Upon naturalisation, you will receive German citizenship. This will make you an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all rights and obligations.

Among other things, you can

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

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

Stateless persons are persons whom no state considers to be nationals on the basis of its law.

To do this, you must:

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

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

If you are investigated on suspicion of a criminal offence, the naturalisation procedure remains suspended until the conclusion of the proceedings.

Naturalisation becomes effective upon delivery of the certificate of naturalisation. The competent authority is the nationality authority of your place of residence.