#language-requirements

#language-requirements

Germany is on course to abolish a fast-track path to German citizenship that requires C1 level language skills and exceptional integration. We spoke to a foreign resident in Berlin who raced to improve her German to apply before it's too late. When Rachel, a software engineer and musician from the United States, arrived in Berlin in May 2022, she had no idea she'd have the opportunity to become German just over three years later.

Naturalisation as a German citizen typically requires a citizenship exam, but certain groups can bypass this requirement under specific conditions. These groups include German citizens by descent, older members of the guest worker generation, and minors under 16.