Citizenship

What is the eligibility criteria for applying for German citizenship?

The bare minimum criteria generally applicable for everyone is as follows:

1. 8 years of residence in Germany

2. Zertifikat Deutsch (B1 level German language certificate)

3. Einbürgerungstest/Leben in Deutschland test certificate

The 8 years residence criterion can be reduced

• If you have done at least part of your education in Germany

• If you have done Integrationskurs. This is a government sponsored 3 semester course upon your arrival in Germany, in which you get to learn German till B1, do your German language and Leben in Deutschland test. Typically, this is sponsored by your local Rathaus for dependents only. However, eligibility changes from region to region. Find out about your eligibility in your local Rathaus.

• If you have done advanced German language certification (B2 and above).

• If you have made substantial voluntary contributions/donations to the local society

There are many other criteria that might come in the way of approval of citizenship. However, these may not hinder your eligibility for applying. Here, there are no fixed numbers, so they lie at the discretion of the Ausländersamt. These include..

• Minimum contribution to social insurance (Rentenversicheruing). Basically this implies that you are above a certain minimum income threshold

• Past claiming of unemployment benefits. This is proof of skills and stability.

• Current or past affiliations with political or religious extremist organizations

Eligibility changes from across local offices. Best to get in touch with your local Rathaus to find out your eligibility criteria.

How do I get started?

The citizenship process is carried out by your local Ausländersamt. But it’s your local Rathaus that coordinates the application process with them. So visit your local Rathaus, and get your application form. They will filter out the documents that are required to be submitted in your particular case.

The following are the documents that need to be collected:

1. Application form

2. Declaration of marital status

Do not sign the documents in advance. Most of the mentioned forms might need to be signed at the time of submission in front of the official.

What are the documents required to be submitted?

1. Filled out application form

2. Latest passport-sized photo, stuck to the application form if asked for

3. Birth certificate. If not in German, then it requires translation with attestation (Beglaubigte Übersetzung)

4. Einbürgerungstest certificate (also called Leben in Deutschland test)

5. Copy of all passport pages except the empty ones

6. Germany Residence permit

7. Proof of other sources of income (Allowances claimed from the government for housing, maintenance, children, childcare etc.)

8. Membership certificate of health insurance

9. Curriculum Vitae

10. Rental certificate

11. Pension statement, statement of contributions and expected pension

In case of employment,

1. Copies of proof of income of last 3 months, including that of spouse, if married and applying as a couple

2. Proof of employment

In case self-employed,

1. Proof of own business

2. Statement from the tax consultant on the monthly freely disposable income for the last two years

3. Tax assessment of last 2 years

4. Proof of old age security (wealth, property, private social insurance, life insurance)

5. Monthly contribution amount towards health and long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)

In case of minors (<18 years, dependent on parents),

1. Proof of income of parents

In case of retirees,

1. Notification of pension insurance institution

In case of study in Germany,

1. Certificates of all German graduations and school leaving

2. Proof of apprenticeship (Ausbildung), for example, certificate from the vocational school (Berufsschule) and the apprenticeship employer, Certificate of apprenticeship, diploma etc.

3. Apprenticeship contract

In case of school pupils,

1. Current certificate of school enrollment (Schulbescheinigung)

2. Proof of income of parents

3. Copy of last 3 years of annual reports

In case of kids,

1. Current certificate of Kindergarten enrollment (Kindergartenbescheinigung)

In case of university students,

1. Current certificate of university enrollment

2. Bafög Notification, if applicable

3. Semesterticket

In case of marriage,

1. Marriage certificate, or, if you got married in Germany, a transcript from the Marriage Register, in either case, not more than 3 months old

2. Declaration of marital status (sign the provided document at the time of submission in front of the officer)

In case of separation,

1. Decree of Divorce

2. Right to custody according to Germany Law, in case kid is born from separated partner

How long does the application process take?

Upto 9 months, depending on the thoroughness of your submission. If the office requires more information or proof, it could take longer.

What is the sequence of steps in the end-to-end citizenship application process?

At the front end of the process

1. Collection of application form from Rathaus

2. Submission of application form along with supporting documents

3. Collection of German constitution Q&A document (4-pager) and forms for pledge to the German constitution, oath and declaration that you are not/no longer affiliated to any extremist political or religious organizations.

At the rear end of the process

1. Interview and Oath taking appointment at the Ausländeramt - during this you will be asked questions on German constitution which you need to prepare for from the provided document. You are also required to sign the documents mentioned in point 3 in front of the official.

2. Issue of assurance of citizenship (Einbürgerungszusicherung) by the Ausländeramt. This implies that you are confirmed to get citizenship upon renunciation of Indian citizenship, as long as your documents and declarations still continue to be true.

3. Apply for renunciation of Indian citizenship at your Indian consulate.

4. Receive renunciation certificate and copy of cancelled Indian passport from consulate

5. Send a certified translation of the renunciation certificate to the Ausländeramt. Steps 5 to 8 would take 6 - 8 weeks.

6. Issue of citizenship certificate at the Ausländeramt.

Post citizenship

1. Application for German ID (Personalausweis) card and passport at Rathaus

2. Receive German ID and passport via post. This can take upto 4 weeks.

3. Application for OCI card at Indian consulate. This can take upto 3 months from submission.

I am eligible, but not my spouse. Is it advisable to apply individually, or apply as a couple?

There is no cost advantage for applying together. If the time required for your spouse to be eligible is not high, better to wait until then and apply together. Otherwise you would be required to submit same documents again as spouse. However, if the gap is high, then better to apply individually.

What is a beglaubigte Übersetzung?

If any of the above mentioned documents are not in German language, then you are required to submit along with a copy of the original, an additional copy translated into German by a certified translator. Note - When you approach a translator, you have the option to get a digitally signed copy for a slightly higher fee, but this wouldn’t be needed.

What are the benefits of German citizenship?

1. Right to vote

2. Preference at times of crisis

3. Visa free travel to ~180 countries

What are the disadvantages of giving up Indian citizenship, assuming one has an OCI card?

1. One cannot buy agricultural land

2. One needs government permission for

   1. Traveling to politically sensitive areas in India (Jammu & Kashmir, north east)

   2. Mountaineering

   3. Certain activities such as news reporting

   4. Selling off your property

3. One cannot possess local savings bank accounts in India. Only NRE/NRO accounts are allowed.

What is an Apostille? Are Indian apostilles accepted in Germany? Does the Indian consulate attest documents if required?

An apostille is an acceptance of documents of one nation by another nation, in case the 2 nations have an Apostille agreement. India and Germany do not have an apostille agreement. Which means that you cannot submit Indian documents directly. It would need to be attested by an Indian authority. If your document has an apostille seal, which you can apply for in India, then the Indian consulate will attest it. If not, the consulate will attest a self-sworn affidavit, which also serves the purpose.