Foreign nationals may acquire German citizenship upon application under certain conditions. As a rule, there is a legal right to naturalization if the following requirements are met:

The applicant

• has had their habitual residence in Germany for five years,
• holds an unlimited right of residence or possesses a residence permit under the Residence Act that was not issued for a merely temporary purpose,
• is able to support themselves and their dependents (financial capacity),
• has no criminal record,
• has sufficient knowledge of German,
• has a basic knowledge of civic education,
• is committed to the free democratic basic order (loyalty to the Constitution),
• has a verified identity and nationality, and
• acknowledges Germany’s special historical responsibility for the Nazi regime of injustice and its consequences, particularly with regard to the protection of Jewish life, as well as to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the prohibition of waging wars of aggression.

Special provisions apply in certain cases: family members and individuals who have demonstrated above-average integration efforts. Information on these matters is provided by the citizenship authorities of the cities and municipalities, and in the case of smaller municipalities, by the district committee of the respective county. In any case, it is recommended to seek advice from these authorities before submitting an application.