How much German citizenship costs in 2026

9 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Germany does not sell passports: citizenship comes after 5 years in the country, and its fees are modest. We count the fees for a family, the cost of visas and residence permits, the timeline and what happens if you are refused.

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Key point	2026 figures
Route	naturalisation after 5 years in the country
Citizenship fee	~$290 per adult, $60 per child
Test and passport	~$30 and $80
Language	German at B1
Spouses of German citizens	3 years in the country
Review	from a few months to 2 years
Dual citizenship	allowed since 27 June 2024

Amounts checked: 2026-10-06

Germany does not sell citizenship or grant it for investment. The passport is obtained through naturalisation after 5 years of lawful residence, and the fees for citizenship itself are modest: 255 euros, about $290, per adult and 51 euros, about $60, per child naturalised with the parents.

The real cost is five years of visas and residence permits, German courses and the exam, translations and apostilles, and life in one of the most expensive EU countries. Below are all cost items in dollars, the family calculation, the timeline by step and what happens if you are refused.

We will work out online when you can apply and what fees and documents will cost for your family.

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What the cost is made of

Cost item	Amount	Who pays
Naturalisation fee	$290	each adult
Citizenship test	$30	each adult
Passport	$80	each adult
Child naturalised with parents	$60	each child
Child passport	$45	each child
National entry visa	~$85, children ~$45	each family member
Residence permit or EU Blue Card	~$115	each adult
Residence permit extension	~$105-110	each adult
Settlement permit, if obtained before citizenship	~$130-170	each adult
Integration course, unless exempt	up to $1,810 for 700 lessons	each adult
B1 German exam	at the test centre's rate	each adult
Citizen's ID card	~$55	each adult, optional

Euros are converted at the market rate of 6 October 2026, 1.125 dollars to the euro, and rounded up. Citizenship fees are set in section 38 of the Nationality Act, visa and residence permit fees in the Residence Ordinance.

On a low income or when several children are naturalised, the fee may be reduced or paid in instalments. A passport for a citizen under 24 costs 37.50 euros, about $45.

The fee is 255 euros, a refusal after 5 years is what costs

Naturalisation itself is cheap in Germany, but a refusal after five years in the country costs years: the wrong residence permit on the filing date, benefits in your history, absences over half the period, gaps in income papers. Murblz counts your residence period in advance, checks the permit and income, prepares translations and apostilles and files only when every condition is met.

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How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4

Family	Minimum
Two adults	from $800
Two adults and a child	from $905
Two adults and two children	from $1,010

These are only the citizenship, test and passport fees. A spouse and minor children can be naturalised with the main applicant even if they have lived in Germany for less than 5 years. Children under 16 do not take the test, and their German is assessed by age.

Over the 5 years before applying, each family member pays for a visa, a residence permit and extensions, and that costs more than naturalisation itself. We will do the calculation for your family in the chat.

What the cost does not include

5 years of life in Germany: rent, health insurance, taxes and contributions;
visas, residence permits and extensions for each family member;
German courses and the B1 exam;
translations and apostilles of birth and marriage certificates;
foreign police certificates, if you have convictions;
support with the application to the naturalisation authority.

Timeline by step

Step	Time
Moving: work visa, EU Blue Card, freelance or family reunion	1-6 months for the visa
Living in the country with a residence permit, work, taxes, contributions	5 years, 3 for spouses of citizens
B1 German and the citizenship test	on the test centres' schedule
Application to the naturalisation authority	once every condition is met
Review	from a few months to 1-2 years
Handover of the naturalisation certificate	on the appointed day
Passport and ID card	a few weeks

Five years is the minimum, not the typical period: in 2025 the average time lived in Germany at naturalisation was 12.4 years, for Russian citizens 14.1 years. The 3-year fast track for the especially well integrated was abolished from 30 October 2025.

