Germany
Germany reformed its citizenship law in 2024: the standard residence period dropped to five years and dual citizenship is now generally allowed. At the same time, daily life is full of paperwork in German, from registering your address to reading a payslip or answering a letter from the job centre.
These guides explain each procedure step by step, based on the official German sources linked at the end of every article.
Key figures for Germany
| Residence required for citizenship | 5 years (law in force since 27 June 2024) (source) |
|---|---|
| Language level for citizenship | B1 (source) |
| Citizenship test | 33 questions, pass with 17 correct (source) |
| Dual citizenship | Generally allowed since 2024 (source) |
Tools
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Germany arrival checklist
First steps after moving, in order
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Germany net salary calculator
Brutto to Netto in English, tax classes 1–6
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Tax class for married couples
3/5, 5/3 or 4/4: which pays you more?
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Kindergeld payment dates
When your Kindergeld arrives, by last digit
Guides
- German citizenship requirements 2026: every condition and exception
All requirements for German naturalisation after the 2024 reform and the end of the fast track: 5 years’ residence, self-sufficiency and its exceptions, B1 German, which convictions are disregarded, time abroad, spouses and children, the €255 fee and processing times.
- Opening a bank account in Germany: account types, documents and your right to a basic account
How to open a current account in Germany, traditional versus online banks, the documents you need, and the basic account every resident has the right to open.
- How to read a German payslip (Lohnabrechnung) line by line
Every item on a German payslip explained: gross pay, taxes, social insurance, net pay and the amount paid out, plus the mistakes to watch for.
- Parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Germany: who qualifies, how it is calculated and when to apply
A guide to German parental allowance: eligibility, basic Elterngeld versus ElterngeldPlus, how your salary and tax class affect it, and the application deadline.
- Objecting to official decisions in Germany (Widerspruch): the deadline and the right way
How to object to a decision by the job centre, the tax office, your health insurer or any German authority, when the one-month deadline starts, and what your objection letter must contain.
- Finding a flat in Germany: documents, deposits and how to spot scams
A practical guide to renting a flat in Germany: the file landlords expect, the legal limit on deposits, cold versus warm rent, and how to recognise fraudulent ads.
- Recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany (Anerkennung): when you need it and how to apply
When recognition of your university or vocational qualification is mandatory in Germany, regulated versus non-regulated professions, and the roles of the anabin database and the ZAB.
- Benefits for families in Germany: child benefit, child supplement and housing benefit
An overview of the main benefits for families on limited incomes in Germany: child benefit, the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), housing benefit (Wohngeld) and the education and participation package.
- Losing your job in Germany: unemployment benefit versus job centre support
What to do if you lose your job in Germany: when to register with the employment agency, the conditions for unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld I), how it differs from job centre support, and the effect on your residence.
- Registering your address in Germany (Anmeldung): a complete step-by-step guide
How to register your address in Germany within the legal deadline, which documents you need, and why the registration certificate is the key to every other procedure.
- Renewing your residence permit in Germany: when and how to avoid problems
When to apply to renew your German residence permit, which documents are usually needed, what a fictional certificate is, and what to do if your appointment at the foreigners’ authority is delayed.
- The annual tax return in Germany (Steuererklärung) for beginners
Who must file a tax return in Germany, when employees benefit from filing voluntarily, which expenses are deductible, and how to file for free through ELSTER.
- German B1 certificates: which exam to choose and how to prepare
A guide to the German exams accepted for permanent residence and citizenship: DTZ, Goethe and telc, how they differ, the role of the integration course, and practical tips for passing.
- How to apply for German citizenship: a practical step-by-step guide
The practical steps to apply for German citizenship, from checking your eligibility to receiving your naturalisation certificate, plus the common mistakes that delay applications.
- Documents required for a German naturalisation application
A practical checklist of the documents most German naturalisation offices ask for, grouped by purpose, with tips on translation, certification and preparing your file early.
- Types of residence permits in Germany: a simple guide
A plain explanation of German residence titles: the national visa, temporary residence permits, the EU Blue Card, the settlement permit, EU long-term residence, and how a toleration differs from a permit.
- German tax classes (Steuerklassen) explained in detail
What the six German tax classes are, who belongs in each, how married couples choose between 3/5 and 4/4, and why your tax class does not decide your final tax.
- Health insurance in Germany: statutory versus private
The difference between statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) health insurance in Germany: who can choose, how contributions are calculated, free family cover, and when each option fits.
- Dual citizenship in Germany: can I keep my original nationality?
What the 2024 citizenship reform changed about dual nationality, the role of your home country’s law, and how the new law affects children born in Germany.
- EU Blue Card versus a standard residence permit: which is better for you?
A practical comparison of the EU Blue Card and the standard skilled-worker residence permit in Germany: requirements, benefits, family reunification and the path to permanent residence.
- The best ways to send money from Germany: a complete guide
How to choose a safe, low-cost way to send money from Germany to your family, how bank transfers compare with digital transfer services, and how to spot hidden fees.