1 in 20 German citizenship applications rejected in Berlin

German citizenship applications are being processed more quickly in Berlin, but are subject to greater scrutiny since processes have been digitised.

4,9 percent of citizenship applications rejected

According to figures from the Berlin State Office for Immigration (LEA), cited by Interior State Secretary Christian Hochgrebe, the LEA’s naturalisation department rejected one in 20 citizenship applications in 2025.

39.034 Berliners were successfully naturalised last year, while 1.931 had their applications rejected. Hochgrebe said there were multiple reasons why applications might be rejected, for example if information is missing, inconsistent or incorrect. In some applications, case workers may suspect documents have been forged. These cases are reported to the relevant authorities.

Berlin has reorganised the citizenship application process. Applications used to be processed by the district office (Bezirksamt) in which the applicant lived, but in early 2024, the LEA took over responsibility.

Once operations were centralised at the LEA, staff numbers were nearly doubled, and the application process was almost entirely digitised. According to Hochgrebe, digitisation means security standards are now “significantly higher”. 

What to do if your citizenship application is rejected

While the LEA is eager to publicise its naturalisation processes becoming more efficient, it still typically takes the office over a year to deliver its decision. Most major German cities have similar waiting times.

After waiting so long for an answer, receiving a rejection can be distressing, but it doesn’t always mean that all hope is lost. Under German administrative law, there are paths to challenging incorrect administrative decisions and enforcing naturalisation claims.

If you believe immigration authorities have incorrectly rejected your application, a lawyer can review your case and advise you whether to appeal the decision.