German Citizenship Costs in 2026: Full Breakdown Including Lawyer Fees

The official application fee for German naturalization is €255 per adult and €51 per minor child who is co-naturalized with a parent. That is what the government charges. The total cost of actually getting your citizenship certificate is considerably higher, and understanding the full picture helps you plan and budget correctly.

The Fixed Costs

Application fee (§ 38 StAG): €255 per adult applicant. This is non-refundable if your application is rejected, with one exception: if the authority rejects your application and you successfully appeal or sue, the fee may be reimbursed. Minor children naturalized together with a parent pay €51 each.

Einbürgerungstest fee: €25, paid to the BAMF-accredited test center when you register for the exam. The test can be taken before you submit your citizenship application — the result has no expiry date.

German passport (post-naturalization): €70 for applicants aged 24 and over (the standard adult passport is valid for 10 years). Applicants under 24 pay €37.50 for a 6-year passport.

National ID card (Personalausweis): €37. Not required, but most German citizens get one alongside the passport. If you are under 24, the price is lower.

Variable Costs Depending on Your Situation

B1 language exam: If you completed an integration course and received a DTZ certificate, this is already covered. If not, you will need to sit a B1 exam independently. The Goethe-Institut B1 exam costs approximately €150–200 depending on location. telc is typically slightly cheaper. Budget approximately €160 for this.

Sworn translation of foreign documents: Foreign birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other vital records must be translated by a sworn (beeidigter) or certified (ermächtigter) translator. These translators charge by the page. In 2026, sworn translation typically costs €35–80 per page, depending on the language pair and complexity. A standard birth certificate with two pages of content and one page of official stamps might cost €120–200 to translate.

Apostille and legalization: Documents issued by your home country must be authenticated for use in Germany. The cost depends on the country:

• Most European countries: €20–50 per document for an Apostille
• Turkey: Similar to EU rates
• India: Embassy legalization is more involved; budget €50–100 per document plus potential notary costs in India for original copies
• Some countries require full legalization through multiple agencies rather than a simple Apostille — significantly more expensive and time-consuming

Document copies and certification: Some offices require certified copies of your passport and permit rather than originals. Certified copies from a notary typically cost €10–25 per document.

Passport photos: €10–15 for a set of biometric photos, which is required for both the application and subsequent passport/ID applications.

The Total Cost for a Straightforward Case

For a single adult applicant born in Germany or with simple document history:

For an applicant with foreign-issued documents requiring translation and apostille:

Germany's naturalization process remains comparatively affordable. In the United States, the naturalization application alone costs $760 (approximately €700), before any document costs. In the United Kingdom, the citizenship application fee is £1,630 (approximately €1,900).

When Does a Lawyer Actually Make Sense?

Immigration lawyers (Rechtsanwälte or Fachanwälte für Ausländerrecht) charge €200 per consultation hour as a baseline. Full representation in a naturalization case typically runs €500–2,000 depending on complexity.

Cases where a lawyer adds clear value:

• Untätigkeitsklage (inaction lawsuit): If your application has been pending for over three months and the office is not responding, a lawyer can file this administrative lawsuit for you. Cost: typically €300–800. Outcome: the authority almost always processes the application before the court date.

• Refusal of application: If you receive a formal Ablehnungsbescheid (rejection notice), you have one month to file a Widerspruch (objection). Depending on the ground for rejection, self-representation is possible, but a lawyer significantly improves your odds in contested cases.

• Complex criminal record history: Multiple minor offenses that may aggregate past the 90 day-fine threshold, or offenses that fall near the line, warrant a legal opinion before you submit.

• Complex dual citizenship situations: Indian OCI transition, the Mavi Kart question for Turkish nationals, or US FATCA considerations are areas where country-specific legal knowledge is valuable.

Cases where a lawyer is not necessary:

For a standard application — five years of qualified residence, stable employment, clean record, B1 certificate, and straightforward foreign document history — there is no reason to hire a lawyer. The citizenship application form is bureaucratic but not legally complex. Most straightforward applicants can navigate it correctly with a good guide.

A practical middle ground: a single legal consultation (€200–400) to review your specific situation and confirm your eligibility before submitting. This provides an informed green light without the cost of full representation.

Can the Costs Be Subsidized?

Yes, in some circumstances:

Jobcenter coverage: If you receive supplemental Bürgergeld (which typically disqualifies you from naturalization — but some applicants are "top-up" recipients whose primary income nearly covers their needs), the Jobcenter may cover costs of language exams or the citizenship test. Ask directly.

Minor children: Co-naturalized children pay only €51 rather than €255, which is a meaningful saving if you are naturalizing an entire family.

Rejection fee: If the authority rejects your application, they may charge an additional fee of up to €255. This reinforces the importance of submitting a complete, accurate application the first time.

For a complete cost breakdown including country-specific document costs and the optional lawyer vs. DIY analysis, the Germany Citizenship Guide is available at /de/citizenship/.

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