How Long Does a German Citizenship Application Take?

You sent in your citizenship application months ago. Now you check your mailbox every day. Nothing comes. You start to worry. How long does this really take?

This is one of the most common questions about German citizenship. There is no single answer. But there are clear rules, typical steps, and things you can do while you wait.

Why There Is No Fixed Waiting Time

German law does not set one fixed number of months for a citizenship decision. Every case is different. Your local naturalization office, called Einbürgerungsbehörde, decides the exact timeline.

Several things affect your waiting time:

• The Bundesland (federal state) where you live
• How many applications your local office is handling
• Whether your documents are complete
• Whether you need extra checks, for example about a previous nationality

Since the reform of 27 June 2024, more people meet the requirements for citizenship. Many offices now receive more applications than before. This can make waiting times longer in some regions.

The Legal Basis for Your Application

If you meet all requirements under § 10 of the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, StAG), you have a legal right to naturalization. This is called Anspruchseinbürgerung.

Since the 2024 reform, § 10 StAG generally requires five years of lawful residence in Germany, not eight years as before. You also need:

• A secure income for yourself and your family
• Sufficient German language skills
• No serious criminal record
• Commitment to the German constitutional order

Having a legal right does not mean a fast decision. The office must decide correctly. It does not have to decide within a set number of weeks.

What If the Office Takes Too Long?

German administrative law gives you one important tool. Under § 75 of the Administrative Court Procedure Act (Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung, VwGO), you can take action if an authority does not decide within a reasonable time.

The general rule is three months without a decision, and without a good reason for the delay. After that, you may file an "Untätigkeitsklage," an action for failure to act, at the administrative court.

The court decides in each case whether the delay was justified. A large number of pending applications at the office is not automatically a good reason. Every case is judged on its own facts.

Typical Steps in the Process

Most applications go through similar steps, even though the exact order can vary by region.

Step	What Happens
1. Submission	You hand in your application and documents at your local Einbürgerungsbehörde.
2. Document check	The office checks if your documents are complete and correct.
3. Background checks	Authorities check your criminal record and your commitment to the constitution.
4. Language and test proof	You show your German language certificate and your citizenship test result.
5. Decision	The office sends you a written decision, called a Bescheid.
6. Ceremony	In many regions, you receive your naturalization certificate at a small ceremony.

What Slows Down Your Application

Some common reasons cause extra delays:

• Missing or incomplete documents
• Missing certified translations of foreign documents
• A high workload at your local office
• Extra steps to give up your previous nationality, if your home country requires this

What You Can Do While You Wait

You cannot control how fast the office works. But you can avoid extra delays on your side.

• Keep copies of all your documents ready
• Answer letters from the office quickly
• Ask about your case status in writing, called a Sachstandsanfrage
• Make sure your German language certificate is still valid
• Prepare for the citizenship test early, if you have not passed it yet

Practice the Citizenship Test While You Wait

The waiting time is a good moment to prepare for the "Leben in Deutschland" test, the German citizenship test. You need 17 correct answers out of 33 questions to pass. The questions come from a pool of 460 official questions.

Here are five example questions from the official pool:

• Question 152: When were the Nazis, with Adolf Hitler, in power in Germany? — Answer: from 1933 to 1945.
• Question 160: Which war lasted from 1939 to 1945? — Answer: the Second World War.
• Question 186: In 1953, there was an uprising in the GDR. For a long time, West Germany had a public holiday to remember it. When was this holiday? — Answer: 17 June.
• Question 252: In Germany … — Answer: you may only be married to one partner at the same time.
• Question 272: Which way of living together is not allowed in Germany? — Answer: a man is married to two women at the same time.

These questions cover German history, law, and society. You will find similar questions in your real test.

Ready for the test? Practice all 460 questions with explanations in your language at /trainer.

Where to Go Next

If you want a clear study plan for your remaining waiting time, check our pricing plans. You can choose the option that fits how much time you have left before your test date.

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This article is for information only. It is not legal advice.