How children become German
Many children are German from birth. Most others are naturalised together with a parent, for €51 instead of €255.
Fees and tests together
€382
3 people, fees under s. 38 StAG and the test charge under s. 2 EinbTestV
| Adults × €255 | €255 |
| Children without income × €51 | €102 |
| Children with income × €255 | €0 |
| Citizenship test × €25 | €25 |
Not included: the language exam, translations, certificates and fees charged by your country of origin, which vary by provider and country. A refusal or withdrawal after processing has started costs at least €25 and at most the full fee.
Prepared by Radif Partners · Method · BAMF question catalogue of 7 May 2025 · laws checked on 22 October 2026
A child becomes German in one of three ways. First by descent: if a parent is German at the time of birth, so is the child (section 4(1) StAG). Second by birth in Germany: if a foreign parent has lived here lawfully for 5 years and holds a permanent right of residence, the child is German from birth (section 4(3)), and the registry office records it in the birth register. Third by joint naturalisation: minor children can be naturalised with a parent under section 10(2), even without 5 years of residence of their own. Children under 16 need neither the citizenship test nor a B1 certificate; age-appropriate language development is enough. The fee is €51 for a child without income naturalised with a parent, otherwise €255. In all three cases children may keep another nationality, as far as the other country allows.
The three routes compared
| Route | Condition | Fee | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descent | A parent is German at birth | none | Section 4(1) StAG |
| Birth in Germany | A parent: 5 years’ residence and permanent right of residence | none | Section 4(3) StAG |
| Joint naturalisation | Minor, with a parent | €51 without own income | Sections 10(2) and 38 StAG |
| Own application | Meets section 10 conditions personally | €255 | Section 10(1) StAG |
Birth in Germany: what the registry office checks
Acquisition by birth under section 4(3) StAG happens by law, with no application and no fee. The registry office that records the birth checks the parents’ residence and enters the acquisition. What counts is the situation on the day of birth: if the parent only receives the settlement permit a few weeks later, that is too late. Since the reform the period is 5 years instead of eight, and the former duty to choose a nationality has been abolished.
If you are not sure whether your child is German, for example because the parents’ records are incomplete, you can have it established bindingly with a certificate of nationality.
Joint naturalisation: what children need
Children under 16 neither sign the commitment nor take the test (section 10(1), second sentence, StAG). For language, subsection 4 requires age-appropriate development, usually shown through nursery or school reports. Young people from 16 are treated like adults: test, commitment and German at level B1, although a school certificate can replace a lot.
The reduced fee only applies to joint naturalisation and only if the child has no income of its own. The calculator above adds up the fees for your family; the test fee only applies to people aged 16 or over.
Fees with children
Fees and tests together
€713
| Adults × €255 | €510 |
| Children without income × €51 | €153 |
| Children with income × €255 | €0 |
| Citizenship test × €25 | €50 |
Adult children and birthdays during the procedure
Joint naturalisation only covers minors. A child who is already 18 files their own application and must meet every condition personally: residence, language, test and livelihood, although trainees and students may often still be supported by their parents. If a child turns 16 during the procedure, the commitment and the test are added; the authority will tell you which proofs it needs.
If the family has not been here long enough yet, check the parents’ earliest month to apply on German citizenship requirements; the children’s application depends on that date.