Well take care of everything from eligibility checks to the application process so that you can enjoy your German passport as soon as possible. We couldnt stress the importance of making sure youre eligible to apply, but if youre absolutely sure and have connected all of the historical dots, youre now ready to lodge the actual citizenship application. Please note that children born abroad to a German parent born abroad after 31 December 1999 must have their birth registered before their first birthday in order to acquire German citizenship. You can check your eligibility for German citizenship by descent through their online form. You can do so at your nearest German embassy or German consulate, as well as in the country itself. If you got adopted by a non-German and youre not legally related to your German parents, you lost your German citizenship. If a German citizen had their permanent residence abroad more than ten years before 1914, they automatically lost their German citizenship unless they registered themselves in Konsulatsmatrikel or continued to apply for passports. The Worlds Easiest Citizenships and Passports for 2022, 7 Easy Back Pocket Residence Permits in Europe, How to Get Cambodian Citizenship: the Weird Investment Program, The 2022 North Macedonia Citizenship By Investment Program, Why Chilean Citizenship is the Swiss Army Knife Passport. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. More information on birth registration can be found here. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". His daughter Klara is born there on 1 February 2000.

But things can get tricky when it comes to grandparents and especially great-grandparents. However, it all boils down to the power of the German passport its currently ranked as the 14th, Not only does it pack a punch when it comes to visa-free travel but it also gives you free access to all of, If you just claim your citizenship in Germany and do not become its, Thats because Germany, unlike the United States, uses the tax-friendly system of.

You will probably have acquired German citizenship. Should you decide to proceed with us, we provide you with linguistic, administrative and legal support and navigate through German regulations on your behalf. They can be re-naturalized if certain conditions are met. This special provision mostly includes Jews but can apply to many other people too. You are considered German only if you would have become stateless otherwise. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences.

Direct descendants of individuals listed above. If you are the direct descendant (child or grandchild) of someone who fits in the following categories, you can apply for German citizenship by descent: Although the acquisition of German citizenship by descent is possible, the criteria can be very confusing.

Please check the cases below and refer to the section that applies to your individual case. For example, those who lost their German citizenship because they were from the political parties that opposed the Nazi government (e.g., Communist or Social Democratic parties) can also qualify. German citizenship can be acquired by descent, although it is not always acquired automatically by descent. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". They have years of experience in German immigration law and will increase your chances of a successful application. Descendants of these individuals are also eligible for German citizenship. Here at Nomad Capitalist, we often recommend building your Weve advised our clients on more than 100 citizenship options, from often-overlooked ancestry programs, to fast-tracked investment options, and even exclusive programs for HNWIs. For more information, please go to Passports. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. German Americans are the, largest of the self-reported ancestry groups in the United States. All three generations that came before you could be German citizens, as would you. Thats where eligibility requirements come in. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. My father was German at the time of my birth. The economic powerhouse of Europe and, indeed, the world, Germany, and its people have been through a lot historically speaking. If so, please let us know on one of our social media platforms, such as our Facebook page. In certain cases, German nationality law allows its citizens-to-be to have or acquire additional citizenships. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If youve ever thought that you should dig around your familys past and find out exactly where your ancestors come from, you could also be inadvertently doing the foundational work for claiming citizenship by descent. Your ancestor is likely to have been a German citizen if he or she was: Maybe, but it is often complicated. You are the direct descendant (child or grandchild) of one of the individuals listed above. For example, if you do business in Europe and would love to spend more than the 90 days youre currently allowed to spend in the Schengen zone at a time, then a German passport would be extremely beneficial to you. The rules for reclaiming citizenship for victims of persecution during the Second World War were also eased. That said, you will most likely need to renounce all of your other citizenships if you want to get a German passport and take advantage of all its benefits. You lost your German citizenship through legitimization (i.e. To sum it up, if you voluntarily apply for and accept some other nationality for example, by way of.

You must prove you do not have convictions to imprisonment or youth sentences of two or more years or have been subject to preventive detention. The Berlin Holocaust Memorial represents a supposedly orderly system that has lost touch with human reason. In the case of children, residency established after 30 January 1933 is also eligible.

