Since June 2024 you can apply for a German passport after 5 years of lawful residence, and you may keep your first citizenship. The language condition is B1 German, proven with a certificate. This guide explains the rules, the certificates that count and how to prepare for the B1 exam.
German citizenship needs B1 German plus the Einbürgerungstest after 5 years of residence — any certificate on the BAMF list counts (Goethe, telc, DTZ, ÖSD, ECL), and no higher level shortens the wait.
Source: bamf.de ·
Standard naturalisation (Einbürgerung) has four core conditions: residence, B1 German, the test and self-sufficiency. Two more rules matter for many applicants.
You must have lived in Germany legally for at least 5 years. The old 8-year rule ended in June 2024, and there is no shorter period for people with better German.
The law (section 10 of the Nationality Act, Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz) asks for B1. You show it with a certificate from the list that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) accepts.
You also pass the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest). It is separate from your language certificate, so plan and prepare for the two on their own timelines.
You need to show that you can pay for your own living costs. The naturalisation office checks this when it reviews your application.
Since 27 June 2024 you no longer have to give up your first nationality. This came with the 2024 reform of the Nationality Act.
If you are married to a German citizen, a separate rule applies: 3 years of residence and 2 years of marriage (section 9 of the Nationality Act).
| Rule | What applies in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Standard residence period | 5 years of lawful residence |
| German level | B1, shown by a certificate on the BAMF list |
| Citizenship test | Einbürgerungstest, required in addition to the certificate |
| Spouse of a German citizen | 3 years of residence and 2 years of marriage |
| 3-year fast track | Repealed, in force since 30 October 2025 |
| Old 8-year rule | Replaced by the 5-year rule in June 2024 |
| Dual citizenship | Allowed since 27 June 2024 |
The naturalisation office accepts a B1 certificate from the BAMF list. You do not need a specific brand. Pick the exam that is easiest for you to book and that suits the way you learn.
Both are fully recognised for citizenship. The difference is how you sit and retake them.
The Goethe B1 exam is modular. Reading, listening, writing and speaking are separate modules. You pass each one with 60 out of 100 points, and you can book or retake a single module.
telc Deutsch B1 is one exam out of 300 points: 225 for the written part and 75 for the oral part. You need 60 % in the written part and in the oral part, each on its own.
B1 means you can handle everyday life in German: read a notice, follow an announcement, write an email and take part in a conversation. The four modules test exactly that.
5 parts, 30 questions, 65 minutes. Everyday texts of different lengths and types.
4 parts, 30 questions, 40 minutes, including 5 minutes to transfer your answers.
3 tasks in 60 minutes: an email, a short opinion post for a discussion and a second email.
3 parts with a partner, 15 minutes, after 15 minutes of preparation time.
Grades per module: sehr gut 90–100, gut 80–89, befriedigend 70–79, ausreichend 60–69. Below 60 the module is not passed.
Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is a separate status from citizenship, with its own timelines. German helps on that step too, but it does not change the 5-year rule for the passport.
Permanent residence after 21 months. The Blue Card itself needs no German certificate.
Permanent residence after 27 months. With B1 you reach this step 6 months sooner.
Permanent residence after 3 years on a skilled worker permit (section 18c of the Residence Act).
Work out when you reach 5 years of lawful residence. Start your German preparation well before that date, so the certificate is ready when you are eligible.
Take a full B1 mock exam under timed conditions. Your module scores show whether you are close to 60 points or still need work on one skill.
Choose Goethe, telc or another exam on the BAMF list. Fees are set locally by each exam centre, so check the price list where you book. With Goethe you can retake only the module you did not pass.
Take the citizenship test, collect your documents and submit your application to the naturalisation office where you live. Ask that office for its current fee and processing time.
The standard period is 5 years of lawful residence. It replaced the old 8-year rule in June 2024. If you are married to a German citizen, a separate rule asks for 3 years of residence and 2 years of marriage.
You need B1 German. You prove it with a certificate from the BAMF list, for example the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, the DTZ at B1, or ÖSD or ECL at B1. You also have to pass the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest).
No. The 3-year fast track for people with very good German and special integration was repealed, and the repeal has been in force since 30 October 2025. Today the minimum is 5 years for everyone, whatever your German level. A higher certificate is useful for work and study, but the waiting period stays the same.
No. Germany has allowed dual citizenship since 27 June 2024. You can become German and keep your first nationality, as far as German law is concerned. Check the rules of your home country as well.
Not for the timing. The law asks for B1, and there is no earlier route for people with better German. A higher certificate can still help you at work or at university. For EU Blue Card holders, B1 itself already brings permanent residence after 21 months instead of 27.
Both are fully recognised. The Goethe B1 exam is modular: you pass each module with 60 out of 100 points and can retake a single module. telc Deutsch B1 is one exam out of 300 points, and you need 60 % in the written part and in the oral part separately.
Each Goethe-Institut, telc centre or exam partner sets its own price, and it varies by country and city. Single Goethe modules cost less than the full exam. Check the local price list before you book.