Naturalization

People can become naturalized citizens on the basis of either discretion or legal entitlement to German citizenship. When they are naturalized, they are granted citizenship through a decision of a public authority. The Federal Office of Administration still carries out numerous naturalizations of people whose citizenship was revoked during the National Socialist era and their descendants, restoring the German citizenship to which they are legally entitled.

When a person is naturalized, he or she is granted German citizenship through a decision of a public authority. The naturalization becomes effective when the certificate of naturalization is handed over.
Usually, only persons are naturalized who have already been living in Germany for a longer period. Naturalizations of people living abroad on the basis of discretion are very rare and need to be of special interest for the Federal Republic of Germany.
An exception is the naturalization of people whose citizenship was revoked under the National Socialist regime, thereby restoring the German citizenship to which they are legally entitled.
If you want to become a citizen of another country and keep your German citizenship, please apply for a retention permit.

Please note that the whole application procedure must be conducted in German.