Turbo naturalization after 3 years: abolished – what applies now?

Does turbo naturalization after 3 years still exist?

No. The so-called turbo naturalization after three years has been abolished. The law of 27 October 2025 deleted § 10 Abs. 3 of the Nationality Act (StAG). The change has applied since 30 October 2025. For an entitlement to naturalization you have since then generally needed five years of lawful residence in Germany (§ 10 Abs. 1 StAG). There is no transitional rule for older turbo applications.

Three years is named by the law today only in § 9 StAG, for spouses and registered partners of Germans. That is a rule of its own and not a turbo naturalization.

What was turbo naturalization?

„Turbo naturalization“ is the colloquial name for § 10 Abs. 3 StAG in the version from 27 June 2024 to 29 October 2025. Under it, the authority could reduce the required duration of residence from five to as little as three years. For this, applicants had to prove special integration achievements, secure their livelihood and command German at level C1.

Special integration achievements were, according to the law, for example particularly good performance at school, in training or at work. Civic engagement also counted, for example a voluntary activity. The other conditions continued to apply, for instance the naturalization test. The reduction was a discretionary rule: the authority decided at its discretion, so it could weigh things up. There was no entitlement to it.

In 2025, according to preliminary figures, around 1.500 people were naturalized under this rule. That was less than 1 % of all naturalizations (Federal Statistical Office, press release of 03.06.2026). Before 27 June 2024, the standard period was eight years. The Federal Government justified the abolition by stating that sustainable integration needs time (bill, Bundestag printed matter 21/537).

What happens to applications filed before 30 October 2025?

These applications too are decided under the new law, because the law contains no transitional rule. The authority applies the law in force at the time of its decision. In court proceedings, the law on the day of the oral hearing counts. That is how the Administrative Court (VG) Trier decided on 3 December 2025 (case number 8 K 5461/25.TR).

In the case before VG Trier, a Polish national had applied for naturalization after three years in April 2025. In July 2025 he brought an action for failure to act, that is, an action because the authority did not decide. The court dismissed the action. Protection of legitimate expectations, that is, protection of reliance on the old rule, did not exist according to the press release: the change in the law was foreseeable for the claimant.

VG Berlin likewise decided in interim proceedings (decision of 26.05.2026 – VG 39 L 209/26). The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) NRW too, in naturalization actions, in principle relies on the current legal situation (judgment of 16.04.2026 – 19 A 2125/23).

An example from practice: in Berlin, the State Office for Immigration suspends such applications with the applicants' consent. This is possible for up to two years, until the five years are reached. Then the office examines the application with current documents. Anyone who insists on a decision beforehand may receive a rejection. This is stated in a reply of the Berlin Senate of 24 June 2026 (House of Representatives printed matter 19/26325). Other authorities may proceed differently.

Already naturalized? The decisive factor is the certificate

Anyone who was naturalized under the three-year rule before 30 October 2025 is not affected by the abolition. A naturalization becomes effective with the handing over of the naturalization certificate (§ 16 StAG). The new law does not annul effective naturalizations.

An invitation to the handing over, by contrast, is not enough. In a Berlin case, an applicant was to receive his certificate on 31 October 2025, one day after the change. The authority no longer handed it over and later rejected the application. The Federal Constitutional Court did not accept his constitutional complaint for decision, as inadmissible (decision of 19.12.2025 – 2 BvR 1792/25). It pointed, however, to the discretionary naturalization under § 8 StAG.

Can an action for failure to act secure the old law?

No. In the action proceedings too, the court examines the law in force at the time of its decision. The case before VG Trier shows this. An action for failure to act is therefore useful above all if you meet today's conditions. More on this in the guide Action for failure to act in naturalization.

What duration of residence applies in 2026 for naturalization?

You generally have an entitlement to naturalization after five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany (§ 10 Abs. 1 StAG). Shorter periods are named by the law only in a few cases, above all for spouses of Germans (§ 9 StAG). The other conditions, for instance German at level B1, apply unchanged.

„Lawful habitual residence“ means: you live permanently in Germany, and your residence is permitted. „Entitlement“ means: if you meet all the conditions, the authority must naturalize you. You will find all the conditions in the overview Conditions for naturalization.

