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; to the German Bundestag and to 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.

You are a stateless foreign national

• if you are stateless or
• if you have the nationality of another country and
  • had to leave your home country in connection with the 2nd World War and
  • were legally and habitually resident in the area of application of the Basic Law or Berlin (West) on 30.06.1950.

You also have the same status if you are the child of a homeless foreigner and were legally and habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1991.

Your spouse or registered partner and your underage children will also be naturalized upon application, even if they have not lived in Germany as long as you have.

Naturalization becomes effective when the naturalization certificate is issued.

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