Law on Nationality and Citizenship (June 1, 1870)

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§ 7. The certificate of admission is issued to any citizen of another federal state who applies for it, and who furnishes proof of having settled in the federal state to which admission is sought, provided that there are no grounds justifying the rejection of the newcomer or the denial of continued residence in accordance with §§ 2 to 5 of the Law on Freedom of Movement of November 1, 1867.

§ 8. The certificate of naturalization may be issued to foreigners only if they

1) are legally competent according to the laws of their previous home country, unless their lack of legal competency is supplemented by the consent of the father, guardian, or custodian of the person seeking admittance;
2) have a clean record;
3) are able to secure a dwelling of their own or accommodation in the place where they wish to settle;
4) are capable of making a living for themselves and their dependents in this place according to the local standards.

Prior to the issuance of the certificate of naturalization, the senior administrative authority is obliged to hear the arguments of the community or, respectively, the poor relief association of the town in which the person to be admitted wishes to settle with respect to the requirements under Nos. 2, 3, and 4.

[ . . . ]

§ 9. If a foreigner or a citizen of another federal state is admitted into direct or indirect public service or into the church, school, or municipal service, and if this appointment is effected or confirmed by the government or by a central or senior administrative authority, then this acts as a substitute for the certificate of naturalization, provided that the appointment does not express a conflicting proviso.

If the appointment of a foreigner to the federal service has taken place, then the appointee acquires the citizenship of the federal state in which he has his official residence.*



* On this point, see the Reich Law of December 20, 1875 (RGBl., 324): “Foreigners who are employed in Reich service, receive a salary paid from Reich funds, and have their official domicile abroad, must not be denied the certificate of naturalization by the state in which they apply for the conferment of citizenship.”