Citizenship Law

A State is in the legal sense only a state when it has besides a territory also state power and a nation. The nationality (in German law also "citizenship") is quasi the "membership" in a state.

The German nationality can legally binding be acquired by

1. birth, if a parent is a German
2. status (Article 116 I GG, mainly concerns German ressettlers from Eastern and Southern Europe)
3. option, if a child is born in Germany and one parent has for 8 years had his habitual legal residence in Germany.

This normalized option model in the new Citizenship Act (StAG) from the year 2000 allows many other migrants of 2. and 3 generation to also manifest their own integration even outward through the German nationality. However, no double nationality is allowed permanently, so that such persons on completing their 18th birthday and before completing their 23rd birthday must declare whether they want to keep the German or foreign nationality.

Nationality can also be obtained upon request. In the now reformed naturalisation procedures those wanting to naturalise are subject to more challenging requirements (solid language skills, knowledge of German culture, history, politics, secure livelihood), which are also demanded. In the near future participation in a naturalization course will be mandatory.

The German nationality can also be lost in many ways, for example, through adoption by foreigners, renunciation, not opting, admission to foreign armed forces and especially the acquisition of another nationality upon request with some EU citizens exceptions.

If you want to or must acquire or renunciate the German citizenship, as a spouse or child you are seeking to acquire a German or foreign nationality, want to emigrate, have problems with passport issuance or would like just information on the opportunities, rights and obligations pertaining to nationality, we can help you taking into account family, inheritance and foreigner aspects.