Voting and German citizenship

Local and European elections for EU citizens, naturalisation after five years, dual citizenship, the three-year route ended.

Voting

• Local elections: Union citizens living in Germany may vote and stand in municipal elections (Article 28 (1) Basic Law). In Berlin these are the district council elections (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen, BVV). Registration and deadlines are set by the Berlin electoral office; check berlin.de/wahlen.
• European Parliament: Union citizens may vote either in Poland or in Germany, not both; in Germany you apply to be entered in the electoral roll. Procedure and deadlines: Federal Returning Officer, bundeswahlleiterin.de; not verified in detail.
• Not in the Bundestag or Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus elections: those need German citizenship. Voting in Polish national elections from Berlin is organised by the Polish authorities (gov.pl).

Naturalisation

• Regular naturalisation after five years of lawful habitual residence (§ 10 (1) StAG), with conditions: identity and nationality clarified, commitment to the free democratic order, secure livelihood without social benefits (with exceptions, such as full-time work for 20 of the last 24 months), no relevant convictions, language B1 (§ 10 (4)), knowledge of the legal and social order.
• The earlier shortcut of three years was abolished: § 10 (3) StAG is now repealed (§ 10 StAG; Sixth Act amending the Nationality Act of 27 October 2025, BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256, in force 30 October 2025; no transitional rule).
• Dual citizenship: multiple nationality has been generally allowed since 27 June 2024. The 2024 amending act was not cited from the Federal Law Gazette; check the BMI. Whether Poland allows dual nationality and the effect on Polish passport use when entering Poland: ask the Polish authorities (gov.pl).
• Apply at the Berlin naturalisation authority (berlin.de/einwanderung and service.berlin.de). Berlin's responsible office and waiting times not verified.