German Citizenship Costs 2026: Complete Overview
What does naturalization in Germany cost in 2026? The answer depends on three factors: the government fee under § 38 of the Nationality Act (StAG), additional costs (translations, apostille, language certificate, citizenship test), and the chosen application assistance method (DIY, application assistance service, specialist immigration lawyer). This article lists all cost items in detail for 2026, provides typical ranges, and compares the three application routes by total cost.
Government Fees Under § 38 StAG
The statutory fees in 2026 remain unchanged since the 2024 StAG reform:
- €255 per adult applicant (§ 38 para. 1 StAG in conjunction with the Nationality Fee Ordinance)
- €51 per minor child co-naturalized with a parent under § 10 para. 2 StAG
- €25 citizenship test fee per person aged 16 and above
These fees are paid directly to the municipal naturalization authority—they are independent of the chosen application route (DIY, civitas., lawyer). For a family of four with two adults and two children under 16, the pure government fee amounts to €612 plus €50 for two citizenship tests = €662 in government fees.
Special case: recipients of Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance). Anyone receiving SGB-II or SGB-XII benefits during the application period can apply for a fee reduction under § 38 para. 2 StAG—with proven financial need, the fee is reduced in many German states to around €50. The reduction is requested within the same application; no separate application is necessary.
Additional Costs — Typical Ranges
Additional costs are often underestimated and can exceed the government fee if preparation is tight:
Certified Translations
Certified translations are produced exclusively by translators sworn in before a German Regional Court (Landgericht). A nationwide database is maintained by state justice administrations at justiz-dolmetscher.de. Ranges in 2026:
- Birth certificate: €30–60
- Marriage certificate: €30–60
- Divorce decree: €50–120 (multi-page)
- Police clearance certificate from country of origin: €25–45
- School transcripts: €35–70 per transcript
Total translation costs in 2026 for a standard application with five to eight documents: €150–400.
Apostille / Legalization
The apostille under the 1961 Hague Convention is affixed to original documents in the country of origin. Costs vary widely:
- Turkey: €5–15 per document (Kaymakamlık or Valilik)
- Ukraine: €10–25 per document (Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Iran, Syria: €15–40 per document; for non-member states of the Hague Convention, legalization by the German embassy instead of apostille (additional ~€25)
- EU countries: €5–20
Travel costs may be added if a family member in the country of origin obtains the apostille.
B1 Language Certificate
- telc Deutsch B1: €110
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1: €130–180 depending on location
- ÖSD B1 certificate: €100–150
- DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer): included in the integration course (free for eligible participants) or as self-payer ~€140
If language proof is already provided through a German school diploma, German vocational training, or university study in German, this cost is eliminated. Which alternatives are recognized is described in the article B1 Certificate Without Exam.
Citizenship Test
- Test fee: €25 per attempt
- Preparation materials: free (BAMF online), optional adult education center course €50–100
Test dates are scheduled through cooperating adult education centers (Volkshochschulen); wait times in 2026 range from four to eight weeks depending on the region.
Other Additional Costs
- Extended registration certificate (erweiterte Meldebescheinigung): €5–15
- Social security record: free (German Pension Insurance)
- Biometric passport photos: €8–15 per person
- Certifications (signatures, copies): €5–15 per certification
Application Assistance — Three Routes Compared
The government fee is identical; the difference lies in the external service provider fee:
| Item | DIY | civitas. | Specialist Lawyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government fee adult | €255 | €255 | €255 |
| Citizenship test | €25 | €25 | €25 |
| External service fee | €0 | €149–699 | €1,500–3,500 |
| Translations (5–8 documents) | ~€150–400 | ~€150–400 (volume-discount referral) | ~€150–400 |
| Consultation / initial meeting | €0 | €0 (wizard incl.) | €100–250 (initial consultation) |
| Language certificate | €100–180 | €100–180 | €100–180 |
| Total range | ~€530–860 | ~€679–1,560 | ~€2,030–4,560 |
Which route makes sense for which scenario is described in the article DIY German Citizenship Application or Lawyer?.
