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 Länder and to the 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.

You are a homeless foreigner,

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

and

• had to leave their homeland in connection with the 2nd World War and
• were lawfully and habitually resident within the scope of application of the Basic Law on 30.06.1950.

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

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

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

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