Naturalisation by entitlement An individual who fulfils all of the following criteria has an entitlement to naturalise as a German citizen:[6] he/she has been ordinarily resident in Germany for at least 8 years (this period can be reduced - see below) he/she has legal capacity or a legal representative confirms his/her present and past commitment to the free democratic constitutional system enshrined in the German Basic Law (or that he is presently committed to such principles and has departed from former support of ideas contrary to such principles) he/she is a European Union or Swiss citizen in possession of the appropriate residence permit which permits the free movement of persons, or he/she is a non-EU/Swiss citizen who has been granted a permanent right of residence he/she is able to support himself/herself without recourse to benefits he/she has not been sentenced for an unlawful act and is not subject to any court order imposing a measure of reform and prevention he/she possesses an adequate knowledge of German possesses knowledge of the legal system, the society and living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany An individual who does not have legal capacity is entitled to naturalise as a German citizen merely through ordinary residence in Germany for at least 8 years - he/she does not have to fulfil the other criteria (e.g. adequate command of the German language and ability to be self-supporting without recourse to benefits). Applicants for naturalisation are normally expected to prove they have renounced their existing nationality, or will lose this automatically upon naturalisation. An exception applies to those unable to give up their nationality easily (such as refugees). A further exception applies to citizens of Switzerland and the European Union member states. An individual who is entitled to naturalise as a German citizen can also apply for his/her spouse and minor children to be naturalised at the same time (his/her spouse and minor children need not have ordinarily resided in Germany for at least 8 years). Exceptions to the normal residence requirements include: persons who have completed an integration course may have the residence requirement reduced to 7 years If a person shows that he/she is especially well integrated and has a higher level of command of the German language than the basic requirement for the German citizenship (i.e., higher than CEFR level B1) may have the residence requirement reduced to 6 years The spouse of a German citizen may be naturalised after 3 years of continual residency in Germany. The marriage must have persisted for at least 2 years. refugees and stateless persons may be able to apply after 6 years of continual residency
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:41:13 +0000
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