However, this is more of an exception than a rule, so dont count on it when it comes to building your global passport portfolio if youre an aspiring or an existing Nomad Capitalist. Various countries around the world allow people to claim citizenship this way, but most of them are located in Europe. German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups in the United States. to legally reduce their tax bills, diversify and protect their assets, invest overseas, obtain a second citizenship, and live a more free life globally. It's free. How do you determine that your ancestors were German citizens? It can take as long as two or even three years to hear back about your citizenship status in Germany. Children that fall into this category may acquire German nationality retroactively from birth if their parents register the birth with the German authorities before the childs first birthday. My mother was German at the time of my birth. The German government processing times for citizenship applications outside of Germany have increased to over two years,therefore we feel unable to provide new clients with the service that we would want to. Germany is one of the top countries in the world with the highest quality of life. Want to have a holiday villa in Corsica to spend your summers in? With all the free public services come the taxes, of course. You got it. Proof of possession or loss of German citizenship (if applicable). However, thats not before we weigh up the impact that this additional citizenship would have on their lifestyle and wealth management choices. Foreign women who married a German citizen between 1 April 1914 and 31 March 1953 automatically acquired German citizenship. No suitable keywords found. Italian Citizenship Through Descent, Marriage or Naturalisation, Slovenian Citizenship Through Descent or Naturalisation, Spanish Citizenship Through Descent (Sephardic Jews), Department of Education and Training Early Start Kindergarten, LiverWELL Incorporating Hepatitis Victoria, Department of Education and Training The Premiers Reading Challenge, Neami National Intake Multi-language mental health campaign, HeadtoHelp Poster, banner and social ad, Australian Muslim Womens Centre for Human Rights Childrens Book Being Muslim, Being Me, KIDS Foundation Multilingual SeeMore Bug Safety Booklets, Womens Health in the North & Northern Integrated Family Violence Services, Access Health & Community Community Health Service Resources, COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) Kit Instructions, NSW Refugee Health Service Mental Health Resources, Family Planning Victoria Sexual Health Resources. Your ancestors had their citizenship taken away under the Nazi rule on political, racial, or religious grounds in 1938 (more on this in the section below), Your ancestors were born in German territory before 1914, have held German passports in the past, or were employed by the German government before 1949, You were born before 1975 as the legitimate child of a German citizen father, You were born after 1975 as the legitimate child of a German parent whether a German father or German mother, You were born after June 1993 as an out of wedlock (illegitimate) child of a German citizen father and paternity was proven before you turned 23. Thats because Germany, unlike the United States, uses the tax-friendly system of territorial taxation. Germany isnt the most liberal of places when it comes to its citizens holding additional citizenships. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So, here are a few things you should consider when it comes to German citizenship by descent. Did you know that if you have German ancestry, you might be eligible for German citizenship and an EU passport? You might be right. Please enter your complete search term. In essence, you can reclaim your German citizenship by descent if: The laws of German citizenship are strict, so if your scenario isnt one thats set out above, its highly unlikely that youre eligible to apply.

For example, lets imagine you had a German great-grandfather who arrived in the United States, then had your grandfather, who later had your father. Every citizenship in the world has its pros and its cons, and German citizenship is no different. Before you make any such move for instance, obtaining an additional citizenship or moving abroad to reside in a foreign country you should weigh up both sides. Dont limit yourself; let Nomad Capitalists unbiased approach help you find the best option. We hope that the information above was useful. Not only would you be regaining what is your birthright, but you can also work, live, study, and even retire in Germany. Individuals who surrendered or lost their German residency provided that residency was established before 30 January 1933. This site uses cookies in order to provide you with the best possible service. You were born before 1975 as the legitimate child of a German citizen father. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. German minorities in central and eastern Europe may also have received German citizenship under certain circumstances during the Second World War. Under these rules, individuals who between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945 surrendered, lost or were denied German citizenship due to political, racial or religious persecution are entitled to German citizenship.

This includes: You have to apply for German citizenship by descent at the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence. This website uses cookies; some may have already been set. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

Foreign women who married a German citizen between 1 April 1953 and 31 December 1969 could have acquired German citizenship under certain conditions. To do this, they must apply to the competent registry office in Germany or to the competent German mission abroad to have the birth of their child included in the register of births. Your German mother married your foreign father after you were born, so you and your mother lost your German citizenship.

Children born abroad do not acquire German nationality by birth if their German parent(s) were themselves born abroad after 31 December 1999 and at the time of the childs birth were ordinarily resident abroad, provided such children acquire another nationality upon birth. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Whenever a free citizenship is on the table, we will generally advise our clients to take it. You were born out of wedlock before July 1993 to a German father and foreign mother. Although technically, Germany does not allow dual citizenship, if you obtain German citizenship by declaration (as a descendant) you do not need to give up your current nationality. Sound like your cup of tea? I was born before 1 January 1975. Individuals who were excluded from applying for naturalization, despite being eligible for citizenship.

