German Citizenship Can Pass Through Generations
Many people are surprised to discover that they may already have a right to German citizenship – even if they have never lived in Germany, never held a German passport, and have always considered themselves another countries nationality.
German citizenship can sometimes be passed down through your family, meaning you may have acquired German citizenship at birth without ever being aware of it.
Could I already be a German citizen?
The answer depends on your family history and the German nationality laws that applied when you and your ancestors were born.
You may have a claim if:
- One or both of your parents were German citizens when you were born
- You have a German parent, grandparent or earlier ancestor
- Your family left Germany before or during the Second World War due to Nazi persecution
- A German ancestor lost their citizenship because of Nazi persecution
- Your ancestor fled their main residence in Germany (established prior to 1933) due to Nazi persecution
- Your mother was German but could not pass citizenship to you under the gender discriminatory laws in force at the time
- Your family circumstances were affected by historic German nationality laws
Importantly, having a German ancestor does not automatically mean that you are a German citizen. The circumstances of each linking generation between you and the original German ancestor need to be carefully examined to establish whether German citizenship was passed down, lost or may now be restored.
What if I have never had a German passport?
That does not necessarily mean you are not German.
If German citizenship was passed down to you by your parent, for example, you may have been a German citizen from birth even though you have always held a British passport.
In these circumstances, the first step is usually to establish whether you are legally entitled to German citizenship. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve proving existing German citizenship, applying for citizenship by declaration, or pursuing a restoration route. Once German citizenship has been established or acquired, you can then apply for a German passport.
What about German citizenship through my grandparents?
This is one of the most common questions we receive.
Having a German grandparent can potentially be relevant, but it is necessary to trace the citizenship position through each linking generation.
For example, if your grandparent was German, we would need to establish whether your parent acquired German citizenship, whether they were able to pass it on to you or lost it.
Dates, family circumstances, marriages, naturalisations in other countries and changes in German nationality law can all be important.
It is not always enough to establish that your ancestor was born in Germany. Their citizenship status at the relevant time can be important, including whether they later acquired another nationality or otherwise lost German citizenship.
This is why researching the family line and relevant historical records from Germany’s state and national archives is often an important part of establishing eligibility.
What if my family left Germany because of Nazi persecution?
There are also specific provisions that can allow descendants of people who were persecuted by the Nazi regime and lost or were deprived of their German citizenship to acquire or restore German citizenship.
These cases can be complex, but they can provide an important route to German citizenship for descendants of affected families. (see pages detailing Article 116 GG and Section 15 StAG).
How can I find out if I am eligible?
The best place to start is with your family history.
Try to establish:
- Who your German ancestor was
- When and where they were born
- When they left Germany
- Whether and when they acquired another country’s citizenship
- The birth and marriage details of each generation between them and you
- Whether there are any family documents relating to German citizenship
Even if you don’t have this documentation, don’t assume that you are not eligible. Historical archival German records may be available, and, in some cases, missing documentation can be located as part of the research process. See here for GCR’s research service.
Could you be German without knowing it?
If you have a German parent, grandparent or earlier ancestor, it may be worth investigating your eligibility before assuming that German citizenship is out of reach.
At GCR, we can assess your family history and explain whether there may be a route for you to acquire, restore or establish German citizenship and, ultimately, obtain a German passport.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation, eligibility assessment to find out whether you may have a claim to German citizenship.