After naturalisation: certificate, German passport & ID card — what to do next

The decisive rule first: you do not become German with the positive notice, but only when the naturalisation certificate is handed over. § 16 StAG provides:

"Die Einbürgerung wird wirksam mit der Aushändigung der von der zuständigen Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde ausgefertigten Einbürgerungsurkunde." (own translation: "Naturalisation becomes effective upon delivery of the naturalisation certificate issued by the competent citizenship authority.")

This has an important practical consequence: until the certificate is handed over, you are not yet German. An existing residence permit remains decisive until then, and you should not let it lapse (see below). Only with the certificate in hand does your status change.

The authority usually invites you to a personal handover — in many places at a naturalisation ceremony, where, before the handover, you make a solemn declaration of commitment to the free democratic basic order. The certificate is an official document; keep it safe. If it is lost, the citizenship authority will normally issue a replacement/confirmation copy — losing the paper does not cost you your citizenship.

After the positive decision, the authority contacts you with a handover appointment. Bring what the invitation lists — typically a valid ID document and, where relevant, your electronic residence permit (eAT). Only on that day, with the handover of the certificate, do you become German (§ 16 StAG).

Right afterwards you can apply for the German ID documents — the naturalisation certificate is the central proof of your citizenship. In practice it pays to book the ID/passport appointment at the citizens' office promptly, because producing the documents takes several weeks.

As a German citizen you are entitled to a German passport and an ID card — and for the ID card there is even a legal duty.

• ID card (Personalausweis): Under § 1 PAuswG, Germans who have completed their 16th year and are subject to registration must hold a valid ID card (or passport). You should therefore apply for it after naturalisation.
• Passport (Reisepass): Under § 6 PassG the passport is issued on application; § 1 PassG requires a valid passport for crossing borders into states outside the border-control-free area. For travel outside the EU the passport is therefore practically indispensable.

Where? You apply for both at the passport/ID authority of your municipality of registration — usually the Bürgeramt, Bürgerbüro or Einwohnermeldeamt (citizens' office).

Which documents? Usually: the naturalisation certificate (proof of German citizenship), a current biometric passport photo and, where relevant, your previous documents. The final list is set by your citizens' office.

How long valid? Validity is set by law and depends on age:

An extension of the validity period is not possible for either document (§ 5 PassG / § 6 (5) PAuswG) — after expiry a new document is issued.

Costs: The fees for passport and ID card are set by ordinance nationwide and are staggered by age; the exact amount and possible surcharges (e.g. for an express procedure) are stated by your citizens' office or its fee schedule. If you need the document urgently, a provisional passport and a provisional ID card with short validity are available as an interim solution.

What applies to the passport of your country of origin, if you need it during or after the procedure, is explained in Apply for your national passport.

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With naturalisation you are no longer a "foreigner" in the sense of residence law. § 2 (1) AufenthG defines:

"Ausländer ist jeder, der nicht Deutscher im Sinne des Artikels 116 Abs. 1 des Grundgesetzes ist." (own translation: "A foreigner is anyone who is not a German within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law.")

Since the Residence Act applies only to foreigners, your existing residence permit becomes obsolete on naturalisation. You no longer need to renew it. The electronic residence permit (eAT) should be returned or invalidated at the immigration office; clarify this directly with the responsible office, as local handling varies.

Important: this effect arises only when the certificate is handed over (§ 16 StAG). Before that, your residence permit remains your basis of stay — with all its deadlines.

Naturalisation procedures often take many months. During that time your residence permit or national passport may expire. As long as the certificate has not been handed over, you are legally a foreigner — so:

• Renew the residence permit in good time: do not let the permit lapse, even if naturalisation is imminent. If you apply for renewal before expiry, your previous permit is deemed to continue until the decision under § 81 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG (continuation fiction). Details in Renew residence permit; what applies to an already expired permit is in Residence permit expired.
• Renew the national passport at the consulate: many procedural steps (and identity clarification) require a valid passport from your country of origin. If it has expired, renew it via the diplomatic mission of your country of origin. Exceptions apply to recognised beneficiaries of protection who cannot approach their country of origin — here a travel document (Reiseausweis) helps.

A continuously valid residence permit also protects the deadlines that count for naturalisation itself (§ 10 StAG). A gap in lawful residence can set you back.

Anyone who wishes to acquire German citizenship and must first give up their previous citizenship often receives an assurance of naturalisation (Einbürgerungszusicherung). It is an assurance within the meaning of § 38 VwVfG:

"Eine von der zuständigen Behörde erteilte Zusage, einen bestimmten Verwaltungsakt später zu erlassen oder zu unterlassen (Zusicherung), bedarf zu ihrer Wirksamkeit der schriftlichen Form." (own translation: "An assurance by the competent authority to issue or refrain from a specific administrative act later requires written form to be effective.")

In practice this means: the authority gives you a written and binding assurance that it will naturalise you as soon as you prove your release from your previous citizenship. With this assurance you can file the release application in your country of origin without becoming stateless.

