Upon naturalization, you will acquire German citizenship. This makes you a citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with equal rights and obligations.

With German citizenship, you can, among other things,

• exercise your right to vote in local elections, state elections, and for the German Bundestag and the European Parliament.
• enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union (EU), meaning
  • move freely within the EU,
  • work as an employee or self-employed person within the EU, and
  • travel to many countries outside the EU without a visa.

You are considered a stateless foreign national

• if you are stateless or
• if you hold the nationality of another country and
  • were forced to leave your homeland in connection with World War II and
  • were lawfully and habitually residing within the territory covered by the Basic Law or in West Berlin on June 30, 1950.

You also have this status if you are the child of a stateless foreign national and were lawfully and habitually residing in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1991.

Your spouse or registered partner, as well as your minor children, will be naturalized along with you upon application, even if they have not lived in Germany as long as you have.

Naturalization takes effect upon issuance of the naturalization certificate.

The competent authority is the citizenship office in your place of residence.

• You are stateless, or
  • you hold the nationality of another country and were forced to leave your homeland in connection with World War II and were residing within the area of application of the Basic Law or in West Berlin on June 30, 1950, or
  • You are the child of a stateless foreign national and were residing in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1991. You must have been born before January 1, 1991
• You have been residing legally and habitually in Germany for 7 years. Your spouse and your minor children will be naturalized upon application, even if they have not yet been residing legally and habitually in Germany for 7 years.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offense by a final judgment.
  • If you have been sentenced to a fine or to a juvenile sentence or a prison term of up to one year, the execution of which has been suspended on probation, the conviction will not be taken into account.
  • If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offense, the naturalization authority will suspend the naturalization process until the proceedings are concluded.

• Appeal
• Lawsuit before the competent administrative court

• Application for Naturalization for Stateless Foreign Nationals
• Valid travel document for refugees, stateless persons, or foreign nationals
• Civil status documents, for example:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate or divorce decree, with translation, legalization, or apostille if necessary
• Additional documents may be required on a case-by-case basis

Notes:

• The competent authority may grant a reduction or waiver of fees on grounds of equity or public interest.
• Additional costs may apply for obtaining documents, translations, and certifications.
• Additional transfer fees may apply for transfers from a foreign account

• Administrative fee: 25.00 EUR – 51.00 EUR
  Applies in the event of a denial notice for a minor child to be naturalized
• Administrative fee: 255.00 EUR
  Applies to naturalization per person, including minors who are naturalized on their own
• Administrative fee: 25.00 EUR – 255.00 EUR
  Applies in the event of a denial notice for adults
• Administrative fee: 51.00 EUR
  Applies to a minor child who is naturalized along with both parents or one parent