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Spouses and registered civil partners of German citizens can apply for naturalisation after 3 years of lawful residence under §9 StAG — reduced from 8 years by the 2024 reform. Marriage to a German does not automatically confer citizenship; it shortens the required residency period.
§9 StAG Requirements — The Full Checklist
All requirements must be met simultaneously at the time of application. The 2024 StARModG reform reduced the residence minimum from 8 to 3 years and made dual citizenship the default.
| Requirement | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage duration | At least 2 years at time of application | Civil registration date counts — not the religious ceremony date |
| Lawful residence | 3 years minimum (reduced from 8 by 2024 reform) | Count starts from date of first lawful registration (Anmeldung) |
| German language | B1 CEFR minimum (Goethe, telc, ÖSD, BAMF certificate) | No exemption for spousal route |
| Einbürgerungstest | 33 questions from BAMF pool; 17/33 correct required | Exemption for over-60s and those with certified disability |
| Financial self-sufficiency | No reliance on Bürgergeld or Sozialhilfe | Kindergeld and Wohngeld do not disqualify |
| Criminal record | No conviction above 90 Tagessätze or 6-month suspended sentence | §11 StAG exclusions apply |
| Dual citizenship | Permitted since 27 June 2024 (StARModG) | No renunciation required for most applicants |
| Fee | €255 per adult (StAGGebV §1) | Payable at the Einbürgerungsbehörde |
Registered Life Partners — Full Parity with Marriage
Registered life partners (Lebenspartner) under LPartG §1 have identical rights under §9 StAG as married spouses. The same requirements and the same 3-year residence minimum apply.
Important: §9 StAG applies only to legally married spouses and registered civil partners. Unmarried long-term partners (nichteheliche Lebensgemeinschaft) do not benefit from the §9 shortcut — they must use the standard §10 StAG route (5-year residence minimum).
Genuine Marriage — Scheinehe Detection
German authorities investigate suspected marriages of convenience (Scheinehe). Evidence of genuine marital life is required at the Einbürgerungsbehörde interview.
- Joint tenancy agreement or proof of shared residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
- Joint bank accounts or shared financial evidence
- Photos together over the years, family contacts, shared social life evidence
- Lifestyle interview (Befragung) at the Einbürgerungsbehörde — our Rechtsanwälte prepare you for this
- If Scheinehe is established, the §9 application is rejected and criminal prosecution possible under §95 AufenthG
Children and Family Naturalisation
Children born to a German parent acquire citizenship automatically at birth under §4(1) StAG. Children born before the naturalisation do not automatically acquire German citizenship — a separate minor application under §10 StAG may be filed simultaneously.
Application Process and Timeline
Applications are submitted to the Einbürgerungsbehörde of the local Ausländerbehörde. Processing typically takes 6–18 months depending on authority backlog.
- Gather documents: passport, Heiratsurkunde, all Aufenthaltstitel, Meldebescheinigungen, language certificate, tax records (3 years), health insurance confirmation
- Submit application — receive Einbürgerungszusicherung (preliminary commitment) if all requirements met
- Background checks: Bundeszentralregister, Verfassungsschutz, Finanzamt (no outstanding tax)
- Einbürgerungsbehörde interview — German language and Einbürgerungstest verification
- Ceremony: Einbürgerungsurkunde issued, loyalty oath administered (Treuebekenntnis)
Common questions.
Does marrying a German citizen automatically make me a German citizen?
No. Germany has not granted automatic citizenship upon marriage since 1 January 1970. Marriage to a German facilitates naturalisation under §9 StAG by reducing the residence requirement to 3 years, but you must still apply and meet all requirements.
Can I apply before completing 3 years of residence?
No. The 3-year minimum is a hard legal requirement under §9 StAG as amended in 2024. The count starts from the date of first lawful address registration in Germany — not from the marriage date.
Does my time in Germany before marriage count toward the 3 years?
Yes. The 3-year residency requirement counts all lawful residence in Germany, including periods before the marriage. If you lived in Germany on a work permit before marrying a German citizen, those years count.
Can I keep my original nationality when naturalising via §9 StAG?
Yes — from 27 June 2024, the StARModG reform made dual citizenship the general rule. Most applicants no longer need to renounce their prior nationality. Certain narrow exceptions remain under §12 StAG.
What is the Einbürgerungstest and is it hard?
The Einbürgerungstest is a 33-question multiple-choice exam from the BAMF pool of 310 published questions. You need 17 correct (51.5%) to pass. The entire question pool is publicly available at oet.bamf.de — most applicants can pass with 1–2 weeks of preparation. Exemptions for over-60s and persons with certified disability.
What happens to my citizenship if I divorce my German spouse?
Nothing — once you have been naturalised as a German citizen, the citizenship is yours regardless of the subsequent status of the marriage. Germany cannot revoke citizenship solely due to divorce (Art. 16 GG prohibits arbitrary deprivation of citizenship). The marriage to a German is only relevant during the application process.
Does a registered civil partnership (eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) count as marriage for §9 StAG?
Since 1 October 2017, same-sex marriages (Ehe für alle) are fully recognised in Germany, and all new civil partnerships can be converted to marriage. For §9 StAG purposes, a valid marriage to a German citizen — including same-sex marriage — qualifies. Unmarried partnerships do not qualify for the 3-year route.
What income level do I need to show for the §9 StAG application?
You must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency (Lebensunterhaltssicherung) — able to support yourself and family members without Bürgergeld or Sozialhilfe. The income of your German spouse can count. There is no fixed income threshold — what matters is that the household is not dependent on means-tested benefits.
Can I apply for citizenship by marriage if my spouse died before I completed 3 years?
Yes, if you continue to have a sufficiently close connection to Germany. The authorities assess this on a case-by-case basis. Long residence in Germany, children, employment, and integration all strengthen the case. Speak with a Rechtsanwalt — this situation is specifically addressed in administrative guidelines.
Married to a German citizen?
We assess your eligibility, prepare your complete documentation, and represent you at the Einbürgerungsbehörde for the 3-year naturalisation route.
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