Paid Twice for Naturalisation

Hi everyone,

I have been living in Berlin for 7 years and already fulfilled the need for Naturalisation.
I have summitted my docments by paper last year and received letter from Bezirksamt asking me to transfer 255 EUR to their account.

Afterwards there was no answer untill 1.1.2024 the centralisation of the process to the LEA Berlin. I asked the Bezirksamt and they said it is no longer their matter.

And then I heard people are using the LEA digital system to apply for Naturalisation and got their Urkunde in one month! I got on the digital system, entered my old application no., but I found out I have to pay 255 EUR again to send out the digital application. So I did.

I have not received any news since then and I want to know if it is reasonable to ask the government to give my extra 255 EUR back once I meet them?

Thanks!

2 Comments

Reply (2)

Barbara Stasiak_Community Manager

Hey @ycmak24 , thank you for contacting us with your question. It's really cheeky that they demanded money from you twice. Do you have proof from the Bezirksamt that you have paid your fee? You can find also this proof in your bank statement if you did not pay in cash. You did not have to submit a second application, because also your first application will be processed by the LEA: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/318998/. You have paid a fee for processing your application, so it is unclear whether they will consider it as one or two applications. To request a refund, send an email to them with your application numbers and receipts of fees paid. You can use this link: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/ueber-uns/kontakt/artikel.1394181.php. If they refuse to refund your money, you can consult the migration advisory service: https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/de/Themen/Migrationsberatung/?coord=798866.58…. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Best , Barbara.

Barbara Stasiak_Community Manager

Hey @ycmak24 , I am wondering if the contact I sent you was useful to you. Did you get your money back?

A project by:

Funded by: