Children born to parents who themselves were born abroad after 31/12/1999 do not automatically hold German citizenship. Their birth must be registered within one year from the date of birth for them to become German.

Who is affected?

Your child does not automatically become a German citizen if

• You (the German parent or parents) were born outside of Germany after 31.12.1999 and
• your child was born outside of Germany and
• you (the German parent or parents) were residing abroad at the time of birth (simply being registered in Germany while in fact living abroad does not suffice), and
• your child does not become stateless.

Please note: This regulation affects all Germans (expats and emigrants) who were themselves born abroad and have a child abroad, regardless of the reason and duration of their stay abroad.

How does my child become German?

Parents must apply for registration of the birth either at their relevant registrar’s office in Germany or at the Embassy within one year from the birth of the child. The child then acquires German citizenship retrospectively from birth.

Example

Mr and Mrs Maier are German nationals and live in Ireland. On February 1st, 2000, their daughter Ciara was born in Galway. Ciara is therefore also a German citizen by birth and continues to live in Ireland. Ciara's son Liam, whose father is Irish, is born in Dublin on 01.01.2025. Although his mother is a German citizen, Liam does not automatically acquire German citizenship by birth.

Ciara or Liam's father must submit an application for registration of the birth of their child to the competent German registry office or the Embassy within one year of birth.

Who is not affected?

• children whose German parents were born in Germany, and

• children whose German parents were born before January 1st, 2000

automatically become German citizens by birth.