German nationality law
German citizenship is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis. In other words one usually acquires German citizenship if a parent is German, irrespective of place of birth.
Birth in Germany
In general, birth in Germany does not confer German citizenship if neither parent is German. However, children born on or after 1 January 2000 to non-German parents acquire German citizenship at birth if the parents:
- have permanent residence permits; and
- have been resident in Germany for at least 8 years
Such children must apply successfully to retain German citizenship by the age of 23. Normally they will be required to prove they do not hold any foreign citizenship.
Descent from a German Parent
Persons born to a parent who was a German citizen at the time of birth are usually German citizens on that basis. It does not matter whether they were born in Germany or not.
- those born before 1975 could normally only claim German citizenship from the father and not the mother
- in the future, those born outside Germany to a German parent who was also born outside Germany after 1999 will need to be registered as German citizens within 12 months of birth.
Persons who are Germans on the basis of descent from a German parent do not have to apply to retain German citizenship by age 23. If they acquire another citizenship at birth, they can usually continue to hold this.
Naturalisation as a German Citizen
German citizenship may be acquired by naturalisation by those with permanent residence who have lived in Germany for 8 years.
Applicants for naturalisation are normally expected to prove they have renounced their existing nationality, or will lose this automatically upon naturalisation.
Loss of German Citizenship
German citizenship is automatically lost when a German citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country. The exception is when permission to obtain a foreign citizenship has been applied for and granted in advance of foreign naturalisation.
Dual Citizenship
Although dual citizenship is restricted under German law, it can be held in limited circumstances:
- where a child born to German parents acquires another citizenship at birth (e.g based on place of birth, or descent from one parent)
- where a German citizen acquires a foreign nationality with the permission of the German government
- where a naturalised German citizen, or a child born to non-German parents in Germany, obtains permission to keep their foreign nationality