Marrying a German Citizen: What Indian Families Should Know
By Venkata Nagireddi, Founder & CEO, NRI Hearts (Atlanta, GA)
Many people of Indian origin in Germany have taken German citizenship, so "settled in Germany" sometimes means "no longer an Indian citizen". That changes the spouse's visa, the route to citizenship, and how the family travels to India. This guide covers all three.
What visa does the spouse of a German citizen need?
The spouse applies for a family reunion visa as the spouse of a German national. A1 German is required before the visa, unless a personal exemption applies.
The German Missions in India state that the spouse of a German national must present an A1 certificate (FAQ), based on §28 of the Residence Act. Documents, fees and the verification of Indian marriage certificates are covered in our Germany spouse visa guide.
Is there a faster route to citizenship for the spouse?
Yes. The spouse of a German citizen can usually be naturalised after three years of lawful residence in Germany, once the marriage has lasted two years, instead of the standard five years.
The spouse route is in §9 of the Nationality Act. The other conditions of the standard route still apply, including B1 German and the citizenship test under §10. The fee is €255 per adult and €51 for a child naturalised with a parent (§38).
| Route | Residence needed | Other key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a German citizen (§9) | 3 years | Marriage has lasted 2 years; standard conditions of §10 |
| Standard route (§10) | 5 years | B1 German, citizenship test, secure livelihood |
What happens to Indian citizenship?
An Indian who voluntarily takes another citizenship stops being an Indian citizen, so a partner who became German is no longer Indian. The spouse would also lose Indian citizenship on naturalising in Germany.
This is section 9 of India's Citizenship Act. The Embassy of India in Berlin says the Indian passport must be surrendered immediately, and using it afterwards is an offence under the Passports Act.
What does an OCI card give a former Indian citizen?
An OCI card gives a lifelong, multiple-entry visa to India for any purpose. OCI holders cannot vote in India and cannot buy agricultural land, farmhouses or plantation property.
These terms are set out by India's Ministry of Home Affairs. If the family owns farmland in India, discuss inheritance and ownership before either spouse gives up Indian citizenship.
What about children born in Germany?
A child born in Germany to non-German parents becomes German at birth if one parent has lived lawfully in Germany for five years and holds a permanent right of residence. Indian citizenship for a child depends on separate Indian rules, so check with the Indian mission.
The German rule is in §4(3) of the Nationality Act.
What should the family confirm before the wedding?
Confirm whether the partner still holds an Indian passport or has become German, and whether they hold an OCI card. Then agree whether the spouse intends to naturalise, since that ends Indian citizenship too.
NRI Hearts does not verify nationality, visa or marital status. Every profile is email-verified and manually reviewed by our team before it goes live, so asking to see the passport and residence documents is the family's responsibility.
For other situations, start from NRI Marriage and Germany.
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Last updated: October 2026
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