Thats why weve established our new, all-inclusive service where well do all of the work for you. A child born in Germanyon or after1 January 2000 to non-German parents may acquire German citizenship under certain conditions: At least one of the foreign parents must have been permanently resident in Germany for at least eight years and for children born on or after 28 August 2007 the parent must also possess indefinite leave to remain in Germany. Not only does it pack a punch when it comes to visa-free travel but it also gives you free access to all of the European Union and everything that it has to offer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ethnic Germans (Aussiedler and Sptaussiedler), granted a German passport (not being an aliens passport), or. This program allows many of the descendants of the Germans who left the country under no good circumstances to have a chance to become European citizens. From our experience in guiding clients through getting citizenship by ancestry in multiple European countries, we recommend consulting a professional to save you all the headaches and a lot of time. After April 1st, 1953, German women marrying foreign citizens was no longer a reason for losing German citizenship. Germany isnt the most liberal of places when it comes to its citizens holding additional citizenships. The benefits of obtaining German citizenship by descent are countless. Your time in the European Union will be unlimited, and youll be free to not just reside but also legally work anywhere in the region too. Citizens of the former German Democratic Republic are usually considered citizens of the reunited Federal Republic of Germany as well. If you probably acquired German citizenship automatically, you can book a passport appointment. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. To ensure that everything is in order with your application, you can give power of attorney to immigration lawyers, like the ones at Schlun & Elseven. These amendments will be of benefit to you if: If you are the child or grandchild of someone listed above, you may also be eligible for German citizenship by descent. In order to obtain German nationality for the child, Klara or the father would have to apply to the competent registry office in Germany or to the competent German mission abroad to register the birth of their child. Comprehensive information on acquiring German citizenship. Did you know you could be eligible for acquiring German citizenship even if youve never visited the country and do not speak the German language at all? Her son is born in the US on 1 January 2020. In essence you can reclaim your German citizenship by descent if: document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Proof of acquiring or possessing other citizenships (if applicable). . , you can enrich not just your personal life but also your wealth management options too. German women who married a foreign citizen between May 23, 1949, and May 23, 1953 lost their German citizenship if they did not have another citizenship. Known worldwide as a country of punctuality and order, it also does a great job of keeping you informed as to whats happening at all times. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Starting from August 2021, the Fourth Act Amending the German Nationality Act came into force. This type of citizenship is granted to the direct descendants of a countrys national who has since moved to a different country or isnt even alive anymore. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. It does not store any personal data. Only in certain cases does the German law allow people to hold more than one citizenship. Processing Time for German Citizenship by Descent, Cost of Declaring German Citizenship by Descent, check your eligibility for German citizenship by descent through their online form, If you were born between January 1, 1914, and December 31, 1974, If you were born between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1974. Starting August 2021, children born after May 23, 1949, to a German parent but were excluded from German citizenship due to gender-discriminatory rules can now claim German citizenship. If you have obtained foreign citizenship, your German citizenship is automatically lost. Many people whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Germany qualify for German citizenship through descent. All cases are reviewed by the Schlun & Elseven immigration lawyers. If you got adopted by a non-German and youre not legally related to your German parents, you lost your German citizenship. Your German mother married your foreign father before you were born and had to give up her German nationality so she couldnt pass it to you. Certificate of name change (if applicable). We wont lie the citizenship by descent process gets tricky at times. To determine if you might be eligible, you should be able to answer the following question positively: Had your ancestor in question not been deprived of his/her German citizenship, would you a direct descendant have acquired citizenship by birth according to the applicable German citizenship law? From the moment you submit your completed application to the Federal Office of Administration, it will take between two to three years to receive your certificate of German citizenship. If you would prefer the site to not use cookies at all then please block or otherwise disable cookies in your web browser, though you may find that this prevents certain parts of the site from working correctly. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. German universities are some of the top universities in the world. The Future of Holocaust Remembrance: British and German Voices 75 Years after the End of the Shoah, III. Here are some of the benefits of having German citizenship: Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | About Us, Complete guide to becoming a German citizen through descent, who qualifies, documents required, and FAQs, Residence Permit Issued on Humanitarian Grounds, Germany Healthcare System and Health Insurance, Eligibility Criteria for German Citizenship by Descent, New Rules for German Citizenship by Descent (August 2021). Although the process can take a few years, its pretty inclusive and straightforward too. Germanys tax environment is quite unfavorable to the high-net-worth Nomad Capitalist, but as always, there are multiple legal ways around it. Germany is part of the European Union, so German citizens can work and live in. If you just claim your citizenship in Germany and do not become its tax resident, you wont be liable to pay any tax. Individuals who surrendered or lost their German citizenship before 26 February 1955 (e.g. The family returns some years later to Germany.

Its not always easy, but it is the most important part of the entire citizenship by descent process. German passports are considered one of the most valuable in the world as they offer visa-free travel to 177 countries.

