German Citizenship
There are two primary pathways to obtain German citizenship:
• Recognition of German citizenship by bloodline descent (§30 StAG and §5 StAG)
• Restitution or naturalization on grounds of historical justice for descendants of German citizens who were victims of the Nazi regime, as well as foreign nationals who resided in Germany between 1933 and 1945 and were similarly persecuted
The vast majority of descendants of Germans who emigrated in the late 19th and throughout the 20th century may be eligible. We will assess your eligibility at no cost.
The standard transmission of citizenship follows the regular nationality laws dating back to the late 19th century. Prior to 1975, citizenship was transmitted primarily by married German fathers. As of January 1, 1975, married German mothers with foreign-national spouses were also able to transmit citizenship to their children.
• Your father or mother was a German citizen and you were born anywhere in the world on or after January 1, 1975.
Available through August 2031. This pathway enables individuals who did not receive citizenship through the standard route to obtain it — specifically, children of married German women with foreign-national spouses born from May 1949 onward, and children of unmarried German fathers.
Example 2: Your father is German, your mother is not, and your parents were not married at the time of your birth.
Available to descendants of Jewish German citizens or foreign nationals who resided in Germany between 1933 and 1945 and were persecuted on racial, religious, or political grounds. The Nazi decree of November 21, 1941 stripped all Jewish people of their German nationality — these statutes serve as an act of historical justice.
§15 StAG: Your great-grandfather was a Jewish American citizen who emigrated in 1925 and naturalized in 1930; your grandmother was born prior to his naturalization → you are likely eligible.
§15 StAG: Your ancestor was a Jewish Polish citizen residing in Germany in 1934 who was persecuted or fled between 1933 and 1945 → their descendants are entitled to German citizenship.