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German Citizenship

Documentation for Germany

Here are firsthand experiences from individuals who have recently navigated the German citizenship application process. Each story provides valuable insights, practical tips, and lessons learned along the way.

If you’ve gone through the process yourself, we’d love to hear about your journey! By sharing your experience, you can help others who are preparing for their own applications. Contribute your story easily by filling out one of the forms available on this page

Shared by Carla 16 September 2024

Did you go for a “Beratungsgespräch” Yes
What documents did you need from South Africa for the German Citizenship applicationUnabridged Birth Certificate and Marriage certificate
Which of the above documents need to be apostilled or translated UBC and UMC
Did you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, if so who, and can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe? Yes, we used Doc Assist. It took 4 months from application to receiving them here in Germany. We needed 2 x Retention letters, 2 UBC, 2 UMC and have the UBC & UMC apostilled. Included in the price was shipment via DHL – We paid R16 570.00 after receiving a discount
Any tips that you can giveSee if you can negotiate a discount for doing a package

 

Marc shared his application experience with us on  30.06.2024

Did you go for a “Beratungsgespräch” No
What documents did you need from South Africa for the German Citizenship applicationUnabridged Birth Certificate, Marriage certificate / civil partnership certificate/ copy from the family register.
Which of the above documents need to be apostilled or translatedUnabridged Birth and unabridged marriage certificate…
Did you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, if so who, and can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframeDoc Assist for the birth certificate – ZAR4470 (EUR220) including apostil. 6 weeks for the Certificate to be issued and 10 weeks for apostle.
Any tips that you can giveUsing a company really simplifies the process.. apply for retention letters and certificates with the same company to avoid double courier costs.

Some more tips from Marc

  • UBC – You do not need all your parents’ birth details. Your full name, ID, and birthplace along with their birth names is sufficient – Since both my parents have passed I do not have/know their ID numbers or places of birth. At first, when looking at the birth certificate application form, it stressed me that this information was needed.
  • If you have not yet left South Africa and just starting your journey. Use the time and apply for the documents needed from DHA such as UBC, UMC, Divorce decrees, etc. You will be able to save the money rather than using an external company. The process itself is easy, it just takes time. I did this for my UMC before leaving as it was needed for a family reunification visa and therefore had it for the citizenship application without extra effort. Had I thought about it I would have had the time to do the same for the UBC at same time. It takes time (4 weeks) for them to be issued and they also need to be Apostiled which alone takes 12 weeks. In case you are leaving before receiving from Home Affairs or DIRCO, find out if a family member can collect on your behalf with a Power of Attorney. I did not need to do this so am uncertain.
  • In case you are already in Germany but haven’t reached the time period for citizenship yet, start the process yourself via the embassy in Germany or even via DHA and DIRCO during holidays in South Africa. Again, consider if a family member can collect on your behalf. This saves you the cost of the agency.
  • Don’t forget to apply for the retention letter. This delayed my process because I applied for it late. And remember, it does not need to be Apostiled or translated. The German government does not require this document. The document does not expire, so apply for it as soon as possible yourself in case you still have time before meeting the minimum years. It can also be done at the embassy or while on holiday in South Africa.
  • If you already meet the requirements for the number of years, I suggest using a company to assist with obtaining documents. They are faster and it’s less stressful even if it does come at a cost. Make sure to know all the documents needed for all persons in the family so you can try to negotiate for a discount and also only pay one delivery fee. Also do it at the same time, not different times to avoid delays.
  • For me, based on my research at the time DocAssist was most affordable and my experience with them was great. But do your homework, it’s not cheap. However, make sure to use an accredited company, you’re giving away some sensitive information. 
 

Other Requirements

  • Make sure to check the website of your local Aüdlanderbehörde to find out what documents they require. Don’t rely on what others say alone, each office is different. If possible, have a call/meeting with them to discuss if they offer this. Rather have too many documents than too little.
  • Don’t wait till you meet the minimum time period or have all documents before registering and writing your Einbürgerungsprüfung. It’s not difficult and does not expire therefore get it out of the way since waiting times for both appointments for the test and results take time. Use the BAMF Website or download an app for studying.
 

