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German citizenship

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General information

Please read the following information carefully before contacting the Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Edinburgh.

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Acquiring German citizenship

Comprehensive information on acquiring German citizenship

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Non-acquisition of German nationality for children born abroad to German parents

Information on non-acquisition of German nationality for children born abroad to German parents (section 4 (4), first and third sentences, of the Nationality Act).

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Naturalisation of victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants

Victims of persecution by the Nazi regime who were forcibly deprived of their German nationality and their descendants can now be renaturalised in Germany.

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Discretionary naturalisation (including renaturalisation of former German citizens)

In exceptional cases, foreign nationals may be naturalised under Section 14 of the Nationality Act and former Germans under Section 13 of the Nationality Act if specific criteria are met, even if they are living abroad.

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Acquisition of German citizenship by declaration (new provision of 20 August 2021)

On 20 August 2021 some amendments to the German Nationality Act (“Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz” or “STaG”) came into force. Among other things, the new Act provides a ten-year period during which German citizenship may be acquired by way of simple declaration.

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Loss of German citizenship

Information on different cases of the loss of German citizenship

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Retention of German citizenship upon naturalisation in another country

Please note that the German government is currently working on a change in the German Nationality Act, which might allow the acquisition of a foreign citizenship without the need of a retention permit.…

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Confirmation of German citizenship/ Application for a certificate of nationality

In cases where it is unclear whether you possess German nationality, or if a German authority has asked you to provide proof of nationality (e.g. in connection with being appointed as a civil servant), you may need to apply for a certificate of nationality.

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Renunciation of German citizenship

If you hold dual citizenship (German and at least one other citizenship) you can renounce your German citizenship by declaration.

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Information on the application procedure and useful links

To submit your application, you will need to provide us with one set of certified copies, one set of plain copies and two sets of your signed application form.

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24.03.2022 Page

Citizenship: Frequently Asked Questions

How does a child of German parents living abroad get German citizenship? What are the consequences of German citizens acqiring British citizenship? You can find the answers in this FAQ.

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