Through naturalization, you will obtain 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 be self-employed 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 area of application of 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 and your minor children will be naturalized upon application, even if they have not lived in Germany as long as you have. Naturalization takes effect upon receipt of the naturalization certificate.

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