If you reside abroad and are not German already, there are only very few scenarios that make naturalization possible, as a major requirement for naturalization is that the applicant is residing in Germany.

The only form of these naturalizations without a German language requirement exists for those who got deprived of their citizenship between 1933 and 1945 on racial, religious or political grounds, and their descendants. Further information can be found here.

The other two forms require a command of the German language, among other prerequisites. The information is therefore only available in German.

• Re-naturalization for former German citizens who lost their German citizenship because they acquired another citizenship by application or entered foreign armed forces
• Naturalization for those born to German parents who did not acquire the German citizenship by descent