If you think you’re already German: a citizenship certificate
- Trace the lineWork out each generation back to your German ancestor, and when anyone became a citizen of another country. Our list of where the chain breaks helps.
- Gather the documentsBirth and marriage certificates for each generation, and proof your ancestor was German. See the document list.
- Fill out the formsThe Federal Office of Administration publishes the forms. From the US, it accepts copies and signatures certified by a notary public, so you don’t have to visit a consulate.
- Send and payThe fee for a citizenship certificate is €51.
- Keep the certificate safeIt proves you’re German for life. With it, you apply for a passport at your nearest German mission.
If old rules about mothers left you out: a declaration
If you were born in wedlock before 1975 to a German mother, or outside marriage before July 1993 to a German father, or your mother lost German citizenship by marrying before you were born, you can become German by declaration. You must have been born after May 23, 1949. It’s free, and the deadline is August 19, 2031. Apply to the Federal Office of Administration, directly or through a German mission.
If your family was persecuted by the Nazis: restoration
Under Article 116(2) of Germany’s Basic Law, people stripped of German citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 for political, racial or religious reasons, and their descendants, are entitled to have it back. A second law, section 15 of the Nationality Act, covers related cases. Applications go to the Federal Office of Administration. For section 15, applicants in the US need an FBI background check with an apostille.
Fees
| What | Fee |
|---|---|
| Citizenship certificate (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis) | €51 |
| Declaration under section 5, including consulate help | Free |
| Certifying copies or signatures at a German consulate | Free |
Passport fees are separate, and you pay them at the German mission when you apply.