Whether you’re seeking German citizenship by descent via great-grandparent or a more direct ancestor, you’ll need to know how to prove ancestry for citizenship. Depending on the conditions of your lineage, the required documentation varies.
Below, we cover the forms required for those seeking German citizenship through ancestry and the process to eventually obtain a German passport and start a life in Germany.
Proving German Ancestry for Citizenship
Since the Act to Modernize Citizenship Law in Germany in 2024, application procedures have been updated. In addition to completing the application form, applicants must show documented proof of German ancestry, proof of identity, a clear criminal record, and proof of payment.
Additionally, all foreign documents must be officially translated into German language and legalized or apostilled, according to German law.
German Ancestry by Direct Descent
In addition to providing a valid passport or national ID, direct descent applicants must provide foreign documents certifying descent.
You must show proof of your German ancestry with a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other qualifying document. You must also provide a criminal record certificate, which generally must be clean, though certain exceptions apply. Additionally, applicants must show proof of application payment, proof of language proficiency and integration, and a completed Certificate of Citizenship application.
Applicants whose foreign parents were born abroad but hold German ancestry may still qualify under jus sanguinis, the principle of bloodline descent established by German nationality law and reaffirmed by the Law on Nationality.
Descendants of German Victims of Nazi-Era Citizenship Deprivation
If you’re applying through a grandparent or further back in your German lineage, you must apply as a descendant of an individual who lost citizenship due to Nazi-era persecution. Specifically, Article 116 of Germany’s Basic Law states that former German citizens who lost German citizenship under the Nazi-regime for religious, racist, or political reasons and now reside abroad can apply for naturalization.
In addition to the aforementioned documents for direct descent applicants, you must provide a completed repatriation application. The repatriation application, provided by the Federal Office of Administration in Germany, is used to prove that an applicant’s ancestor has met the criteria of Nazi-era persecution, as outlined in Section 15 of the Law on Nationality.
Note that applicants seeking German citizenship based on Nazi-era persecution criteria do not have to show proof of language proficiency or a Residence permit in Germany.
Where Do Documents Get Submitted?
German citizenship applications must be submitted in person. Applicants in Germany will send documents through local authorities such as the Residents’ Registration Office in your jurisdiction. You can find out which office you’ll deal with based on your municipality in Germany by visiting the site of Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior. The German Citizenship Office is used for matters of naturalization and citizenship confirmation.
When applying from abroad, applicants will deal with the German embassy or consulates. In the United States, there are nine consulate jurisdictions in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and San Francisco. The German embassy is responsible for processing applications, verifying authenticity, and forwarding them to the appropriate German government authorities.
Moving Forward with Your Application
Obtaining a German passport is not only a legal process but also a gateway to life in Germany, offering rights and freedoms within the EU. By understanding the nuances of German citizenship law, German nationality law, and procedures through the German embassy, applicants can better prepare for their journey toward citizenship under German law and the protections granted by Article 116 (2) of the Basic Law.
Interested in learning more about how to apply for German citizenship? Look out for our next blog post, and stay tuned for more on matters related to EU citizenship.