Naturalization grants you German citizenship. This makes you an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all the associated rights and obligations.

With German citizenship, you can, among other things

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

You are a stateless foreigner if

• if you are stateless or
• if you have the nationality of another country and
  • had to leave your home country in connection with World War II and
  • were legally and habitually resident in the territory covered by the Basic Law or in West Berlin on June 30, 1950.

You also have the same status if you are the child of a stateless foreigner and were legally and habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1991.

Your spouse or registered partner and your minor children will be naturalized upon application, even if they have not been living in Germany as long as you have.

Naturalization takes effect upon delivery of the naturalization certificate.

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

• You are stateless or
  • You are a citizen of another country and had to leave your homeland in connection with World War II and were residing in the area covered by the Basic Law or in West Berlin on June 30, 1950, or
  • you are the child of a stateless foreigner 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 legally and habitually resident in Germany for 7 years. Your spouse and minor children will be naturalized upon application, even if they have not been legally and habitually resident in Germany for 7 years.
• You have not been convicted of a criminal offense.
  • If you have been sentenced to a fine or to a juvenile or prison sentence 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 citizenship authority will suspend the naturalization process until the proceedings have been concluded.

• Appeal
• Action before the competent administrative court

• Application for naturalization for stateless foreigners
• Valid travel document for refugees, stateless persons, or foreigners
• Documents relating to civil status, for example:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate or divorce decree, with translation, legalization, or apostille if necessary
• Additional documents may be required in individual cases

Notes:

• The competent authority may grant a reduction or exemption from fees for reasons of fairness or public interest.
• Additional costs may be incurred for the procurement of documents, translations, and certifications.
• Additional transfer fees may apply for transfers from a foreign account.

• Administrative fee: EUR 25.00 - EUR 51.
  00 Applies in the event of a rejection notice for a minor child to be naturalized
• Administrative fee: EUR 255.
  00 Applies to naturalization per person, including minors who are being naturalized alone
• Administrative fee: EUR 25.00 - EUR 255.
  00 Applies to rejection notices for adults
• Administrative fee: EUR 51.
  00 Applies to a minor child who is being naturalized with both parents or one parent