Applying for naturalization for homeless foreigners
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzNaturalization gives you German citizenship. This makes you an equal citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany with all rights and obligations.
Among other things, you can
- exercise your right to vote in the federal states and in the Bundestag,
- enjoy freedom of movement within the European Union as a citizen of the Union and
- can also travel to many countries outside Europe without a visa.
You are a stateless foreign national
- if you are stateless or
- if you have a foreign nationality,
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 on June 30, 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 naturalization 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 convictions for a fine or a juvenile or prison sentence of up to one year, the execution of which has been suspended on probation.
The requirements you have to meet are less extensive compared to the other naturalization options. And the fee is lower.
In addition, your spouse and underage children can also be naturalized, even if they have not lived in Germany as long as you have.
Naturalization takes effect when the naturalization certificate is issued. The competent authority is the citizenship authority in your place of residence.
Latest news
New online service: Apply for naturalization online (including "Quick-Check")
If you have difficulties with the online application, the guides of the project'Pass(t) Genau' will be happy to help you.
Naturalization is the granting of German citizenship to a foreigner. This must be applied for and is carried out by handing over the naturalization certificate in a ceremony.
As a rule, the following requirements must be met for naturalization:
- a permanent right of residence or, as a Swiss national or family member, a residence permit based on the Agreement of 21. June 1999 between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons or a residence permit for purposes other than those listed in §§ 16, 16a-f, 17, 18f, 19, 19 b and e, 20, 22, 23 para. 1, §§ 23a, 24 and 25 para. 3 to 5, § 104c of the Residence Act
- at least 5 years of uninterrupted (legal and habitual) residence in Germany, in the case of special integration services after 3 years
- be able to support themselves and generally secure their livelihood through their own gainful employment
- provide proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language (German B1 certificate). If no proof is provided, a language test must be taken
- lose or give up their previous nationality; exceptions are possible to a certain extent
- have no criminal record; petty offenses are not taken into account
- declare their commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law and make a declaration that they are not pursuing or have not pursued any anti-constitutional endeavors
- no affiliation with an extremist or terrorist organization
- knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (valid from 01.09.2008)
For persons entitled to asylum, other refugees and stateless persons, the required period of residence can be reduced to six years, for German married couples to three years.