With naturalization you receive German citizenship. This means that you become an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all rights and obligations.

Among other things, you can

• exercise your right to vote in the federal states and for the German Bundestag,
• enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union as a citizen of the Union, and
• can also travel outside Europe to many countries without a visa.

If you have been stateless since birth in Germany, you are entitled to acquire German citizenship through naturalization under certain conditions.

Stateless persons are persons whom no state regards as nationals on the basis of its law.

For this you must

• have been born in the Federal Republic of Germany as a stateless person,
• have resided legally and permanently in Germany for at least 5 years, and
• have filed the application before reaching the age of 21.

The claim is excluded if you have been legally sentenced to a custodial or juvenile sentence of more than 5 years.

If you are being investigated on suspicion of a criminal offense, the naturalization procedure remains suspended until the conclusion of the proceedings.

Naturalization becomes effective upon delivery of the naturalization certificate. The competent authority is the citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence (administrative district or independent city).