Co-naturalization of spouses and children

Naturalization as a family if the main applicant is naturalized

If you apply for naturalization and meet the requirements, it is often possible for your spouse or registered partner and your underage children to be naturalized together with you. This facilitates the joint path to German citizenship.

Co-naturalization of spouses and life partners

Even if your spouse or partner has not yet reached the required period of residence in Germany, he or she can be naturalized together with you. The decision on this lies with the competent authority.

Length of stay as a guideline

As a guideline for successful co-naturalization, your partner must have been living in Germany for four years and your marriage or civil partnership must have existed for two years.

Fulfillment of the other requirements

However, your partner must meet the other general requirements for naturalization. These include, for example, sufficient language skills, a commitment to the free democratic basic order and a secure livelihood.

Co-naturalization of underage children

Your underage children can also be naturalized together with you, even if they have not yet completed the regular period of residence.

Length of stay of the children

As a rule, the child is expected to have resided in Germany for at least three years in order to be naturalized.

Special regulations for small children

There is a special simplification for children who have not yet reached the age of six at the time of naturalization. In this case, it is sufficient if the child has spent half of their life in Germany immediately prior to naturalization.

Children aged 16 and over

Minor children who have already reached the age of 16 must generally meet the requirements for naturalization independently.

Naturalization as the spouse or partner of a German citizen

If your spouse or partner already has German citizenship, there are easier conditions for naturalization. This is intended to make it easier for families with different nationalities to live together.

Basic requirements

As the spouse or partner of a German citizen, you can usually be naturalized after a shorter period of residence.

Duration of stay in Germany

Normally, a legal and habitual residence in Germany of three years is expected.

Existence of the marriage or civil partnership

Your marriage or registered civil partnership with the German partner must have existed for at least two years at the time of naturalization.

Further requirements

In addition to the simplified residence periods, you must also meet the general naturalization requirements. These include:

• Commitment to the free democratic basic order
• The ability to earn a living for yourself and your family
• No significant criminal offenses
• Sufficient knowledge of the German language
• Knowledge of the legal and social order (proven by the naturalization test)

Involvement of the children

If you are naturalized as the spouse or partner of a German citizen, your underage children can also be naturalized under simplified conditions, even if they have not yet been in Germany for three years.

Special case: After death or divorce

The possibility of simplified naturalization can continue to exist even after the death of your German partner or after a legally binding divorce. The prerequisite is that you submit the application within one year of the event and that you live in a family relationship with a minor child from this relationship who already has German citizenship and has custody rights.

Naturalization for families abroad

There are also naturalization options for families living abroad under certain circumstances.

For former Germans and their children

If a person previously held German citizenship and lives abroad, they can be naturalized again under certain conditions. This possibility also extends to their minor children.

For spouses of Germans abroad

If a married couple lives abroad and their stay there is in Germany's public interest, the foreign spouse of a German citizen can also be naturalized under simplified conditions.