How long is it valid? The assurance is issued by the authority for a limited period; in administrative practice one to two years is common. If the period expires before the release is available, it can usually be extended on application, as long as the naturalisation requirements are still met. If the factual or legal situation later changes such that the assurance could no longer be given, the authority is no longer bound by it (§ 38 (3) VwVfG). Since the 2024 reform of citizenship law, however, giving up the previous citizenship is no longer necessary for most people — see Dual citizenship. Whether an assurance is needed at all in your case depends on whether you can keep your old citizenship.

Do I have to re-register after naturalisation? Your residential address does not change through naturalisation — so no re-registration (Ummeldung) is needed unless you move. The new citizenship is updated in the population register; the citizenship authority informs the registration authority. What you actively handle is the application for the new German ID documents (see above) and, where sensible, informing bodies that hold your citizenship (e.g. employer, bank), plus returning/invalidating the eAT.

Name change and alignment. With naturalisation your name becomes subject to German name law. If your name was previously determined under foreign law, you can align it with German law by declaration to the registry office (Standesamt) — Art. 47 EGBGB. This allows, among other things,

• determining first and family names from a chain of names,
• dropping name components that German law does not provide for,
• adopting the original form of a name modified by gender or kinship,
• adopting a German-language form of the first or family name (and, if none exists, choosing a new first name).

The declaration under Art. 47 EGBGB generally requires public certification or notarisation. It is different from a general name change for good cause under the Name Change Act (Namensänderungsgesetz).

A special case concerns late repatriates (Spätaussiedler) and their family members: for them, § 94 BVFG opens up its own name-change options (e.g. dropping patronymics, adopting the German-language form). This provision applies only where relevant — i.e. for persons with late-repatriate status, not for naturalisation in general.

Since the 2024 Nationality Act (in force since 27 June 2024), multiple citizenship is possible for the vast majority — giving up the previous citizenship is usually no longer required. If you keep your previous citizenship, the passport of your country of origin generally remains usable; its validity and renewal remain the responsibility of the respective diplomatic mission. Whether and how the two citizenships are compatible in your case also depends on the law of your country of origin. The overview is in Dual citizenship.

With naturalisation you gain full civic rights — in particular the right to vote and stand for election in federal and state elections, unrestricted freedom of movement as an EU citizen within the EU, diplomatic and consular protection by Germany, and access to professions that require German citizenship. That is the real point of the path: not another document, but full participation.

civitas. is a private application-assistance service — not a public authority and not a law firm. For the road up to naturalisation we help you complete and assemble the application in a structured way and keep an eye on deadlines and status. The steps after naturalisation — passport, ID card, name alignment — you handle at the competent offices; this guide puts them in order. The decisions rest solely with the competent authorities.

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From when am I German after naturalisation?

With the handover of the naturalisation certificate — not already with the positive notice. § 16 StAG provides that naturalisation only takes effect on delivery of the certificate. Until then your previous residence status applies.

When is the naturalisation certificate handed over?

After the positive decision the authority invites you to a handover appointment, in many places within a naturalisation ceremony. Only at that appointment, with the handover of the certificate, do you become a German citizen (§ 16 StAG).

How do I apply for a German passport after naturalisation?

At the citizens' office of your municipality of registration, usually with the naturalisation certificate and a biometric passport photo. The passport is issued on application (§ 6 PassG) and is valid for ten years, or six years for persons under 24 (§ 5 PassG).

Do I have to apply for an ID card?

Yes. Under § 1 PAuswG, Germans aged 16 and over who are subject to registration must hold a valid ID card or passport. The ID card is valid for ten years, or six years under age 24 (§ 6 PAuswG).

What happens to my residence permit after naturalisation?

It becomes obsolete: with naturalisation you are no longer a "foreigner" within the meaning of § 2 (1) AufenthG, so the Residence Act no longer applies to you. The electronic residence permit should be returned or invalidated at the immigration office. Important: this effect only arises when the certificate is handed over (§ 16 StAG).

My residence permit expires before I am naturalised — what should I do?

Renew it in good time, before it expires. Until the certificate is handed over you are legally a foreigner; if you apply for renewal before expiry, your permit is deemed to continue until the decision under § 81 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG. See Renew residence permit.

How long is the assurance of naturalisation valid?

It is a written, binding assurance (§ 38 VwVfG) issued by the authority for a limited period — in practice often one to two years. If the period expires before the release from the old citizenship is available, it can usually be extended on application. Since the 2024 reform an assurance is often no longer needed, because the old citizenship can usually be kept.

Can I change my name after naturalisation?

If your name was previously determined under foreign law, you can align it with German law by declaration to the registry office (Art. 47 EGBGB) — e.g. dropping name components, adopting the German-language form, or determining first and family names from a chain of names. The declaration must be publicly certified or notarised. For late repatriates, § 94 BVFG additionally applies.

Do I keep my previous citizenship?

In most cases yes. Since the 2024 Nationality Act (in force since 27 June 2024), multiple citizenship is possible for the vast majority; giving up the previous citizenship is usually no longer required. Whether this applies in your case also depends on the law of your country of origin — see Dual citizenship.