The only exceptions are if an application for the child’s birth to be recorded in the German register of births is made within a year of the birth (section 36 of the Civil Status Act – PStG), or if the child would otherwise be stateless. The one-year deadline will also be deemed to have been met if the notification of birth is received by the competent German mission abroad within one year.

Under what circumstances will my child not (at first) acquire German nationality automatically?

Your child will not automatically acquire German nationality by birth if

• You (both German parents) were born abroad after 31 December 1999

  AND

• Your child is born abroad

  AND

• You (both German parents) had your ordinary residence abroad at the time your child was born (If you are ordinarily resident abroad, it is immaterial if you have retained a residence in Germany purely for registration law purposes.)

  AND

• Your child automatically acquires a foreign nationality upon birth.

What do I have to do for my child to nevertheless obtain German nationality?

You must apply for the birth to be recorded in the register of births at the competent German registry office before your child’s first birthday. This deadline is also deemed to have been met if the application is received by the competent German mission abroad within the one-year period.

All the information you need regarding applying to register your child’s birth can be found here.

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?