Einbürgerung für heimatlose Ausländerinnen und Ausländer beantragen

As a homeless foreigner, you can apply for naturalization under simplified conditions.

Naturalization 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.

• valid travel document for foreigners
• birth certificate
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable
• Translations of foreign certificates or documents by a licensed translator
  • Translation must be firmly attached and sealed to a copy of the document
• for persons under the age of 16:
  • Proof of legal representation
  • in the case of joint parental custody of the parents, only a declaration of consent from the other custodial parent
• Further documents may be required in individual cases

• You are a homeless foreigner, which means:
  • You are stateless,
  • You have a foreign nationality,
• and
  • had to leave your home country in connection with the Second World War and were staying in the area of application of the Basic Law on 30.06.1950, or
• You are descended from homeless foreigners and were residing in the Federal Republic of Germany on 01.01.1991.
• You must submit an application for naturalization
• You must
  • have been born at least on 01.01.1991.
• You have been legally and habitually resident in Germany for 7 years.
  • Your spouse and your underage children can also be naturalized together with you if they have not yet been legally and habitually resident in Germany for 7 years.
• You have not been sentenced to a prison sentence without probation or to a suspended sentence of more than one year.
• You are not under investigation on suspicion of a criminal offense.
  • If you are, the naturalization procedure will remain suspended until the criminal proceedings have been concluded.
• You do not pursue or support any anti-constitutional or extremist activities and have not done so in the past.

You can submit your application for naturalization in writing to the relevant office:

• Complete the application and submit it by post with the required documents.
• After receiving your application, the responsible office will check the requirements and make a decision.
• If you meet the requirements, you will receive a naturalization certificate in person. Only then is your naturalization effective.

There is no deadline.

Action before the competent administrative court

• Naturalization Conferral of German citizenship for homeless foreigners
• Homeless foreigners are
  • stateless persons or
  • persons of foreign nationality who
    • had to leave their homeland in connection with the 2nd World War and
    • were residing in the area of application of the Basic Law on 30.06.1950
• persons who are legally equivalent to them,
  • who are descended from homeless foreigners and
  • were legally and habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany on 01.01.1991
• Responsible: Citizenship authority of the respective place of residence

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: Yes