§ 16 StAG: Taking Effect of Naturalization
This text was rewritten into plain language (B1 level) automatically and may contain errors. Only the official German statute is authoritative — when in doubt, read the original text below or consult a lawyer.
You are naturalized when you receive your naturalization certificate. The responsible nationality authority issues this certificate for you. Only once you have the certificate in hand does the naturalization become effective.
Before you receive the certificate, you must make a solemn declaration. This is mandatory — you must say this sentence. The sentence is: "I solemnly declare that I will respect the Basic Law and the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and refrain from anything that could harm them." This means: You promise to respect the rules in Germany. You also promise not to do anything that harms the Basic Law or the laws.
For this step, a rule from Section 10 (1) sentence 2 also applies accordingly. What exactly this rule means is stated there.
The authority should, as a rule, hand you the naturalization certificate at a public naturalization ceremony. This means: Normally, a ceremony takes place. In special exceptional cases, it can also be different.
Die Einbürgerung wird wirksam mit der Aushändigung der von der zuständigen Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde ausgefertigten Einbürgerungsurkunde. Vor der Aushändigung ist folgendes feierliches Bekenntnis abzugeben: "Ich erkläre feierlich, dass ich das Grundgesetz und die Gesetze der Bundesrepublik Deutschland achten und alles unterlassen werde, was ihr schaden könnte."; § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 2 gilt entsprechend. Die Einbürgerungsurkunde soll im Rahmen einer öffentlichen Einbürgerungsfeier ausgehändigt werden.
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