German Citizenship Requirements — what § 10 StAG demands
If you want to be naturalised in Germany, § 10 of the Citizenship Act (StAG) lists clear conditions you must meet. This article walks through each — concise, with paragraph references and examples.
What § 10 StAG is about
§ 10 StAG is the central norm for entitlement-based naturalisation. If you fulfil its criteria, you have a legal entitlement to citizenship — the authority can no longer decide at discretion.
The requirements are listed in subsections 1 to 4. We go through each block individually and note the typical evidence required.
Residence period (§ 10 (1) No. 1)
Required: a lawful habitual residence of at least five years in Germany. Special integration achievements shorten this to three years.
"Lawful" means with a valid residence title — residence permit, settlement permit, EU long-term residence, or freedom-of-movement right. Tourist, tolerated-status, or pure residence-permit-application periods do not count.
Language level B1 (§ 10 (1) No. 6)
B1 level on the Common European Framework. Proof is typically via certificate — Goethe B1, telc Deutsch B1, ÖSD B1, or the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ).
If you have a German school or vocational diploma, no extra language proof is normally required; the diploma suffices. If in doubt, the authority conducts a language interview.
Secured livelihood (§ 10 (1) No. 3)
You must support yourself — and your dependant family — without benefits under SGB II or SGB XII (basic-income schemes).
Temporary benefit receipt between jobs is harmless; long-term receipt rules out naturalisation. Housing benefit, child benefit, BAföG, reduced-earning-capacity pension and old-age pension are not harmful benefits.
Allegiance to the free democratic order (§ 10 (1) No. 1)
A written loyalty declaration ruling out anti-constitutional activities or support. The Verfassungsschutz (constitutional protection authority) verifies the self-declaration.
Multi-citizenship since June 2024
Since the StAG reform of 2024, multi-citizenship is generally permitted: no previous passport needs to be given up. Exceptions still apply in individual cases under § 25 StAG (e.g. public service of the country of origin).
What else follows from § 10 StAG
- Are 3 years of residence enough for naturalisation?
- Only with special integration achievements — e.g. outstanding German skills (C1), volunteer engagement, or excellent professional achievements. Otherwise the regular 5-year rule applies.
- Do I need a citizenship test?
- Yes, usually — it tests basic knowledge of Germany's legal and social order. The test is waived if you have a German school diploma.
- What happens to my old citizenship?
- Since the June 2024 reform, all applicants may generally keep their previous citizenship. Dual citizenship is the rule.
- How long does the process take?
- Highly authority-dependent. Nationwide processing times in 2024–2025 typically range between 6 and 24 months — see Bundesland comparison pages for concrete numbers.
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