German Citizenship for Ukrainian Citizens — The Basics

Since 2022, significantly more Ukrainian citizens live in Germany than ever before. Many will reach the deadlines in the coming years from which naturalization under § 10 of the Citizenship Act (StAG) becomes possible. This article describes the basics: what changed in 2024, how the 5-year period is calculated, which requirements and documents are necessary, and what costs apply. It does not replace individual consultation. For persons with a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG (temporary protection), the text refers to a separate guide.

Why Things Became Much Easier in 2024

The Law for the Modernization of Citizenship Law (StARModG) of March 22, 2024 came into effect on June 27, 2024. Since that day, a standard period of five years of lawful habitual residence applies for naturalization by entitlement under § 10(1) StAG — previously it was eight. In parallel, multiple citizenship was generally permitted (§ 12 StAG in the new version): The Ukrainian passport usually does not have to be surrendered for German naturalization.

For Ukrainian citizens, the situation was already special before the reform: The Federal Ministry of the Interior had determined in a circular of September 6, 2022 that Ukraine, due to the Russian war of aggression, is to be regarded as a state that de facto does not enable release from citizenship. On this basis, multiple citizenship for Ukrainian applicants was regularly recognized even before 2024. With the 2024 reform, the general standard case now applies anyway.

According to a press release from the Federal Statistical Office in May 2025, around 13,000 Ukrainian citizens were naturalized in 2024 — an increase of about 143 percent compared to 2023 and the strongest growth rate of all major countries of origin.

On October 30, 2025, the Fourth StAG Amendment Act came into force. It abolished the 3-year period for special integration achievements and introduced a ten-year blocking period for proven deception in the naturalization procedure with § 35a StAG. The 5-year standard period and the multiple citizenship rule remained unchanged.

The legal framework is thus stable in 2026, but not without controversy. In February 2026, the Union-led coalition announced an examination of whether the 5-year standard period should be raised back to eight years in the future. A draft law was not available at the time of this article. For applications already in progress and submitted before a possible new regulation, the protection of legitimate expectations would apply — retroactive tightening is regularly excluded under constitutional law. Applicants who reach the 5-year period in 2026 or 2027 nevertheless often follow political developments with attention.

The 5-Year Period: How the Time is Calculated

The decisive factor for the period calculation is lawful habitual residence in Germany (§ 10(1) sentence 1 no. 1 StAG). This means: continuous residence with a valid residence permit, with the center of life in Germany.

Typical residence permits that count toward the 5-year period include:

the EU Blue Card (§ 18b AufenthG)
the residence permit for qualified professionals (§ 18a AufenthG)
residence permits for training purposes (§§ 16a, 16b AufenthG)
the residence permit for family reunification (§§ 27 ff. AufenthG)
the EU long-term residence permit

Short interruptions of residence are usually harmless according to administrative practice if they do not exceed six months and the center of life remains in Germany. For longer stays abroad, the citizenship authority examines the individual case.

For Ukrainian citizens residing in Germany on the basis of § 24 AufenthG (temporary protection), special features apply. The crediting of § 24 time to the 5-year period is generally possible, but the path to naturalization usually requires a switch to another residence title. Due to the legal complexity, this article does not cover the § 24 constellation in detail. A separate guide is in preparation.

Overview of Requirements under § 10 StAG

In addition to five years of lawful habitual residence, § 10(1) StAG provides for the following core requirements:

Livelihood. The livelihood for oneself and dependent family members must be secured without recourse to benefits under SGB II or SGB XII (§ 10(1) sentence 1 no. 3 StAG). The law recognizes exceptions, such as inability to work for reasons the applicant is not responsible for.

Language skills. Sufficient knowledge of the German language is required, usually demonstrated at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (§ 10(1) sentence 1 no. 6 StAG). Certificates from telc, Goethe Institute, ÖSD, the German Language Diploma (DSD) and the German Test for Immigrants (DTZ) are recognized.

Civic knowledge. The naturalization test (§ 10(1) sentence 1 no. 7 StAG) consists of 33 questions; 17 questions must be answered correctly. It is conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) through cooperating test centers, primarily adult education centers.

No criminal record. Convictions for monetary or custodial sentences prevent naturalization, whereby § 12a StAG defines minor offense limits (minor monetary penalties up to 90 daily rates are disregarded).

Declaration of commitment to the free democratic basic order. The declaration must be submitted in writing according to § 10(1) sentence 1 no. 1 StAG.

Loyalty declaration. Since the reform of June 27, 2024, the loyalty declaration under § 10(1) sentence 1 no. 1 and § 16 StAG is additionally mandatory. It is given personally during the naturalization ceremony or an appointment with the authority.

Integration into living conditions. Integration into German living conditions is a requirement, but in practice rarely becomes an independent reason for rejection if the other points are met.

Documents for Ukrainian Applicants

The specific document catalog may vary slightly depending on the federal state and municipality. The following documents are generally expected:

Ukrainian passport, biometric and valid
Residence permit with all previous permits, copies in chronological order
Language certificate at level B1 or higher (original and copy)
Naturalization test certificate
Proof of income for the last twelve months (wage tax certificates, bank statements or tax assessment for self-employed)
Certificate of good conduct from the German Federal Central Register and from the country of origin; the Ukrainian "довідка про відсутність судимості" requires an apostille and certified translation
Birth certificate from Ukraine with apostille and certified translation
Marriage certificate with apostille and certified translation, if applicable

Certified translations are exclusively prepared by translators sworn before a German regional court. A list of authorized translators is maintained by the state ministries of justice via the database justiz-dolmetscher.de. The apostille is issued in Ukraine by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; information on this is provided by the Ukrainian consulates in Germany.