Is money refunded if you are refused

If the application is rejected or you withdraw it after the review has started, the authority charges between 25 euros and the full 255 euros, about $30-290. Test, visa and residence permit fees are not refunded.

So it is worth applying only when every condition is met: 5 years, B1, the test, income without benefits and a clean police record. Losing your job or moving onto benefits during the review can end in refusal, and an open criminal case freezes the decision.

Comparison with neighbouring programmes

Country	Route	Minimum for one	Time	Dual citizenship
Poland	Polish Card (Karta Polaka), permanent residence and recognition as a citizen	from $60	A year in Poland with permanent residence, then the governor's decision	allowed
Italy	Recognition by descent if a parent or grandparent held Italian citizenship only	from $675	Up to 36 months after filing, not counting the wait for an appointment	allowed
Romania	Citizenship restored by descent (Article 11)	from $60	Years in the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) queue	allowed

Poland, Italy and Romania grant an EU passport to people with roots there, usually without moving. Without roots, Germany is one of the shortest naturalisation routes in the EU, and since 2024 it lets you keep your previous citizenship.

What the 5 years before applying cost

Most government charges fall not on citizenship but on the road to it. For each adult that is a national visa of about $85, a residence permit or EU Blue Card of about $115 and extensions of about $105-110 each time. A settlement permit is not required for applying, but if you get one the fee is about $130, or about $170 for the highly qualified.

In 2026 the EU Blue Card requires a salary of at least 50,700 euros a year, or 45,934.20 euros in shortage occupations. The integration course costs 2.29 euros per lesson, up to 1,603 euros for the full course, but people on a low income are exempt. Work routes are on the German work residence permit page.

For Russian citizens

Since 27 June 2024 Germany no longer requires you to give up your previous citizenship, so you can keep the Russian passport. In 2025, 19,700 Russian citizens became German, 51% more than a year earlier. You must notify the Russian Interior Ministry of the second citizenship within 60 days, from Germany through a consulate.

Russian birth and marriage certificates are needed with an apostille and translation, and are best ordered early: some documents are issued only through a consulate or a representative. Details in dual citizenship of Germany and Russia.

What to keep in mind after you get the passport

Taxes: a German citizen who moves to a low-tax country may pay tax on German income in an extended scope for another 10 years, and remains liable for inheritance and gift tax for 5 years after leaving.
Military service: from 1 January 2026 citizens turning 18 receive a service questionnaire, and men must answer it.
Serving in the army of another country of your citizenship without Germany's consent means losing the German passport.

Rates and rules are on the taxes in Germany page.

This topic in other countries

Citizenship cost in other countries:

More about the country:

All programmes and a family calculator - how much citizenship costs in different countries.

FAQ

How much does German citizenship cost in 2026?

The naturalisation fee is 255 euros, about $290, per adult and 51 euros, about $60, per child naturalised with the parents. The test costs about $30, the passport about $80. Visas and residence permits over 5 years, German courses and translations are paid separately.

Can you buy German citizenship?

No. Germany has neither citizenship nor residence by investment. The passport is granted only after 5 years of lawful residence, B1 German and the test.

How much does German citizenship cost for a family of four?

Citizenship, test and passport fees for two adults and two children start from $1,010. Visas and residence permits over the 5 years before applying are counted separately; we will calculate for your family in the chat.

How much is the German citizenship test?

25 euros, about $30. The test has 33 questions and you need 17 correct answers to pass. Children under 16 do not take it.

Is the fee refunded if you are refused?

Not in full. On refusal or withdrawal after the review has started, 25 to 255 euros is charged. Test, visa and residence permit fees are not refunded.

How long does a German citizenship decision take?

The law sets no deadline: from a few months to 1-2 years, longer in big cities. If there is no decision after three months, you can sue for inaction.

Do you have to give up Russian citizenship?

No, since 27 June 2024 Germany does not require it. You must notify the Russian Interior Ministry of the second citizenship within 60 days.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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