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Germany’s Federal Police has stated that non-German nationals can apply to join the force, with citizenship requirements only affecting those seeking civil servant status.
Germany has established nationality requirements for foreign applicants who wish to join its Federal Police.
To be appointed as a civil servant, candidates must have either German citizenship or citizenship from a European Union or European Economic Area member state, according to the Federal Police’s legal requirements.
Germany’s Federal Police: EU and EEA countries whose citizens qualify
The following EU and EEA member states have citizens who meet the civil servant eligibility criteria:
1. Austria.
2. Belgium.
3. Bulgaria.
4. Croatia.
5. Cyprus.
6. Czech Republic.
7. Denmark.
8. Estonia.
9. Finland.
10. France.
11. Germany.
12. Greece.
13. Hungary.
14. Iceland.
15. Ireland.
16. Italy.
17. Latvia.
18. Liechtenstein.
19. Lithuania.
20. Luxembourg.
21. Malta.
22. Netherlands.
23. Norway.
24. Poland.
25. Portugal.
26. Romania.
27. Slovakia.
28. Slovenia.
29. Spain.
30. Sweden.
What this means for applicants
For roles outside the civil service track, the Federal Police has stated that applicants of any nationality may be considered if they meet the force’s other legal and professional requirements.
The civil servant pathway, which has a distinct legal status under German public service law, is still limited to German and EU/EEA nationals.
Before applying, prospective applicants should review the full eligibility criteria on the Federal Police recruitment platform to ensure that their nationality and qualifications match the available roles.