Naturalisation as restitution

Former German citizens who, between 1933 and 1945, were deprived of their citizenship on political, racial or religious grounds or who lost their German citizenship as a result of National Socialist persecution, or persons who were denied citizenship can, upon request, become naturalised German citizens. Their descendants also have this option.

Further information can be found here.

Naturalisation for children of (former) German parents who did not acquire German citizenship by descent

Did you not acquire German citizenship by birth because you were born in wedlock before 1 January 1975 and only your mother was German, and no declaration was filed for you before 1 January 1978?

Did your mother automatically lose her German citizenship before you were born by marrying a foreigner?

Did you not acquire German citizenship by birth because you were born out of wedlock before 1 July 1993 and only your father was German, and no declaration was filed before your 23rd birthday?

In these cases, you and your descendants may be eligible for naturalisation under section 5 of the Nationality Act, subject to certain criteria.

Further information can be found here.

Naturalisation for former German citizens

Did you have German citizenship but later lost it?

You may be eligible for renaturalisation under section 13 of the Nationality Act. This is subject to certain conditions including that you would have been given permission to retain German citizenship if you had applied in time, and that you still have ties to Germany to this day.

Further information can be found here.

Naturalisation for special reasons of public interest

Do you live abroad, and none of the options mentioned applies to you?

Foreigners can be naturalised abroad, too, under section 14 of the Nationality Act, subject to certain conditions. The decision on naturalisation is at the discretion of the competent citizenship authority, the Federal Office of Administration (BVA). There is no automatic entitlement.

In the Federal Foreign Office’s experience, this kind of discretionary naturalisation is only possible if it is specifically in the public interest. Private interests are not a prime consideration. For instance, being married to a German or having lived in Germany in the past does not count as a reason why naturalisation would be in the public interest.

Further information on this can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Administration.

Contact form

If after reading the information on our website you still have questions about German citizenship, please answer the following questions by email via our contact form (select the topic: Citizenship enquiries).

1. When and where were you born?
2. What was the nationality of your parents at the time of your birth? Have your parents ever had or do they still have a German passport?
3. Were your parents married to each other at the time of your birth? If applicable, when and where did your parents get married? If not, has your father acknowledged paternity?
4. When and where were your parents born?
5. What was the nationality of your parents when they were born?
6. Have your parents ever acquired British (or a different) citizenship? If so, when?
7. What nationality (nationalities) did your grandparents have at the time your parents were born?
8. Were your grandparents married to each other at the time your mother/your father was born? When and where did they get married?
9. Have you, your parents or your grandparents ever applied for British (or a different) citizenship? If so, please state who was naturalised, and when, and which family members may have been included in the (parents’) application.
10. Have you, your parents or your grandparents ever performed military service in a country other than Germany? If so, when?
11. Are you or was one of your ancestors adopted? If so, who and when?