How many years do you need to live in Germany before applying for citizenship?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Germany's Nationality Act gives a right to naturalisation after five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany, if you meet the other conditions. The interior ministry says the faster three-year route for people with C1 German and special integration was abolished with effect from 30 October 2025. Spouses of Germans can qualify after three years.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Standard residence period	Five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany	StAG § 10(1)
Before 27 June 2024	Eight years; the reform cut it to five	BMI, “Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht”, section on the 2024 modernisation
Three-year “turbo” route	Abolished with effect from 30 October 2025	BMI, “Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht”, section on the 2024 modernisation
Spouse and minor children of the applicant	Can be naturalised together with you even if they have not lived in Germany for five years	StAG § 10(2)
Spouse or registered partner of a German	Three years of lawful habitual residence, with the marriage or partnership existing for two years	StAG § 9(1)

Five years is the rule

The law says a foreigner who has lawfully had their habitual residence in Germany for five years is to be naturalised on application when the other conditions in § 10(1) of the Nationality Act are met. Meeting them gives you a legal right to naturalisation.

The three-year route no longer exists

The interior ministry’s guidance says the 2024 reform created a faster naturalisation for people who showed special integration achievements, very good German (C1) and a secured livelihood without public benefits. A later amending law abolished it with effect from 30 October 2025. The ministry says that for a right to naturalisation, at least five years of prior lawful residence now apply in principle. In the current law text, § 10(3) is marked as repealed.

What else you need: identity and nationality cleared, a suitable residence title, a secured livelihood, no criminal conviction, B1 German and the naturalisation test (StAG § 10(1)).

Sources

Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG), § 10 (consolidated text as last amended on 21.7.2026, gesetze-im-internet.de) checked 2026-10-25
Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG), § 9 (consolidated text as last amended on 21.7.2026, gesetze-im-internet.de) checked 2026-10-25
Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI): Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht (page as of 29.09.2026) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.