Wait Times for the Einbürgerungstest and Citizenship

Since the new citizenship law of 2024, demand for naturalisation in Germany has risen sharply. That means longer wait times; from the test appointment all the way to the citizenship certificate. Here you will learn what wait times to expect and how you can shorten them.

1. Wait Time for a Test Appointment

In many major German cities it is currently difficult to get an Einbürgerungstest appointment at short notice. Demand exceeds the available seats, especially in metropolitan areas.

• Berlin: Appointments are often booked out weeks in advance. Participants report wait times of 1 to 4 months.
• Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt: Similarly high demand; expect several weeks to months of waiting.
• Smaller cities: Often noticeably faster; sometimes just 1 to 3 weeks of waiting.

How to Find an Appointment Faster

• Call several Volkshochschulen: Ask different VHS locations directly about free seats. Not all appointments are shown online.
• Go in person: Sometimes you get an appointment faster on site than through the website.
• Check neighbouring Bundesländer: If you live in Berlin, also look in Brandenburg. The test is the same everywhere; you only specify your own Bundesland when registering.
• Cancellation list: Some VHS keep waiting lists for short-notice cancellations. Ask about it.
• Register early: Plan at least 2 to 3 months before your desired appointment.

2. Wait Time for the Test Result

After the exam, your answer sheets are sent to the BAMF in Nuremberg. They are evaluated there and the certificates are sent back to your address. So you do not get the result directly on the exam day.

• Typical wait time: 6 to 8 weeks after the exam
• In some cases: up to 3 or 4 months, especially when volume is high
• Delivery: by post to your registered address

Unfortunately the processing time cannot be sped up. If nothing has arrived after 8 weeks, you can check with your regional BAMF office.

3. Wait Time for Citizenship Itself

This is the longest part of the process. After you submit your complete citizenship application to the responsible authority, you have to wait for it to be processed. Wait times vary significantly by city and Bundesland:

• Berlin: currently around 24 to 36 months from application to citizenship certificate
• Hamburg and Munich: 18 to 30 months
• Frankfurt: about 18 to 24 months
• Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf: 12 to 24 months
• Smaller cities: often faster, sometimes 6 to 12 months

The reasons for the long wait times: significantly more applications since the 2024 law change, staff shortages at the authorities and detailed case-by-case reviews.

What Can You Do to Avoid Unnecessary Waiting?

• Submit all documents in full: Missing documents delay the application by weeks or months. Check everything carefully before handing it in.
• Take the Einbürgerungstest early: The test can be done independently of the application. Take it before you even submit the application.
• Get your B1 certificate early: The language proof can also be done independently of the application.
• Digital application: More and more authorities offer online applications. These are often processed faster than paper applications.
• Untätigkeitsklage: If the authority does not respond after 3 months without reason, you can take legal action against their inaction. But this is a last resort.

Your Strategy: Start Early

The best way to get through the wait times: start early. If you plan to apply for German citizenship, you should not wait until all requirements are met. Get going in parallel:

• Study for the Einbürgerungstest; free and at your own pace
• Register for the B1 language test
• Gather all required documents (birth certificate, income proof, police clearance certificate)
• Take the Einbürgerungstest as soon as you are ready
• Submit the application as soon as all requirements are met

The better prepared you are, the faster the process runs; and the less time you lose on follow-up documents or questions.