline responses and translates authority letters.
Naturalization is a right.
Three minutes, six questions. At the end you'll know whether your path is open and which legal basis applies to you.