Leistungen A-Z

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: Yes

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 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.

You are a homeless foreigner,

• if you are stateless or
• if you have a foreign nationality,

and

• had to leave your homeland in connection with the 2nd World War and
• were lawfully and habitually resident in the area of application of the Basic Law as of June 30, 1950.

You also have the same status if you are descended from homeless foreigners and were legally and ordinarily resident in the Federal Republic of Germany as of 01.01.1991.

As a homeless foreigner, you are entitled to naturalization if you have been legally residing in Germany for at least 7 years and have not been convicted of a criminal offense. This does not apply to sentences to a fine or to a juvenile or prison sentence of up to one year, the execution of which has been suspended.
The requirements you have to fulfill are less extensive compared to the other naturalization options. And the fee is lower.

In addition, your spouse and minor children can also be naturalized, even if they have not lived in Germany as long as you have.

The naturalization becomes effective with the delivery of the naturalization certificate. The competent authority is the citizenship authority of your place of residence.

• You are a homeless foreigner, which means:
  • You are stateless,
  • you have a foreign nationality,
• and
  • had to leave your homeland in connection with World War II and were staying in the area of validity of the Basic Law as of 30.06.1950, or
• You are descended from homeless foreigners and were residing in the Federal Republic of Germany on 01.01.1991.
• You must submit an application for naturalization
• You must
  • have been born at least on 01.01.1991.
• Have been lawfully and ordinarily residing in the Federal Territory for 7 years.
  • Your spouse and minor children can also be naturalized together with you if they have not been legally and ordinarily resident in Germany for 7 years.
• They have not been sentenced to a prison term without probation or to a suspended sentence of more than one year.
• You are not being investigated on suspicion of a criminal offense.
  • If they have, the naturalization procedure remains suspended until the criminal proceedings have been completed.
• You do not pursue or support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities and have not done so in the past.

• valid travel document for foreigners
• Birth certificate
• marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable
• translations of foreign deeds or documents by a certified translator
  • Translation must be firmly attached and sealed to a copy of the document
• for persons under 16 years of age:
  • Proof of legal representation
  • in case of joint parental care of the parents only declaration of consent of the other parent with custody rights
• Further documents may be required in individual cases

Caution Payment: 51 EUR (fix)
Additional fees may apply, for example for translations of foreign documents into German.
Vorkasse: Ja

You can submit your application for naturalization in writing to the relevant office:

• Fill out the application and submit it by mail with the required documents.
• After receiving your application, the competent office will check the requirements and make a decision.
• If you meet the requirements, you will be handed a naturalization certificate in person. Only then is the naturalization effective.

There is no deadline.

Citizenship authority of the respective place of residence

• § Section 21 Act on the Legal Status of Homeless Foreigners in the Federal Territory (HAuslG)

• Interpreter and translator database, Internet platform of the state justice administrations for searching for licensed translators
• Information on submitting foreign documents and certificates on the website of the Federal Foreign Office

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI)