Spousal Naturalization (Section 9 StAG)

To qualify for citizenship through your spouse, you must meet specific criteria regarding your relationship, your time in Germany, and your integration into German society.

• Marriage Duration: You must have been legally married or in a registered civil partnership for at least two years at the time of your application. Your spouse must have held German citizenship for the entirety of those two years.
• Residency: You must have lived legally in Germany for a minimum of three years. You must hold a residence permit that allows for permanent settlement (such as a family reunification permit, EU Blue Card, or settlement permit). Time spent on certain temporary visas, such as student visas, may not count toward this total.
• Marital Status: You must still be living together in a "genuine marital community." If you are divorced, legally separated, or living in separate residences, you generally lose your eligibility for this specific accelerated pathway.
• Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate German language skills at the B1 level or higher.
• Legal and Social Integration: You must pass the "Living in Germany" (Leben in Deutschland) test, which covers German laws, history, and social customs. You must also sign a formal declaration of loyalty to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), Germany's constitution.
• Financial Stability: You and your spouse must be able to support yourselves and any dependents without relying on social assistance (Sozialhilfe) or unemployment benefits (Bürgergeld).
• Criminal Record: You must have a clean record. While very minor offenses may be overlooked, any conviction involving antisemitic, racist, or xenophobic motives is an absolute bar to citizenship.
• Monogamy: Germany does not recognize polygamous marriages; you must be in a monogamous relationship to qualify.