Administrative services A-Z

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

With German citizenship you can, among other things

• Exercise your right to vote in the municipalities, in the federal states, in the German Bundestag and in the European Parliament.
• Enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union (EU), i.e.
  • move freely within the EU,
  • be employed or self-employed in the EU and
  • travel to many countries outside the EU without a visa.

If you have been stateless since birth in Germany, you are entitled to naturalization under certain conditions. Stateless persons are those whom no state considers to be its nationals.

Naturalization becomes effective when the naturalization certificate is issued.

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

• You must apply for naturalization before the age of 21.
• You must
  • be at least 16 years old or
  • be legally represented.
• You have been stateless since birth.
• You were born in Germany.
• You have been living legally and habitually in Germany for at least 5 years.
• You have not been sentenced to a custodial or juvenile sentence of more than 5 years. If you are currently under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offence, the citizenship authority will suspend the naturalization procedure until the proceedings have been concluded.

• Application for naturalization
• Valid travel document for stateless persons
• valid residence permit
• Documents on civil status, for example
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable, with translation, legalization or apostille
    • of the previous spouse or the previous registered partner or
    • of the previous registered civil partner
• for persons under the age of 16: Proof of legal representation
• in the case of joint parental custody of the parents: only a declaration of consent from the other custodial parent

Notes:

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

Caution Payment: 255 EUR (fix)
Vorkasse: Nein

Caution Payment: 51 EUR (fix)
Vorkasse: Nein

Caution Payment: (variabel)
Vorkasse: Nein

Caution Payment: (variabel)
Vorkasse: Nein

You must submit the application by your 21st birthday.

Citizenship authority of the respective place of residence

• Artikel 2 Gesetz zur Verminderung der Staatenlosigkeit – (StaatenlMindÜbkG)

• Allgemeine Informationen zur Einbürgerung in Deutschland auf der Internetseite des Bundesamts für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)
• Weitere Informationen zur Einbürgerung auf der Internetseite der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration
• Suchfunktion auf der Internetseite der Dolmetscher- und Übersetzerdatenbank
• Informationen zum Internationalen Urkundenverkehr auf der Internetseite des Auswärtigen Amts (AA)

Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI)