Zwei Pässe — Two Passports

Dual Citizenship in Germany

For decades, German law generally required people who naturalized to give up their previous citizenship, with exceptions for citizens of EU countries and Switzerland and for certain other cases. The citizenship reform that took effect in June 2024 changed this: multiple citizenship is now generally accepted, both for people becoming German and for Germans acquiring another citizenship. Whether a person may keep their old citizenship, however, depends on the law of the other country, and some countries still do not allow it. In Berlin, applications for naturalization are handled by the Landesamt für Einwanderung and can be submitted online. Applicants need documents such as a valid passport, a residence permit, proof of German at B1 level, the certificate of the naturalization test and proof of income, and they sign a commitment to the free democratic basic order. The standard fee is two hundred and fifty-five euros per adult, with a reduced fee for children. Since the reform, the number of applications has risen sharply in many cities, and processing times can be long. Advice services, including those of the authorities and of independent counseling centers, recommend checking eligibility before applying and submitting a complete application.