Apply for German citizenship in Bonn

Since the June 2024 reform you can apply for German citizenship (Einbürgerung) in Bonn after five years of legal residence, and Germany now allows dual citizenship — though your home country may not (China and India, for example, don't). You apply at your city's Einbürgerungsbehörde, usually with a B1 certificate and the naturalisation test. The three-year fast track for exceptional integration was abolished on 30 October 2025.

⏱️Fee ~€255. Processing commonly takes several months to over a year, depending on the city's backlog.

💡The standard citizenship route requires five years of lawful residence, usually B1 German, a secure livelihood and knowledge of Germany's legal and social system. Germany permits multiple citizenship; check your country of origin's rules too. The three-year exceptional-integration route was abolished on 30 October 2025. Ask the local authority about your route and current processing times.

What you need to bring

• PassportRequired

  📋 Bring the original, not a copy

  How to get it: Issued by your home country. Renew at your country's embassy or consulate in Germany — appointments can take weeks, so check the expiry early.

• Current residence permitRequired

  📋 Bring the original, not a copy

  How to get it: Issued by the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) of your city after your application appointment. Renewals: apply well before expiry — slots are scarce.

• German certificate (usually B1)Required

  📋 Bring the original, not a copy

  How to get it: From a recognized exam provider (Goethe-Institut, telc, TestDaF, ÖSD). B1 is typically required for permanent residence and naturalization — book exams early, slots fill up.

• Citizenship test certificate (Einbürgerungstest)Required

  Book via the local VHS (Volkshochschule)

• Proof of secure incomeRequired

  How to get it: Usually recent payslips, your employment contract, or a tax assessment. Self-employed: a profit statement (BWA) or your Steuerbescheid.

• MeldebescheinigungRequired

  📋 Bring the original, not a copy

  How to get it: You receive it at your Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt. Lost it? Request a new copy at the Bürgeramt (small fee, often bookable online).

• Birth certificate (with certified translation)Required

  📋 Bring the original, not a copy

  How to get it: For a child born in Germany: the Standesamt of the birthplace issues it (the hospital sends the paperwork). For Elterngeld, ask for the special 'für Elterngeld' copy. Foreign certificates may need a certified translation.

Can you do it online?

Many cities now accept the citizenship application online (some via the federal portal); others use a form by post. Search '<your city> Einbürgerung Antrag online'.

Good to know

• The 2024 reform cut the standard residence requirement to five years and allows multiple citizenship. The three-year fast track for exceptional integration was scrapped on 30 October 2025; other routes, such as for spouses of German citizens, have their own conditions.
• You'll normally need B1 German (sometimes higher) and to pass the Einbürgerungstest — 33 multiple-choice questions on German society and law; official practice questions are free online.
• You must show you can support yourself without regular state benefits, and have no serious criminal record.
• Demand since the reform has created long queues in big cities like Bonn — submit a complete file, keep copies of everything, and expect to wait.
• Children and spouses can often be naturalised alongside the main applicant — ask the Einbürgerungsbehörde about joint applications.

Frequently asked questions

Checklist last verified 2026-06-12. Rules vary by office and change over time — always confirm with the official source linked above.