Germany Citizenship: 6 categories who can apply without paying the Naturalisation fee
President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Germany has identified six categories of people who can access certain citizenship procedures without paying the standard nationality fee, according to the country’s Nationality Act.
The exemption is contained in Section 38 of the German Nationality Act (StAG), which sets out the fees attached to naturalisation and other citizenship-related procedures.
For most people seeking German naturalisation, the standard fee is €255. However, the law specifically provides that some nationality procedures are free of charge, while authorities can also reduce or waive certain fees where fairness or the public interest justifies it.
The distinction is important for foreigners considering German citizenship because the fee exemption does not mean that anyone who meets Germany’s naturalisation requirements automatically gets citizenship without paying.
Instead, the exemption applies to particular legal routes and circumstances.
Germany’s standard citizenship fee is €255
Under Section 38 of the Nationality Act, the standard fee for naturalisation is €255 per person.
A reduced €51 fee applies to a minor child who is naturalised together with a parent and has no qualifying income of their own. The law also sets a €51 fee for applications seeking a determination of whether German citizenship exists, while certain other nationality certificates cost between €5 and €51.
The German government’s official information portal also confirms the €255 naturalisation fee and the €51 charge for a minor child naturalised alongside a parent.
But Section 38(3) goes further by specifically identifying six categories of nationality procedures that are fee-free.
1. People covered by Article 116 of Germany’s Basic Law
The first group consists of people being naturalised under Article 116(2), sentence 1 of Germany’s Basic Law, as well as people receiving a citizenship certificate under Article 116(2), sentence 2.
Article 116(2) concerns former German citizens who were deprived of German citizenship between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, on political, racial or religious grounds, and their descendants. The Basic Law provides for their restoration to German nationality upon application.
This provision is linked to Germany’s historical responsibility for people who lost citizenship under Nazi persecution.
2. People naturalised under Section 15 of the Nationality Act
The second category covers people eligible for naturalisation under Section 15 of the Nationality Act.
Section 15 addresses people affected by persecution connected to the circumstances covered by Article 116(2) between 1933 and 1945, as well as certain descendants.
The provision covers several historical situations, including people who lost or gave up German citizenship because of persecution and people who were prevented from acquiring German nationality under rules in force at the time.
For people whose cases fall within this legal route, the naturalisation itself is listed as fee-free under Section 38.
3. Former Germans who lost citizenship after marrying a foreign national
Germany also exempts former German citizens who lost their nationality because they married a foreign national.
Section 38 expressly lists the naturalisation of former Germans who lost German citizenship through marriage to a foreigner as a fee-free procedure.
The category is narrower than a general exemption for anyone who has previously held German citizenship. The person’s circumstances must fall within the situation described by the law.
4. People acquiring citizenship through a declaration under Section 5
The fourth category concerns people acquiring German nationality through a declaration under Section 5 of the Nationality Act.
Section 5 provides a route for certain people who were unable to acquire German citizenship at birth despite having a qualifying connection to a German parent or who lost citizenship in specific circumstances.
The provision also extends eligibility to certain descendants.
Section 38 specifically states that acquisition of citizenship through this declaration procedure is free of charge.
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5. People who renounce German citizenship
The fifth group is people who are renouncing German citizenship.
Section 38 lists the renunciation of German nationality among the procedures for which no fee is charged.
This is different from applying to become a German citizen. The provision concerns a person who already holds German citizenship and is taking the legal step of giving it up.
6. Certain citizenship-status investigations conducted by authorities
The sixth category involves cases where German authorities determine whether a person has German citizenship on their own initiative under Section 30(1), sentence 3.
The distinction is important because Section 38 separately establishes a €51 fee when a person applies for a determination of whether German citizenship exists or does not exist. However, the law makes the authority-initiated determination listed in Section 30 fee-free.
Germany can also reduce or waive some fees
The six categories are not the only circumstances in which someone may pay less than the standard fee.
Section 38(4) allows authorities to grant a reduction or exemption from fees covered by the relevant fee provisions where fairness or the public interest provides grounds for doing so.
Germany’s Federal Portal similarly notes that the competent authority may grant a fee reduction or exemption for reasons of fairness or public interest. It also warns that applicants may still face separate expenses for documents, translations, certifications and certain transfers from foreign bank accounts.
That means an applicant who receives a fee exemption should not necessarily assume that every cost connected with the citizenship process disappears.
Who normally has to pay €255 for German citizenship?
A foreign national applying through the ordinary naturalisation route generally faces the €255 fee per person.
The fee is separate from the substantive eligibility requirements for citizenship. Applicants must still meet the applicable naturalisation conditions, which can include requirements relating to residence, language ability, knowledge of Germany’s legal and social system, livelihood and other statutory conditions.
The exemption rules therefore do not create a general free citizenship programme for foreigners.
Instead, they identify specific legal circumstances in which Germany does not charge the nationality fee.
What this means for Nigerians and other foreigners in Germany
For Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in Germany, the most important point is to determine which legal route applies to their individual case.
Simply living in Germany, holding a residence permit or meeting the general requirements for naturalisation does not automatically place an applicant among the six fee-free categories.
The standard naturalisation fee remains €255 unless a specific statutory exemption applies or the competent authority grants a reduction or waiver under the applicable rules.
Applicants living outside Germany may also have a route to naturalisation in limited circumstances, but applications from abroad are subject to separate requirements and procedures. The Federal Portal states that applications from abroad can be handled through the competent German diplomatic mission or, in applicable cases, the Federal Office of Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get German citizenship without paying the €255 fee?
German law lists six fee-free categories, including certain people covered by Article 116(2) of the Basic Law, people naturalised under Section 15, certain former Germans who lost citizenship through marriage to a foreign national, people acquiring citizenship through a Section 5 declaration, people renouncing German citizenship and certain authority-initiated citizenship-status determinations.
How much does German citizenship normally cost in 2026?
The standard naturalisation fee is €255 per person.
Can a child get German citizenship for €51?
A minor child naturalised together with a parent can be subject to a reduced €51 fee where the statutory conditions apply.
Can Germany waive the €255 citizenship fee?
Yes. The law allows the competent authority to reduce or waive certain fees for reasons of fairness or public interest.
Do all foreigners qualify for free German citizenship?
No. The fee-free provisions apply to specific legal circumstances. Ordinary naturalisation generally carries a €255 fee.
Can Nigerians apply for German citizenship without paying?
Nigerian nationality by itself does not qualify someone for the fee exemption. A Nigerian applicant would need to fall within one of the specific statutory categories or receive a fee reduction or exemption under the applicable rules.
What is Section 5 of Germany’s Nationality Act?
Section 5 provides a declaration-based route to German citizenship for certain people with specified family or historical connections to German nationality, including certain children of German parents and their descendants.
What is Article 116(2) of Germany’s Basic Law?
It provides a restoration route for former German citizens whose citizenship was deprived between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, for political, racial or religious reasons, as well as their descendants.
Are there other costs when applying for German citizenship?
Yes. Even where a nationality fee is reduced or waived, applicants may still have costs related to obtaining documents, translations, certifications and certain bank transfers.