You are of German descent and may qualify to claim citizenship by descent. This guide tells you how descent-based citizenship works, and how to reclaim citizenship when it was lost as a result of persecution or discrimination. What documents do you need, and what answers frequently asked questions about the application process.
Qualifying to be a German Citizen by Descent
You can also get German citizenship provided you have a German parent. Whether you are eligible to become a citizen of Germany, you can check with this eligibility checker or go through your family tree. The issue of whether citizenship was automatically inherited by you is dependent on:
- The laws of nationality at the time of your birth were in effect.
- Whether your parents were wedded.
- One of your parents was a German citizen.
- Children with Married Parents
Is it possible to acquire German citizenship through a grandparent
German citizenship can be acquired through a grandparent in case it was transferred, without any breaks, to your grandparent, then to your parent and finally to you.
But had your parent not been entitled to citizenship under the nationality rules of the time (say, your mother had lost her German citizenship automatically on acquiring a different one). Then you would not have inherited German citizenship.
It is important to add that the German citizenship law has been altered a number of times over the years. Because of these historical complexities, it is always surprising to find out that although they may have German ancestry, they do not necessarily have a right to German citizenship in the present day. In case you feel that you might be of German descent, then you ought to look into the possibility of consulting immigration experts in this regard to determine whether you can reclaim it.
Restoring the Citizenship of the German Nation
Are your parents or grandparents deprived of German citizenship in a discriminatory or persecutory way? You may be able to apply a new citizenship under the new laws, which came into effect in August 2021.
Loss of Citizenship as a result of persecution (WWII Era)
A large number of Jewish Germans lost their nationality on their flight out of Nazi Germany. Today, these people and their descendants have the possibility to reclaim citizenship in the form of a mere declaration.
Qualifying groups are the following:.
- Individuals who lost their citizenship as a result of the Nazi regime were officially deprived of citizenship
- Their direct offspring.
Denial of Citizenship based on gender discrimination
Before 1975, German citizenship legislation did not treat men and women equally. Due to this, several individuals (and their posterity) were deprived of citizenship rights.
You can claim back your citizenship based on gender discrimination in the case:
- You were born prior to 1975, and your mother is German, whereas your father is a foreigner, and you did not acquire German citizenship by birth.
- Your German mother had been stripped of her citizenship based on marrying a foreigner before you were born
- Being born out of wedlock, you are the child of a German mother, and you later lost your citizenship when she married your non-German father.
- You are either a descendant of any of the above.
Applicable law: Art. 5 of the German Nationality Act [Right of declaration of children born after the Basic Law came into effect].
How to reclaim German Citizenship by Descent
In order to regain your German citizenship, you have to apply, all your supporting documents included, to the German Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt). Where you are abroad, you can make your declaration at the German diplomatic mission nearest to you; it will then be transmitted to the Bundesverwaltungsamt.
Upon success in the application, a certificate of acquisition of German citizenship by declaration. (Urkunde Uber den Erwerb der deutschen Staatsangehoerigkeit durch Erklarung) is issued. The deadline to apply to declare your German citizenship is August 19, 2031.
In theory, it can be very fast and simple. But when it comes to trying to make sense of piles of paperwork and attempting to be patient with German bureaucracy, it can be very intimidating. A good German immigration attorney can assist you through the steps of reinstating your German citizenship.
You can also view these posts:
Getting Germany’s passport
Things to know before immigrating to Germany
Frequently Asked Questions on Germany