However, a child who missed out on citizenship could potentially obtain citizenship by restoration or discretionary naturalisation. There are numerous benefits to having German citizenship, way too many to list here. If you are eligible, we can provide you with a no-obligation quote. Are you familiar with the notion that you should know where you come from in order to know where youre going? Germany allows people to apply on the basis of their parent(s), grandparent(s), or great-grandparents ancestry. Proof of impunity. The new rules to the German Nationality Act also include facilitation for German citizenship to Nazi victims and their descendants. Citizenship by descent helps one reclaim citizenship thats rightfully theirs but, due to various circumstances, has been lost throughout the years. How Can I Apply for German Citizenship by Descent? After 1975 it could be passed down by both male and female ancestors. Individuals who were excluded from legally acquiring German citizenship via marriage, legitimization or collective naturalization of persons of German ethnic origin. This means you can live, work and study in any of the 28 EU member countries with no restrictions. They can be re-naturalized if certain conditions are met. you have attended school in Germany for six years. Germany is a very old country, with a rich history there are more than 20,000 castles countrywide. Germans are stereotyped as people who love punctuality, order, and stability. For more information, please see the information sheet below. To ensure that your document package is complete, you can consult with your immigration lawyers at Schlun & Elseven. But first, youll need to work through your family tree, determine if youre eligible to apply, take care of the extensive paperwork, and play the waiting game. The documents vary on a case-by-case basis, but include: You have to submit original documents or notarized copies, of yourself and all your ancestors. Thats exactly why you should spend the most time establishing your eligibility to avoid disappointment a few years down the line. Thank you so much for handling my application for U.K citizenship so efficiently and seamlessly. It does not matter if your ancestor emigrated from Germany well before 1933. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You were born before 1975 and did not acquire German citizenship because prior to your birth, your German mother married your foreign father (and consequently had to forfeit her German nationality). For this reason, it is sometimes possible for German citizenship to be passed down through many generations. Applying for citizenship by descent under the Restoration of German Citizenship program follows the same application process as do the other routes of citizenship by descent in Germany. For more information about how this website uses cookies please read the following page: Privacy Policy. is on the table, we will generally advise our clients to take it. Andrew Henderson wrote the #1 best-selling book that redefines life as a diversified,global citizen in the 21st century and how you can join the movement. If you believe you are entitled to German citizenship, you can contact the immigration lawyers at Schlun & Elseven. Generally, before 1975 citizenship was passed down via male ancestors only. Top-notch healthcare, education, and industry are some of the most valued things about Germany. Before you make any such move for instance, obtaining. Do you have German ancestry that you think could make you eligible to apply for German citizenship? I certainly wish to commend you and all at Passportia, who have been most obliging, helpful and thoroughly professional in dealing with this matter. If you have an ancestor who was a German, then you may be eligible to obtain German citizenship by descent. Keep in mind that this only applies to cases where one was persecuted based on political, racial, or religious grounds, and had to flee the country. Not only are the people who directly lost their citizenship eligible to apply but also their descendants. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. As we already mentioned, you could be eligible if your parent(s), grandparent(s), or great-grandparent(s) are/were German citizens. Founder of Nomad Capitalist and the worlds most sought-after expert on global citizenship.

Theyll be able to, pretty much for free. Copyright 2012-2022, Nomad Capitalist Limited. The German Federal Office of Administration (BVA) will inform you of any additional documents you have to submit before they process your application. CareersPartner With UsBecome A VendorBook Us For SpeakingRequest An InterviewSocial Responsibility, ExpatFinanceOffshoreGlobal CitizenEntrepreneurCryptocurrency, ABOUT CONTACT +1 (979) 966-6623. Its relatively quick, and its definitely many times cheaper than obtaining, Do you have German ancestry that you think could make you eligible to apply for German citizenship? if you want to get a German passport and take advantage of all its benefits. Although his mother is German, he does not acquire German nationality by birth, since he acquires US citizenship by virtue of being born in the US. We create and implement bespoke, holistic strategies for successful investors and entrepreneurs. or moving abroad to reside in a foreign country you should weigh up both sides. You must have all the required documents before you submit your German citizenship by descent application. There are no administrative or processing fees for acquiring German citizenship by descent.

You will probably not have acquired German citizenship automatically, but you might be eligible for discretionary naturalisation. Luckily, Germanys citizenship by descent process is one of the most straight-forward ones out there. Luckily, Germany is a pretty great country to have ancestry in and from which to obtain citizenship by descent. you hold a school-leaving certificate or have completed vocational training in Germany. Get our best ideas and latest updates to your inbox. However, it all boils down to the power of the German passport its currently ranked as the 14th most powerful passport in the world (2022). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.