Fees of the authority

Costs in the form of fees and expenses are generally charged for the naturalization procedure and other related official acts.

The regular fees at a glance

Fee for naturalization

The fee for naturalization is 255 euros.

Reduced fee for naturalized children

If a minor child is naturalized together with a parent and this child has no income of its own, the fee for the child is reduced to 51 euros.

Fees for further procedures

• Determining whether or not you have German citizenship costs 51 euros on application.
• A fee of between 5 and 51 euros is charged for other certificates in citizenship matters, depending on the work involved.

Costs in the event of rejection or withdrawal of an application

Costs may also be incurred if an application is rejected or withdrawn. If the authority has already started processing the application, a fee will be charged for the rejection or withdrawal of an application. This is between 25 euros and the full amount that would have been charged for the actual service. The same applies if an appeal against a decision is withdrawn.

When is the procedure free of charge?

In certain cases, the state waives the collection of fees completely. This is done in particular to make amends for historical injustice or in other situations defined by law.

Exemption from fees for restitution

An exemption from fees applies in the following cases:

• Naturalization of persons who were expatriated during the Nazi era for political, racial or religious reasons, as well as their descendants.
• Naturalizations under Section 15 of the Citizenship Act, which also concerns cases of Nazi injustice.
• The re-naturalization of former Germans who have lost their citizenship through marriage to a foreigner.
• The acquisition of citizenship through a declaration in accordance with Section 5 of the Act.

Other fee-free procedures

• The renunciation of German citizenship is free of charge.
• If the authorities determine on their own initiative (ex officio) whether a person has German citizenship or not, no fees are charged.

Possibilities for fee reduction or fee waiver

In certain situations, the fee can be reduced or even waived completely. The law provides for reasons of fairness or public interest. Whether such an exception is granted is a case-by-case decision by the authority.

Reduction or remission on equitable grounds

A reduction on equitable grounds is intended to avoid undue hardship for the individual. One important reason is the applicant's financial situation. Anyone who has very little income or receives social benefits may be able to apply for a reduction or even a complete waiver of fees. Illness or old age can also be taken into account as reasons for a reduction in fees.

Reduction or remission in the public interest

There may be a public interest in reducing or exempting fees for recognized refugees, for example, in order to promote their integration.

Additional costs: Expenses

In addition to the actual fees, additional costs, known as expenses, may be incurred in some cases. These are costs incurred by the authority as a result of the procedure. These include, for example

• Costs for witnesses or experts
• Costs for interpreters or translators
• Costs for requesting documents from other authorities

What to do if the fee notice is incorrect?

The decision setting the fees is an official administrative act. If you are of the opinion that the fees have been calculated incorrectly or that you are entitled to a reduction, you can take legal action against this. It is important to know that an appeal or legal action against the fee notice does not initially stop the payment obligation. However, it is possible to apply to the authority or court for a suspension of enforcement so that the fee does not have to be paid for the time being. We can assist you with this.