A warm welcome: Naturalization celebration in Teltow-Fläming inspires!

A warm welcome: Naturalization celebration in Teltow-Fläming inspires!

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 21 new citizens of the Teltow-Fläming district experienced an unforgettable moment in the district council meeting room. Shortly before 2 a.m., the participants were made German citizens in a solemn ceremony. The emotional naturalization ceremony lasted about an hour and took place in a warm atmosphere in which the new citizens received their naturalization certificates.

Alderman Dietlind Biesterfeld greeted those present with a warm welcome speech and accompanied the celebrations, which included the commitment to the free democratic basic order in Germany. After the ceremonial act, the new citizens received certificates in their hands and proudly left the hall, ready to begin their new phase of life as Germans. Among them was the Stojanovic family from Serbia, who have been living in Blankenfelde-Mahlow for eleven years. The family moved to Germany due to the political situation in their home country and sees naturalization as an important step into the future.

Naturalization and its meaning

Naturalization not only confers German citizenship, but also equal civil rights. With this citizenship, the new citizens can vote in elections and enjoy freedom of movement within the EU and visa-free travel to many countries. These aspects make a decisive contribution to integration and participation in social life. Naturalization becomes effective by handing over the naturalization certificate, which is approved by the responsible authority at the applicant's place of residence, as [teltow-flaeming.de](https://www.teltow-flaeming.de/was-erledige-ich-wo/dienste/details/einbuergerung%20und%20einbuergerungs Feier) explains.

For naturalization, certain requirements must be met, including a minimum stay of five years in Germany, sufficient knowledge of German and securing a living without receiving public benefits. The naturalization process can be lengthy: on average, an applicant needs at least a year and often longer to collect all the necessary documents and evidence. These hurdles are increasingly being overcome in Teltow-Fläming. By the end of October 2025, a total of 357 people had been naturalized, which represents an increase compared to previous years.

The increase in naturalization numbers

The number of naturalizations in the district is due in particular to refugees from 2015 who now meet the legal requirements for naturalization. However, the regulation for accelerated naturalization after three years of residence was abolished by the current government, which was hardly used in Teltow-Fläming. The Stojanovic family decided on German citizenship when their daughter Andrea began studying law. In her opinion, a German passport expands her travel options, especially for visits to Serbia. Despite the new identity, Serbian roots remain an essential part of Andrea's life and story.

The naturalization ceremonies continue every month, with the next date already on November 12, 2025, as announced on [teltow-flaeming.de](https://www.teltow-flaeming.de/was-erledige-ich-wo/dienste/details/einbuergerung%20und%20einbuergerungs Feier). A clear step that shows how important integration and the creation of a common society are in Germany. It remains to be seen how naturalization numbers will develop in the coming years, but the path has been paved for many new citizens.