Part of the Civilizations Series:

Civilizations Guide: Every civ and its bonuses (Start Here).

Best Civilization: What to switch to.

Rise of Kingdoms Beginner Guide: The wider roadmap.

Quick Answer

Yes. It requires a Civilization Change item — around 10,000 gems in the shop, or roughly 2 million Individual Credits in the alliance shop, and most accounts get one free token during early progression. Your commanders, buildings, research and troops all stay exactly as they were; only your bonuses and unique unit change. You keep your original starting commander — and you do not receive the new civilization's starter.

Overview

The fear that a day-one civilization choice locks your account forever keeps a lot of new governors up at night, and it is simply not true. Changing civilization is a routine mid-game move, and most experienced accounts have done it at least once — typically switching out of an economy civilization into one that matches their combat troop type.

How to Change Civilization

Obtain a Civilization Change item. The usual sources: the in-game shop for around 10,000 gems, the alliance shop for roughly 2,000,000 Individual Credits (your alliance pays Alliance Credits to stock it), the Mysterious Merchant, and one free token handed out during early City Hall progression. Prices move with updates — check before you commit gems, because the alliance shop route is dramatically cheaper if your alliance keeps it stocked.
Open your profile / governor screen and find the civilization option.
Use the item and select your new civilization.
The change applies immediately.

That is the whole process. There is no waiting period and no approval.

What You Keep

Everything that matters:

All commanders, including the free starting commander from your original civilization. Switching to Germany does not hand you Hermann — you keep Sun Tzu, or whoever you started with.
All buildings, research and troops.
Your kingdom, alliance, power and account history.

What Changes

Your civilization bonuses switch to the new civ's set immediately. See the full bonus table for what you are trading.
Your unique unit changes, and existing unique units convert to the new civilization's equivalent — you do not lose the troops.
The commander sculpture focus in some quest rewards follows your new civilization.
Your city's visual style changes to match.

When Changing Is Worth It

Yes, change if:

You started on an economy civilization, you are past the construction-race phase, and you now know your troop type. This is the classic and correct use.
Your civilization pushes a troop type you never built. A cavalry bonus is dead weight on an infantry account.
You are preparing for a serious KvK season and want your civ, commanders, research and equipment all pointing the same direction.

No, do not change if:

You are under City Hall 15 and still building. Economy bonuses are still doing more for you than combat bonuses would.
You are chasing a small percentage difference between two similar civilizations. The item is worth more than the gain.
You are switching because someone in alliance chat said their civ is better. Civ bonus is the smallest factor in fight outcomes — see best civilization.

Timing It Properly

The natural switch point is when your account stops being a construction project and starts being a war machine — usually somewhere around the transition to T4 or T5 troops, when your troop type is settled and your commander pair is built.

Switching before that means paying for combat bonuses during the phase where they do nothing.

FAQ

Can you change civilization in Rise of Kingdoms?

Yes, with a civilization change item, and it is a normal thing to do. Your progress is unaffected.

Do I lose my starting commander if I change civilization?

No. Commanders are permanently yours regardless of civilization.

When should I change civilization?

Once your account is past the early construction phase and you have committed to a troop type — typically in the run-up to a KvK season.

How much does it cost to change civilization?

Around 10,000 gems in the shop, or roughly 2,000,000 Individual Credits in the alliance shop — the alliance route is far cheaper if your alliance stocks it. Most accounts also receive one free token during early progression.

Do I get the new civilization's starting commander?

No. You keep your original starter and do not gain the new one. Commanders are never taken away, but they are not granted retroactively either.

Does changing civilization reset anything?

No. Buildings, research, troops, commanders and alliance membership are all untouched.

Key Takeaways

Changing civilization is routine, not a last resort.
Around 10,000 gems, or ~2M Individual Credits in the alliance shop — check both.
You keep your original starting commander and do not gain the new one.
Unique units already trained convert rather than being lost.
Start on economy, switch to your troop type when the war phase begins.
Keep your starting commander either way.
Do not switch for a marginal difference — the item is worth more than the gap.

How to Change Civilization in Rise of Kingdoms (Cost and Timing)