With the certificate you are an EU citizen: voting rights, freedom of movement, consular protection. Your first German passport is issued at the Bürgeramt like for any other citizen.
Filing, Waiting and the Certificate
Fee €255 (children €51). Processing takes 6 months to 2 years. The finale: the ceremonial handover of your naturalisation certificate.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Ausländerbehörde (ABH)
Municipal authorityThe Ausländerbehörde for your registered address is the one responsible. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
Where to go in your city →
COSTS
- €Naturalisation, adult €255
§ 38 StAG
- €Child (co-naturalised) €51
§ 38 (2) StAG: reduced only if the child has no income of their own
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I submitted the complete package and got the receipt with a file number — I politely followed up every couple of months. Office silence may be interrupted correctly.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
After the certificate I got the passport and ID at once and returned the old permit. Check your home country rules on keeping former citizenship — the German reform allows dual, but your homeland may set its own terms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long until a decision? ▾
6 months to 2 years depending on the state and office load. Speeding up is hard, but a complete package without follow-ups is the only real lever.
What happens at the ceremony? ▾
After approval, the handover of the naturalisation certificate with a loyalty pledge. From then you are a citizen: next the passport and ID card at the citizens office.
Can I apply for the passport before the ceremony? ▾
No: citizenship begins with the certificate. Right after, book the citizens office for passport and ID — made like normal documents.
Why does it take so long? ▾
Security checks plus backlogs: up to 2 years in Berlin, faster in smaller cities. A complete file is the only accelerator in your hands.
When do I become a citizen? ▾
At the handover of the certificate, not at approval. With the certificate, apply for your German passport immediately.
Can the authority request documents again? ▾
Yes — during long processing they ask for fresh payslips or your extended permit. Respond fast: missing a deadline freezes the file.