Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Naturalisation

Description

Saxony-Anhalt welcomes, supports and encourages those foreigners who live here permanently and wish to acquire German citizenship. To obtain a German passport, you can be naturalized. In this way, one acquires German citizenship and can participate in social and political life on an equal footing.

Naturalization brings many advantages for you. You are free to choose your profession, you will have the right to vote, you can be elected yourself, you will receive protection against expulsion and extradition and you will receive consular protection abroad at any time from the German missions abroad. In addition, as a German, you can travel to many other countries without a visa.

Which documents are required?

Which documents are required depends on the individual case.

A certified copy or a copy of the original is usually sufficient for the documents.
Civil status documents and passport must be presented in the original.
In the case of foreign-language documents, a translation is also required.

Note: Let the naturalisation authority advise you at an early stage on which documents you need to submit.

What are the fees?

There are fees for naturalization. If the application is withdrawn or rejected, the fee will be reduced.

Additional costs may be incurred in individual cases for the presentation of civil status certificates, proof of civic knowledge, language skills and for the surrender of previous nationality.

Administration Fee: 51,00 EUR
Payment in advance: No
Fee for the co-naturalisation of minor children without their own income

Administration Fee: 255,00 EUR
Payment in advance: No
Fee for naturalization

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the competent authority.

Applications / forms

The objection and specialist supervisory authority is the State Administration Office.

State Administration Office

Who should I contact?

Naturalization authorities are the districts and district-free cities. Contact the naturalization authority of the county or city in whose area you live.

If you live in Dessau-Roßlau, Halle (Saale) or Magdeburg, the city administration is responsible for naturalization.
If you live in a municipality belonging to the district, the district administration is the naturalisation authority.

Appeal

For naturalization, you must submit a written application. If you have reached the age of 16, you can apply for naturalisation yourself. If you are not yet 16 years old, the legal representatives - usually the parents - must submit the application.

Hint: Before you submit the application, you should have a consultation with your naturalisation authority. This may save you time and unnecessary queries.

Upon presentation of all required documents, your naturalisation authority will try to process your naturalisation application quickly. Under certain circumstances, a longer period of time may pass before naturalisation, as the procedure for dismissal from previous nationality is often time-consuming.

Note: Youare obliged to cooperate in the naturalisation procedure.

If your naturalisation requires the surrender of your previous nationality, you will receive an assurance of naturalisation if all other requirements are met. This allows you to take the necessary steps for dismissal from your previous nationality. The naturalisation assurance is generally valid for two years and can be extended if necessary.

What else should I know?

The naturalization certificate will be handed over to you personally in a naturalization ceremony. In the course of the naturalization ceremony, you will solemnly declare orally that you respect the Basic Law and the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and will refrain from anything that could harm the Federal Republic of Germany. This solemn confession is intended to reaffirm the commitment to the free democratic basic order made in writing in the application for naturalisation. With the handing over of the naturalization certificate, the naturalization becomes effective. You are then a German citizen.

With your naturalization certificate, you go to your registration office and apply for your Germanidentity card. As a German or German, you must own it, but you do not have to carry it with you all the time. You will need a passport if you are planning a trip abroad for which the identity card is not sufficient. Your registration authority will advise you here.