Failure to act lawsuit for your naturalization
You have already started your naturalization process (Einbürgerung) and are waiting in vain for a response from the immigration office? In certain cases, a failure to act lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage) can help ensure that a decision on the application is made sooner. Thema-erledigt.de forwards your request to an experienced attorney who is selected based on excellent reviews and our own positive experience.
Specifics for procedures at the LEA are described on failure to act lawsuit for naturalization in Berlin.
Procedure and costs
A failure to act lawsuit may be considered if the authority fails to make a decision on your naturalization application for more than 3 months without a valid reason. An extension to 12 months is currently being discussed (as of January 2026). Filing the action may prompt the authority to deal with the application and reach a decision, without guaranteeing that naturalization will be granted. Any missing documents may still be requested if necessary.
For example, proceedings in Thuringia can currently take up to 4 years. Depending on the specific case, an action for failure to act may lead to a decision being made earlier.
A failure to act lawsuit involves attorney’s fees and court costs, which are initially payable by the applicant. The exact amounts depend on the individual case and are often in the three-digit range each. If unjustified inactivity without valid reason is established, there is a possibility that the costs will be reimbursed by the authority – regardless of whether naturalization is ultimately granted.
Start your failure to act lawsuit
Thema-erledigt.de does not provide legal advice itself, but forwards your request to an experienced attorney on a non-binding basis. The attorney will clarify any open questions with you and inform you about the expected costs and timeframe applicable to your individual case.
The attorney will respond to your request as soon as possible.