Language Test

  • Start your B1 (Or C1 if you want to do it in 3 years) preparation as soon as possible. You don’t have to kill yourself this way. Starting earlier with one or two hours of private lessons per week and using it when you can in grocery stores, restaurants, etc. makes all of the difference and saves you from having to last minute crash course with endless hours of classes and homework every week.
  • I used Linguistika for private classes and highly recommend them. They also offer Group / Private Combo lessons which is good to help with talking with other people. It depends on your own preferences and time schedule. For me, private classes were better as it was more flexible to my busy work schedule.
  • I was told Telc is easier and for me it would be the better option. The exam and its format were straightforward. Discuss this with your teacher since it may depend on where your strengths or weaknesses are.
  • Find out from schools / Telc institutions/ Goethe. , about available dates and waiting times. Once you have an idea, discuss with your teacher which date would be achievable for you and register as soon as possible. Waiting times for appointments and results are long.
 
  • Search for translation companies in your area to avoid sending very precious documents via post or courier and having the risk of them getting lost. Find a translator in the Translators and Interpreters – Database of translators and interpreters (Total inventory 25251 Persons).
  • Make use of the South African in Germany website. There are tips and stories from other people. German Citizenship Information – South Africans in Germany

Retention of SA citizenship

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who have applied for retention of their South African Citizenship.

Submitting your application

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who have applied for citizenship in Germany.

Application for Retention of SA Citizenship

Here are firsthand experiences from individuals who have recently navigated the German citizenship application process. Each story provides valuable insights, practical tips, and lessons learned along the way.

If you’ve gone through the process yourself, we’d love to hear about your journey! By sharing your experience, you can help others who are preparing for their own applications. Contribute your story easily by filling out one of the forms available on this page

Shared by Elizabeth in January 2025

Please indicate how you applied for retention I did it myself in South Africa
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention application Form BI-1664, Form BI-529 , Certified copy of your South African ID or passport, Proof of permanent residency in the foreign country
Which of the above documents need to be apostilled or translated Negativbescheinigung must be translated.
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents I had a translated ‘Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung) but it was not accepted. My German permanent residency card was accepted but a little unhappy that I didn’t have (negativbescheinigung)
Any tips that you can give I did it in Cape Town and everything was very efficient, I got in within a month and authorised my son to collect it. An affidavit for authorisation was done at the police station.

 

Nic shared in October 2024

Please indicate how you applied for retention I made use of a Documentation Company
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention application Form BI-1664, Form BI-529 , Copy of your South African ID or passport
Which of the above documents needed to be apostilled or translated None
If you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe R3200.00 and 5 working days
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents I had mine Apostille in Pretoria through my father, didn’t cost anything, no identification was needed, just 3 hours of his time
Any tips that you can give The price is definitely worth the stress of having to try get a fitting appointment through the embassy or consulate. I used Docnetics and they did everything and were friendly while doing it, and also informed me throughout the short 5 working days.

Amy shared in October 2024

Please indicate how you applied for retention I made use of a Documentation Company
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention application Form BI-1664, Form BI-529 , Copy of your South African ID or passport, Letter as to why you want to retain your SA citizenship
Which of the above documents needed to be apostilled or translated 
If you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe R4150 and took 8 days
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents 
Any tips that you can give Although going through a documentation company was more expensive, definitely worth it.