Family Cost Example
Family of four (two adults, two children under 16):
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government fee adults | 2 | €255 | €510 |
| Government fee children co-naturalization | 2 | €51 | €102 |
| Citizenship test adults | 2 | €25 | €50 |
| B1 language certificates | 2 | €130 | €260 |
| Translations (6 documents × €40) | 6 | €40 | €240 |
| Apostilles Turkey (4 documents × €10) | 4 | €10 | €40 |
| Passport photos | 4 | €12 | €48 |
| Extended registration certificate | 1 | €12 | €12 |
| Government and additional costs | €1,262 | ||
| civitas. family package | 1 | €449 | €449 |
| Total with civitas. | €1,711 | ||
| Total with specialist lawyer fee €2,500 | €3,762 |
With German school diplomas, language certificate costs are eliminated—the family saves €260.
Payment Terms
The government fee is typically paid as advance payment—either by bank transfer to the authority (case number as reference) or by debit card on-site. Some municipalities collect the fee only after a positive preliminary review, i.e., after the initial document requests.
civitas. packages are paid once in advance via Stripe Checkout; family rates can be paid in two installments if needed.
Lawyer fees are billed depending on the law firm as a 50/50 split (50% mandate initiation, 50% upon application submission) or hourly based on the German Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG).
Tax Deductibility?
The government naturalization fee is not tax-deductible—naturalization is a private life decision, not a professional necessity (Federal Fiscal Court case law 2007).
Exception: If naturalization is professionally mandatory (e.g., for a civil service career under § 7 BeamtStG), fees may be deducted as business expenses. This scenario is narrowly defined—individual tax advisor consultation is worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the government fee in 2026?
€255 per adult applicant, €51 per co-naturalizing minor child, €25 per citizenship test attempt. These fees are statutorily fixed in § 38 StAG and the Nationality Fee Ordinance and are identical across all German states.
Is there a reduction for Bürgergeld recipients?
Yes, § 38 para. 2 StAG provides for a reduction with proven financial need. In many German states, the fee is reduced to around €50. The application is submitted together with the main application; supporting documents (current Bürgergeld notice) must be attached.
Does a family application save on government fees?
No. The fee is charged per person—identical whether applications are separate or joint. The practical advantage of a family application lies in bundled processing, joint appointments, and reduced service provider fees (e.g., civitas. family package €449 instead of 4 × single package).
What does civitas. application assistance cost?
€149–699 as one-time application packages. Which packages fit which scenario is listed in the overview under Pricing and Packages.
Are translation costs included in the civitas. fee?
No, certified translations are paid directly to the sworn translator. civitas. refers translators with volume discounts; the fee itself covers wizard guidance, document checklist, and PDF bundling.
Are lawyer fees reimbursed by the state?
Not in entitlement-based naturalization. In objection proceedings under § 70 VwGO and inaction proceedings under § 75 VwGO, lawyer fees are reimbursed if the objection or lawsuit is successful (§ 154 VwGO).
What happens to the fee if the application is rejected?
The government fee is typically non-refundable—it covers the administrative cost of review, regardless of the outcome. If procedural errors are proven, a refund claim may arise; this is a legal matter.
Application Already Submitted?
If you have submitted your application and are waiting for a decision, you can use the civitas. application tracker to monitor the processing time of the responsible authority, plan deadline responses, and have authority letters automatically translated. Track Application →
Related Articles:
Legal Notice (⚠️ sworn-translator review pending): Government fees are regulated by § 38 StAG; additional costs and service fees are market-based ranges and may vary by provider and German state. civitas. is a private application assistance service, not an authority, not a law firm.
Sources: Nationality Act (StAG) § 38 as of 30.10.2025; Nationality Fee Ordinance; Federal Fiscal Court ruling VI R 25/05 of 09.10.2007 (tax deductibility). As of: May 2026.