Counterfeiters at work: language certificates threaten naturalization in Lower Saxony!

Counterfeiters at work: language certificates threaten naturalization in Lower Saxony!

A worrying trend is emerging in Lower Saxony: there is an increasing number of forged or illegally acquired language certificates in naturalization procedures. According to [n-tv.de](https://www.n-tv.de/regionales/niedersachsen-und-bremen/Gefaelschte-Sprachcertificate- Tauchen-in-Niedersachsen-auf-id30169828.html), surveys among around 50 municipalities have shown that this problem is visible in several districts and independent cities in Lower Saxony. However, German language skills at B1 level are a basic requirement for obtaining citizenship.

The situation has worsened in the past year, particularly in the Hanover region: in 2023, eight forgeries in naturalization procedures have already been solved, after 29 cases were recorded in the previous year. These counterfeits were often identified before the initial discussions, usually through conspicuous fonts, strange layouts or false seals. However, nervousness or difficulty communicating are not automatically signs of an attempted fraud.

Insight into the cases of Lower Saxony

In Oldenburg it turned out that in 15 cases the actual language level did not match the certificates presented. The causes here are varied: the purchase of forged documents or even the implementation of proxy checks played a role. In some cases the certificates were formally correct, but communication with the applicants was hardly possible. A total of four proxy tests were registered in Oldenburg, with 11 of 21 suspected cases turning out to be forgeries.

Although the attempts at deception are worrying, they only affected a small proportion of the 3,464 naturalization applications in Hanover and 1,267 in Oldenburg (as of December 2023). Nevertheless, some municipalities, such as Cuxhaven and Wittmund, even report no forgeries or deceptions.

Nationwide investigations and measures

The police are now investigating nationwide the trade in fake language certificates, which are offered for around 1,500 euros via various social media. Bundestag.de recently reported on the AfD parliamentary group's smaller inquiries about the situation. The scammers use creative approaches, including engaging videos on platforms like TikTok, to offer fake certificates.

Research shows that these fake documents come from providers posing as language schools and are making huge profits. Among the fake certificates, documents from providers such as telc, adult education centers and IHK are particularly often affected. Unfortunately, authorities are having difficulty comprehensively identifying and combating these fraud cases.

A meeting of immigration law officers in May 2024 and the exchange of experiences between the naturalization authorities in June 2025 have already shown that there is a need for improved testing procedures and training in this area. The federal government has identified checking the authenticity of the certificates and personal interviews as a possible starting point. If forgery is suspected, there could even be a risk of naturalization being revoked, especially in the case of fraudulent deception.

The measures taken by the authorities, such as training staff and verifying language certificates using QR codes, are aimed at making abuse more difficult. Despite these steps, fraud remains a persistent problem due to increasing digitalization and easy access to online services.

Overall, it is clear that the issue of fake language certificates poses profound challenges for the naturalization process in Germany. The pressure on the authorities is growing to maintain an overview and at the same time ensure the integrity of the naturalization processes. Let us be surprised to see how these developments will shape themselves in the coming year.