Carla shared on 16 September 2024

Please indicate how you applied for retention I made use of a Documentation Company
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention applicationForm BI-1664, Form BI-529 , Copy of your South African ID or passport, Letter as to why you want to retain your SA citizenship
Which of the above documents needed to be apostilled or translated None
If you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe R3080
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents There was no need for this. This document is not needed by the German authorities
Any tips that you can giveSee if you can negotiate discount if you order this with other documents like Birth or Marriage certificates

Danny shared on 20 August 2024

Please indicate how you applied for retention I made use of a Documentation Company
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention application Form BI-1664, Form BI-529
Which of the above documents needed to be apostilled or translated None
If you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe Cost R3200.
Time frame5-7 working days.
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents N/A
Any tips that you can give I used a company called Docnetics.

Marc shared his application for Retention experience with us on  30.06.2024

Please indicate how you applied for retention I made use of a Documentation Company
Please indicate which documents you had to submit for your retention application Form BI-1664, Form BI-529, Certified copy of your South African ID or passport, Certified copy of unabridged South African birth certificate
Which of the above documents need to be apostilled or translated The birth certificate was apostled, not sure if it was a requirement for the application of a retention letter or not. I was not sure if the apostle of the retention letter was required however I decided to do it to be safe and not have to send documents back to South Africa.
If you use a company to assist with obtaining documents from South Africa, can you give an indication of the related costs and timeframe ZAR3840 ~ +- EUR190. This includes the Apostle of the retention letter. It excludes courier costs because I had paid this already with my birth certificate and documents would be sent together.
Please describe the process of legalising (apostille) the documents Doc Assist supported the process of application and Apostle.
Any tips that you can give Using a company is much easier even though there is a cost. The letter itself took 10 days from the day of payment to the company. The apostle process is in progress and is expected to take 6-8 weeks.

Documentation Needed

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who collected and prepared the documentation needed for their application

Submitting your application

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who have applied for citizenship in Germany.

The application process in Germany

Here are firsthand experiences from individuals who have recently navigated the German citizenship application process. Each story provides valuable insights, practical tips, and lessons learned along the way.

If you’ve gone through the process yourself, we’d love to hear about your journey! By sharing your experience, you can help others who are preparing for their own applications. Contribute your story easily by filling out one of the forms available on this page

Submitted by Marc on 12.02.2025
What documentation (other than that from SA) did you need to submit for the application
  • Original passport
  • Original Aufenthaltstitle
  • Confirmation of employment
  • last 3 months payslips,
  • Original Apostle UBC and translation, Original Apostle Unabridged Marriage certificate and translation (note this translation was dated 2017 from the original move to Germany and was accepted),
  • Original Einbürgerungsprüfung and Telc B1 certificate).
How long did you live in Germany when you applied  +-7 years
How did you prove your language proficiency  Telc B1 certificate
When did you submit your application  2024-10-07
How many days did you wait before it was approved  127

Retention of SA citizenship

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who have applied for retention of their South African Citizenship.

Documentation Needed

Read stories and shared experiences from individuals who collected and prepared the documentation needed for their application

Help others to understand the Citizens application process by sharing your experiences.
This form deals only with obtaining proof that you have not yet acquired German citizenship.

We will add the submissions to our website on this page 

I am currently in the process of preparing my application for German Citizenship, and will share my progress to this page. I am applying at my local Bürgeramt, who will send it to the Landkreis Esslingen for further processing. Search online for Einbürgerung + your town or Landkreis

Step Action Details Time Frame
1 Einbürgerungstest

I made an appointment at the VHS Stuttgart. This was in July 2023. I had to enrol for the test in person and got a date for the test in September 2023.

I used the apps listed on the website to prepare and I found they prepared you very well for the test.

The result was sent to me via post within 3 weeks
2 Beratungsgesrpäch at the Bügeramt I contacted the Bürgeramt on 19 January 2024 via E-Mail to arrange an appointment, and they made one for me on 24 January 2024. During this consultation session, the official (Beamtin) went through the list of required documents with me and explained the application process.
I received an application form as a hard copy. It was made very clear that if I apply before the new law is implemented, I still have to renounce my South African citizenship. Note: Many Bürgerämter now ask people not to come for a Beratungsgespräch, as they are a bit overwhelmed with requests.
 
 3 Apply for Retention of my South African citizenship Even though this may or may not be needed, I decided to do it anyway to cover all my bases. We applied for these the same time as the other doucmentation from South Africa. The turnaround time was about a week, but we waited for the rest of the documentation pack to be finalised before having it sent to Germany. See info on the different options below. 1 Week
 4 Gather the needed documents We used a company in South Africa to help us apply for our Retention letters, Unabridged Birth Certificates and Unabridged Marriage Certificate. The UBC and UMC had to be apostilled. We applied on 9 May 2024 and received the apostilled documents via DHL courier in Germany on 16 September 2024. We did have issues with my UBC, as my ID number was not on it. We received the electronic copy on 13 June 2024, and asked them to apply for a corrected UBC. This meant my application was in the back of the queue and we realised it is going to take too long so we asked them to have the documentation apostilled as is and send it to us in Germany. On 18 September I received an electronic copy of my correct UBC, the original document will now be apostilled and send to us via courier. 
The next step is to have the UBC and UMC translated in German.
4 Months
 5 Document translation The requirement for our Behörde is that the UBC and UMC must be translated by a sworn translator.  It took a while to get our documentation due to availablity of our translator  
 6 Get German Documents I had to submit my pension documentation, 3 months salary slips, and proof of employment. The pension documentation I requested online and it was sent to me within two days. The Employment and Salary documentation I could download directly from our company HR wesite.  
 7 Submit application  We live in BW and they have an online application form. This did not cater for my situation as there is a section about children that did not apply to adult children, and I could not complete the application. We then phoned our local Bürgeramt to make an appointment. Our appointment at the Standesamt was on 12 February. The lady checked all our paperwork and said she would submit it to Esslingen who will handle it. The expectation is that it will take 18 months  

,

Apply for documentation from South Africa

There are 4 ways to obtain documentation from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in South Africa

  1. Apply in person in South Africa. There is always a wait period for the documents, sometimes months. You can collect it in person or give someone authorisation to collect on your behalf
  2. Give authorisation to another person to apply and collect on your behalf. Currently, you can only make appointments to apply for and collect IDs and passports, for the rest you must queue at the Home Affairs offices.
  3. Apply for your documentation in Germany at the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich. In many cases, you can either apply in person or send it via post. This will then be sent to South Africa via the diplomatic bag. Depending on the documents being sent, you can pay extra to have them courier them for you. Applying via the consular services takes much longer and you will have to supply additional documentation
  4. Apply using a Company. This is the easiest way, but there are more costs involved. Shop around for the best prices, but be careful and only use trusted companies. You are giving very personal information to these companies and it can be abused.

To my knowledge, and also required by our Bürgeramt, all documents from the DHA must be apostilled and translated to German. Translations should be done by a sworn or certified translator in Germany. As per the list of documents needed  – “Please note the following for foreign birth certificates: National birth certificates must have an apostille or legalisation mark and be translated by a publicly appointed and sworn translator. ”  I am assuming that the Marriage certificate must also be apostilled, although they do not specifically ask for it “Current marriage certificate or current certified copy of the marriage register “
Feedback from people who are currently applying for German citizenship is that each office has its own requirements in terms of apostil and translation of documents. So we advise you to make sure before paying for something they do not need. The risk is always that they might need it apostilled and translated further down the process.   