Spouses of Germans: three years under § 9 StAG

For spouses and registered partners of Germans, § 9 StAG applies. They should be naturalized if they have lived lawfully and permanently in Germany for three years. The marriage or partnership must also have existed for two years. „Should“ means: as a rule, naturalization takes place. The other conditions of § 10 Abs. 1 StAG also apply here, for instance B1, naturalization test and a secured livelihood. If the marriage or partnership has existed for three years, the authority can further reduce the period of residence for reasons of public interest.

Co-naturalization and discretionary naturalization

If a person is naturalized, their spouse or registered partner and their minor children can be naturalized together with them. This is possible even without five years of their own in Germany (§ 10 Abs. 2 StAG). The other conditions in principle apply to them too. For children under 16 years there are facilitations.

§ 8 StAG also allows a naturalization at discretion. A fixed duration of residence is not named by the law there. But there is no entitlement. For former turbo applicants, § 8 StAG can nevertheless be important: according to the Federal Constitutional Court, in this decision the authority must also take into account aspects of the protection of legitimate expectations (decision of 19.12.2025 – 2 BvR 1792/25). Whether this leads to naturalization in the individual case is open.

How do you calculate the five years?

What is counted is the time during which you live in Germany lawfully and permanently. Stays abroad of up to six months do not interrupt this time (§ 12b Abs. 1 StAG). Anyone who has filed a turbo application should calculate exactly on which day the five years are reached. These rules are important here:

• Longer stays abroad: they do no harm if you return within the period that the immigration authority has set. If the stays abroad last longer than half of the required time, the habitual residence as a rule no longer continues. At five years, that is two and a half years. For EU and EEA citizens, separate rules apply (§ 12b Abs. 1 StAG).
• Earlier stays: after a longer interruption, the authority can count earlier periods in Germany for up to three years (§ 12b Abs. 2 StAG).
• Late extension: if you applied too late for the extension of your residence title, this gap does not count as an interruption (§ 12b Abs. 3 StAG).
• Asylum procedure: periods with a permission to reside, that is, during the asylum procedure, count only after a recognition. You must be recognized as entitled to asylum or have received international protection (§ 55 Abs. 3 of the Asylum Act).

Your turbo application is still pending: what can you do now?

A pending application is not automatically lost. The authority examines it under today's law and according to your situation at the time of the decision. If by then you have reached five years of lawful residence, the application can succeed. This also applies if § 9 StAG comes into consideration. For this, the other conditions must be met. These steps help:

1. Calculate the date. Determine on which day you reach five years of lawful residence.
2. Talk to the authority. Ask in writing about the status. Also ask whether the procedure can be suspended until that day, as in Berlin. Do not withdraw the application prematurely: after the substantive processing has begun, withdrawal or rejection costs 25 € up to the full fee of 255 € for adults (§ 38 Abs. 2 StAG). More on this under Costs and fees of naturalization.
3. Check other routes. If you are married to a German, inform the authority of this (§ 9 StAG). Also ask about a discretionary naturalization (§ 8 StAG).
4. Keep documents up to date. Submit new proof, for example an extended residence title. The checklist of documents for naturalization offers help.
5. Act in the event of long silence. If the authority does not decide without a sufficient reason, that is, without an objective reason for the delay, an action for failure to act is possible. It is as a rule admissible at the earliest three months after the application (§ 75 of the Code of Administrative Court Procedure, VwGO). How long procedures currently take you can read under How long does naturalization take?
6. In the event of a rejection, observe the time limit. For an objection or an action you have as a rule one month. Which route applies is stated in the instructions on legal remedies at the end of the decision. That is the note on how and by when you can defend yourself. If you have reached five years, you can also file a new application.

Is there still a faster naturalization today?

A general fast route no longer exists since 30 October 2025. Shorter periods are named by the law above all for spouses of Germans (§ 9 StAG). The co-naturalization of family members is also possible earlier (§ 10 Abs. 2 StAG). Representation by a lawyer does not shorten the statutory time limits.

A lawyer can check whether you meet the conditions, watch over a complete application and keep an eye on time limits. Whether the authority decides faster as a result, no one can promise. You may also bring an action for failure to act yourself (§ 67 Abs. 1 VwGO).

Frequently asked questions

Rechtsanwalt Nihat Kaygalak, LL.M.

Responsible for the content of Mein Deutscher Pass. Admitted as a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) since 2007, member of the Düsseldorf Bar Association (Rechtsanwaltskammer Düsseldorf), firm in Neuss. You can verify the admission in the nationwide official register of lawyers.

Mein Deutscher Pass is an offering of the Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Kaygalak and not an authority. Get in touch · Legal notice