German citizenship for Brits: keep your British passport and add a German one
For years, becoming German meant giving up being British. Since 27 June 2024 it doesn't, and for many Brits in Berlin a second passport is now the neatest answer to Brexit.
The short version
- Since 27 June 2024, you no longer have to give up your old citizenship to become German [3]. The UK allows dual nationality too [1].
- You normally need five years of lawful residence; the three-year fast track was scrapped in October 2025 [2][6].
- You need German at B1, a pass in the naturalisation test (17 out of 33), and to be able to support yourself without benefits [2][4][5].
- The fee is EUR 255 per adult and EUR 51 per child naturalised with a parent [5].
- In Berlin, applications go online to the LEA, which has a large backlog [3].
What changed in 2024 and 2025
The big reform took effect on 27 June 2024: applicants no longer have to give up their previous citizenship [3]. For Brits, that was the change that mattered most. Before Brexit, Brits could keep their passport as EU citizens; after it, the general rule forcing people to renounce applied, unless you'd applied in time.
The same reform cut the usual residence requirement to five years and added a three-year route for the especially well integrated. That second part didn't last. The law abolishing the three-year route took effect at the end of October 2025, according to press reports, and applies without a grace period, so pending applications from people with under five years may be refused or put on hold [6]. In the current law the shortened-route paragraphs are marked as repealed, which we rechecked on 11 November 2026 [2].
Brits who applied before Brexit
German transitional law protected British citizens who applied for naturalisation before the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020: if they met the requirements then, they could keep their British citizenship even if the decision came later. Since 2024 that question has largely gone away, because everyone can now keep their old passport [3]. If your old application is still open, or you're unsure which rules apply, ask the LEA.
The requirements
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Residence | Five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany [2] |
| Residence status | A permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card, or a permit for a purpose that can lead to settlement; a student permit doesn't count [2][5] |
| Language | German at B1, usually shown by a certificate; a German school, vocational or university qualification also counts [2][5] |
| Civic knowledge | Pass the naturalisation test or the "Leben in Deutschland" test [2][3] |
| Money | Support yourself and dependants without SGB II or XII benefits, with some exceptions [2] |
| Record | No relevant criminal convictions; disclose investigations at home or abroad [2][5] |
| Commitments | Written and spoken commitment to the Basic Law and to Germany's historical responsibility [2][5] |
Your residence as a Withdrawal Agreement resident counts, so a Brit who arrived in 2019 may already be well past five years. Your Aufenthaltsdokument-GB or permanent residence status is the starting point. Blue Card holders can apply on the card itself [2]. Spouses, registered partners and minor children of eligible applicants can be naturalised without the full five years, at the authority's discretion [2][5].
There's one exception on the money test that matters to many: people who have worked full time for at least 20 of the last 24 months are covered even if they claim some support [2]. Illness, disability or age can exempt you from the language and test requirements [2].
The naturalisation test
It's a bit like the UK's Life in the UK test, but with fewer questions about the Romans. The Einbürgerungstest has 33 multiple-choice questions, 30 on democracy, history and society and three on your federal state, here Berlin [4]. You have 60 minutes and need at least 17 right [4]. If you fail, you can sit it again [4].
- Fee: EUR 25 (about £21) [4]
- Where: at a BAMF-approved test centre; the LEA doesn't run tests itself [3][4]
- Practice: BAMF publishes the question bank of 310 questions, including 10 for each state [4]
- Exempt: people with a German qualification in law, social, political or administrative sciences usually don't need to take it [5]
Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = EUR 1.2002).
Most Brits find the language the harder part. B1 means you can handle everyday conversations and write simple letters, so the Bürgeramt small talk you've picked up probably isn't quite enough. Book a recognised exam in good time, as certificates can take a few weeks to arrive.
Applying in Berlin
Since 1 January 2024, the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) has been Berlin's central naturalisation authority, taking over around 40,000 open cases from the district offices [3]. It handled nearly 22,000 naturalisations in 2024 and receives up to 1,000 new applications a week, and it can't forecast when the oldest cases will be cleared [3]. Pack your patience along with your documents.
- Do the Quick-Check on service.berlin.de, which starts the online application [3].
- Gather documents: passport, residence card, B1 certificate, test certificate, proof of income and your Meldebescheinigung. Most documents should be no more than six months old [3].
- Apply online. Paper applications are dealt with at lower priority [3]. Children under 16 go on a parent's application; partners and children aged 16 or over file their own [3].
- Pay the fee: EUR 255 (about £212) per adult, EUR 51 (about £42) per child without income naturalised with a parent [5].
- Wait for the invitation to collect your naturalisation certificate in person [3].
Your residence status doesn't change while you wait [3], so keep your residence card valid. The certificate is issued only once and can't be replaced if lost [3], so keep it with the Christmas cake recipe and the deeds.
The British side
The UK has no problem with dual nationality, and Germany recognises dual citizenship with the UK [1]. In practice:
- Keep your British passport valid. You'll want it for trips home. See renewing a British passport from abroad.
- Keep your naturalisation certificate. The FCDO says those who became German before 2021 need it as evidence for UK benefit claims [1].
- Children born in Germany to a British parent may also be British by descent. See registering a child born abroad.
- Votes: British citizens abroad can register to vote in UK general elections, and as a German you can vote here in every election too.
Once you're German you are an EU citizen again, with free movement across the EU. After the last few years, that might feel worth the faff alone.
Want to know how long the LEA took for others this year? Ask in our community group for Brits in Germany.
Sources
- GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in Germany (last updated 11 December 2025)
- Gesetze im Internet: § 10 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz
- Berlin.de, Landesamt für Einwanderung: Einbürgerung (FAQ version 1 August 2025)
- BAMF: The naturalisation test (30 June 2025)
- Make it in Germany: Einbürgerung
- The Local Germany: Law repealing Germany's three-year citizenship track takes effect (31 October 2025)