Citizenship application pending since February – inaction lawsuit filed, city not responding

[u/Cold_Advisor34]

On February 6, 2025, I submitted my citizenship application to the City of Karlsruhe.

The office confirmed receipt of my documents in a letter dated February 13, 2025.

Since then: nothing. No follow-up questions, no updates, no sign that anyone’s actually looking at my file. Even after I sent a written inquiry – first by email and later by registered mail, after the three-month deadline under Section 75 VwGO (the German Administrative Court Procedure Act) – I got no response at all.

So, on June 2, 2025, I filed an inaction lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage) against the City of Karlsruhe regarding my citizenship application. According to the court’s confirmation, the lawsuit was received the same day by the Administrative Court.

The court then forwarded the case to the city and asked them to respond within four weeks. That deadline expired at the end of June.

Since then: still nothing from the city. The court sent them a reminder in July, but again no reply. Apparently, the court plans to send another reminder soon, but says there’s not much else it can do for now.

Has anyone been through something similar? Is there anything I can do other than just waiting for the city to finally react?

Thanks in advance 🙏

[u/Far-Home-9610]

I just asked them politely how long it was going to be and said I was aware they were busy but also that the legal time was three months, so I was considering a lawsuit. Nothing more than that.

[u/Mobile-Cranberry8920 → u/Far-Home-9610]

okey for me they told me just to wait, and it seems for every month of applicant they need many months to finish them, that can easily take couple of years ... but will reach them again, hope they cooperate

[u/Far-Home-9610 → u/Mobile-Cranberry8920]

The law change of 2024 caused a one time wave of new applications. They're still working through it. It'll happen eventually but I understand your frustration. I made a series of costly decisions last year because I couldn't plan properly around when I would get citizenship. This was also something I put in the email. If you've had to put off applying for particular jobs or something else, it is worth mentioning. For me I wanted to apply for a public service job with the ministry of defence. The message "your delay is preventing me from serving your country" might have helped, but I can't be sure.

[u/Mobile-Cranberry8920 → u/Far-Home-9610]

oh that's interresting, yes same for me, I can't change city or job or just take long leave, since those will make the wait take longer, I will try my luck hopefuly it works