Diia app documents are now accepted as proof by a growing number of German authorities, but are not a formal replacement for original documents with apostille. In practice, both are often required. Whether your municipality recognizes Diia documents can be seen on the authority website or through a brief inquiry with the citizenship authority.

Costs

The authority fee for naturalization is according to § 38 StAG in conjunction with the Citizenship Fee Regulation:

255 euros per adult
51 euros per minor child naturalized together with a parent (joint naturalization)
25 euros fee for participation in the naturalization test

Additional typical costs include: Translations by sworn translators range from 30 to 50 euros per document depending on the type. The Ukrainian apostille costs about 10 to 30 euros depending on the authority and document. Those who do not yet have a B1 certificate must expect course costs, which vary greatly depending on the provider and scope.

Application assistance through civitas. is independent of these authority costs. An overview of the packages can be found under Prices and Packages.

For War Refugees with § 24 AufenthG: Separate Guide

Those who currently hold a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG (temporary protection) follow a different path than the classic naturalization by entitlement under § 10 StAG. The § 24 time generally counts toward the 5-year period, but direct naturalization from § 24 status is excluded. Before applying, a switch to another residence title is usually required — such as to § 18a, § 18b, § 19c, § 25a, § 25b or § 16a/§ 16b AufenthG, depending on personal situation.

Because this constellation raises a number of individual legal questions, this article does not address it. A dedicated guide with the six most common community questions is in preparation.

Responsible Naturalization Authorities in Major Cities with Ukrainian Communities

The Ukrainian consulates in Germany have offices in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf — not to be confused with the naturalization authority, which in any case is the German citizenship authority at the place of residence. City-specific overviews with authority address, processing time and usual application route:

Naturalization in Berlin — LEA Berlin
Naturalization in Munich — KVR Naturalization Office
Naturalization in Hamburg — Central Residents' Office
Naturalization in Frankfurt — City of Frankfurt, Public Order Office
Naturalization in Düsseldorf — Citizens' Office Naturalization
Naturalization in Cologne — Citizens' Office Naturalization
Naturalization in Stuttgart — Citizens' Service Naturalization
Naturalization in Hanover — Region Hannover

Frequently Asked Questions

Must the Ukrainian passport be surrendered for German naturalization?

No. Since June 27, 2024, multiple citizenship is generally permitted under § 12 StAG. The BMI circular of September 6, 2022 confirms this specifically for Ukrainian citizens. As a rule, the Ukrainian passport is retained.

Is time with § 24 AufenthG credited?

For the 5-year period under § 10 StAG, generally yes. For a permanent residence permit, no. The specific paths are described in the separate guide on § 24 AufenthG.

To which authority should the application be submitted?

The citizenship authority at the place of residence is responsible. In North Rhine-Westphalia, this is often not the city but the district. The exact address is provided by the citizen hotline of the municipality of residence or the authority website.

Is the application possible in Ukrainian?

No. Communication with German authorities takes place in German (§ 23 Administrative Procedure Act). civitas. accompanies applicants in Ukrainian through the entire process until submission.

What to do if documents were lost in the war zone?

Replacement documents are issued by the Ukrainian consulates in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf. The Diia app serves as supplementary proof in some cases. In particularly difficult evidence situations, consulting a specialist lawyer for migration law is advisable.

How long does processing of a naturalization application take?

The processing time depends on the responsible authority and varies greatly in 2026. Municipalities with significant backlogs report more than 18 months, while smaller authorities without backlogs sometimes decide within six to nine months. The Higher Administrative Courts of NRW (09/25/2025) and Magdeburg decided in 2025 that processing times over three months without individual justification need not be tolerated. In case of excessively long inactivity, there is the possibility of an action for failure to act under § 75 VwGO — a step that typically occurs with legal representation.

What civitas. Provides

civitas. is an application assistance service, not an authority and not a law firm. The wizard guides through the requirements under § 10 StAG, creates an individual document checklist, arranges sworn translators if needed, and fills out the official EB form for submission to the responsible citizenship authority. Communication and step guidance are available in Ukrainian.

For applicants with complex cases — especially with residence permits under § 24 AufenthG or questions about discretionary naturalization under § 8 StAG — a referral is made to a specialist lawyer for migration law. civitas. does not provide individual legal advice.

Further Articles:

Legal Notice (⚠️ sworn-translator review pending): This article presents the legal situation under the Citizenship Act (StAG) as amended by the Fourth Amendment Act of October 30, 2025. It does not replace legal advice in individual cases. civitas. is a private application assistance service and not an authority. For individual legal questions, especially regarding residence permits under § 24 AufenthG, discretionary naturalizations under § 8 StAG, or complex document situations, consultation with a specialist lawyer for migration law is available.

Sources: Citizenship Act (StAG) as amended on 10/30/2025, available at gesetze-im-internet.de/stag; Federal Ministry of the Interior, Circular of 09/06/2022 on multiple citizenship for Ukrainian citizens; Federal Statistical Office, Press Release Naturalizations 2024 (destatis.de); Federal Office for Migration and Refugees on the naturalization test (bamf.de); Federal Office of Administration, Information on naturalization (bva.bund.de). Status of all sources: April 2026.

Naturalization for Ukrainian Citizens 2026 Requirements, Documents, § 24 AufenthG