Companies that can assist with documentation

Docs4U

Our services for you: All Unabridged Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates and also the Vault Birth Document Foreign Birth Registration in SA Foreign Death, Marriage

RSA DOCUMENTS

We are a document procumbent company assisting South Africans with the admin if dealing with Government Entities Divorce orders Foreign death registration Foreign divorce registration

Apostil

Get South African apostilles, police clearances, birth/marriage certificates, legalisations and much more quickly and efficiently through our legal service. We have helped thousands of people

Doc Assist

Embark on a hassle-free journey with our comprehensive document services. Whether you’re planning to travel, work abroad, or need vital documents, Doc Assist is here

Unabridged Birth certificate

As mentioned there are 4 ways to apply for documentation from South Africa. If you apply via the consular services in Germany, you need to  submit the following documents:

  1. Form BI-154
  2. Form BI-529 / DHA-529 (Determination of Citizenship)
  3. The applicant’s South African birth certificate or birth record, if available. A photocopy of the document must also be submitted. The original document will be given back to the applicant.
  4. in respect of applicants who do not have a South African birth certificate or birth record, form DHA-24. • This form may not be downloaded i.e. is available to the applicant to complete when he or she applies to person. 
  5. The applicant’s original South African passport.  A photocopy of the passport page with the applicant’s biometric data/photograph and residence permit / Chipkarte for Germany, as applicable, must also be submitted. The applicant’s original passport must be submitted regardless of whether it is valid or expired. The original document will be given back to the applicant.
  6. The applicant’s original South African unabridged birth certificate. A photocopy of the document must also be submitted. The original document will be given back to the applicant
If you apply through a company, you must submit a BI-154 form and a copy of your South African ID.
Applying in South Africa – I assume you need to submit the same when doing it in person. If a family member/friend applies on your behalf you must also submit an authorisation letter.

Unabridged Marriage certificate

As mentioned there are 4 ways to apply for documentation from South Africa. If you apply via the consular services in Germany, you need to  submit the following documents:

  1. Form BI-130
  2. A letter from the applicant. The letter must be signed and dated by the applicant and confirm the applicant’s contact details (residential address, mobile phone number and email address) and that the certificate is to be certified with an apostille in terms of the 1961 Hague Convention.
  3. The applicant’s South African birth certificate or birth record, if available. A photocopy of the document must also be submitted. The original document will be given back to the applicant.
  4. Both spouses’ original passports or identity documents.  A photocopy of each document must also be submitted. The original documents will be given back to the applicants.
  5. A copy of the South African abridged or unabridged marriage certificate, if available
If you apply through a company, you must submit a DHA-130 form and a copy of both spouses’ South African IDs.
Applying in South Africa – I assume you need to submit the same when doing it in person. If a family member/friend applies on your behalf you will have to submit an authorisation letter as well.
 
Note: On the list of required documents I received, it does not explicitly state that the Marriage certificate must be apostilled, but I would rather not take the chance that they do not accept it without an apostille.

Apostille

An Apostille is a confirmation of authenticity and allows for a document (for example a birth certificate) to be accepted by authorities in another country. Documents from the DHA can only be apostilled by DIRCO
More information on Apostilles and legalisation can be found here.
Apostil has a great page which explains the difference between a DIRCO and a High Court apostille. 
From our understanding, documents older than 12 months cannot be apostilled. Please confirm this with DIRCO.

Legalising Documents

Depending on the situation, you might need to have documentation authenticated, certified, or make certified copies thereof. Document authentication South Africa and Germany are both

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Translations

It is crucial to understand the different types  of translations that my be required for documentation

Translating documents

When seeking translation services in Germany, it’s crucial to understand the different types of translators, each specializing in various fields, to ensure your documents meet

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Example of documents needed

The following is a list of the possible documents that might be needed, depending on your situation. I got the list during the Beratungsgespräch at our Bürgeramt in Leinfelden. They will send the application to Esslingen to process. 

Translators

Helge Mayer translations services

Based in Germany. Helge Mayer (MA) – accredited/sworn translations German to English and English to German Masters Degree in Translations from the University of Heidelberg

Linguistika

A Multifaceted Language Service founded by Stephanie Schaffrath TAILORED ONLINE LANGUAGE TUITION: With over 12 years of experience teaching languages, Linguistika is committed to providing

Birgit Böttner – Sworn Translator

Based in Johannesburg South Africa. I’m a qualified sworn translator for English & German, registered with the German Consulate in Pretoria Trained in Germany in

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