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Naturalization
You didn't get German citizenship automatically, but you want to become German?
Naturalization almost always requires living in Germany. Naturalization from abroad is only possible in a few exceptional cases, about which you can find information here.
Naturalization as reparation
Between 1933 and 1945, many German emigrants were deprived of citizenship for political, racial or religious reasons. Since the Federal Republic of Germany was founded, those affected and their descendants can regain citizenship in accordance with Article 116 (2) of the Basic Law. You can find information here.
Naturalization of former Germans
Did you lose German citizenship because you acquired a foreign nationality on application and did not have a retention permit?
When did you acquire the foreign citizenship:
Essentially, the following applied: Anyone who, as a German abroad, acquired foreign citizenship on application and did not have a retention permit lost German citizenship in accordance with Section 25 of the German Citizenship Act. Under certain conditions, there is the possibility of naturalization. Naturalization generally requires permanent residence in Germany. Naturalization from abroad is at the discretion of the Federal Office of Administration and is only granted in exceptional cases. The conditions for naturalization of people not living in Germany are particularly high, there must be a public interest in naturalization.
Anyone who acquired a foreign citizenship upon request and did not have a retention permit lost German citizenship in accordance with Section 25 of the Citizenship Act (StAG). There is the possibility of naturalization according to § 13 StAG. The prerequisite is that if the application was made in good time, a retention permit would have been granted and the necessary ties to Germany still exist today.
Since an amendment to the Citizenship Act that came into force on August 28, 2007, a German citizen no longer loses his German citizenship if he acquires the citizenship of an EU member state or Switzerland after that date. In this constellation, an application for the granting of a retention permit is therefore no longer necessary and German citizenship can be retained automatically.
However, old cases are not affected by this regulation. If the application was acquired before August 28, 2007 without a valid retention permit, the automatic loss of German citizenship in accordance with Section 25 StAG continues to exist. Under certain circumstances, however, an application for reinstatement can be made.
Acquisition of German citizenship by declaration
The Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act, which entered into force on 20 August 2021, has created a ten-year right of declaration (Section 5 of the Nationality Act), granting children born to a German parent after 23 May 1949 (entry into force of the Basic Law) who, under the version of the Reich and Nationality Act valid at the time of their birth, were excluded in a gender-discriminating manner from acquiring German citizenship by descent at birth have the option of obtaining German citizenship by making a simple declaration to the competent citizenship authority. The option of acquisition by declaration also applies to their descendants.
The group of persons affected includes
- children born after 23 May 1949 to a German parent who did not acquire German nationality by birth (children born in wedlock prior to 1 January 1975 to a German mother and a foreign father or children born out of wedlock prior to 1 July 1993 to a German father and a foreign mother),
- children born after 23 May 1949 to a mother who lost her German citizenship through marriage to a foreigner pursuant to Section 17 (6) of the Reich and Nationality Act (old version) before the birth of the child prior to 1 April 1953,
- children born after 23 May 1949 who lost their German nationality acquired by birth through legitimation effected by a foreigner and valid under German law pursuant to Section 17 (5) of the Reich and Nationality Act (old version) prior to 1 April 1953, and
- descendants of the children in paragraphs 1 to 3.
Persons who are habitually resident abroad can submit the declaration directly to the Federal Office of Administration or to their competent mission abroad. It will take effect upon receipt by the competent nationality authority (i.e. the Federal Office of Administration in the case of persons resident abroad) if all other conditions are fulfilled.
Acquisition of the German citizenship by declaration does not require you to give up your current citizenship. This means, you can retain your present citizenship if that is allowed under the laws of your home country.
IMPORTANT: Whether you can retain your current citizenship solely depends on the laws of the country whose citizenship you presently hold. Please inform yourself well in time by contacting the relevant authorities before lodging a declaration under the a.m. regulation, to find out if acquiring the German citizenship by declaration has any effects on your present citizenship.
The German missions abroad are not in a position to give binding advice on foreign law.
If you are allowed to retain your present citizenship(s) then you will become dual or multiple citizen by acquiring the German Citizenship.
Detailed information on acquisition by declaration and the relevant forms can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Administration