How to Obtain German Citizenship By Descent

As you navigate the streets of Berlin, the contrast between the old and the new is striking. Historical landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag stand as silent reminders of Germany’s tumultuous past, while modern structures such as the Bahntower and Shell-Haus signal a constantly evolving nation.

But the real story of Berlin isn’t in its buildings; it’s in its people.

The Nomad Capitalist experience has shown that, contrary to the stereotype of Germans being distant, the community is warm and authentic. Both personal and business connections embrace this spirit, making the exploration of German heritage a personal journey rather than just a bureaucratic process.

Many people of German extraction are already deeply engaged in exploring this heritage. In the United States alone, the 2020 census revealed almost 45 million people claimed full or partial German ancestry, making it the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups in the United States.

So the pursuit of German roots is common, as people find themselves drawn to search for a connection to a land where history seamlessly melds with innovation.

And as Germany continues to blend its rich history with a progressive future, the Nomad Capitalist team has delved into the complexities of the Citizenship-by-Descent (CBD) program. This particular CBD journey can be rewarding but is also frustrating to the point of being overwhelming, rooted as it is in personal exploration but laced with legal intricacies.

Still, even bureaucratic Everests can be scaled, so consider us your CBD sherpas. We’ve already helped more than 1500 clients go where they’re treated best by crafting a plan which ensures a smooth transition to a future full of personal and professional opportunities.

We can do the same for you.

If you have German ancestors and are considering whether citizenship in your ancestral land is a good idea, let us help you make a well-informed decision that serves your best interests.

Having a second citizenship can enhance your personal life, wealth-building, asset management, and investment opportunities. A German passport – the sixth-best travel document in the world according to Nomad Capitalist’s Passport Index – can open doors to opportunities you never knew existed.

The first step is to understand the ins and outs of Germany’s CBD program to determine if it’s right for you. Obtaining citizenship by descent is often quicker and more affordable than securing European citizenship by investment (CBI).

But the process is extensive. It involves researching your family tree, confirming your eligibility, handling extensive paperwork and then waiting for approval. From our extensive experience guiding clients through citizenship by ancestry in various European countries, we know that this process can quickly become complex and frustrating.

That’s why we offer our citizenship-by-descent service. We handle everything from eligibility checks to the application process, ensuring you can enjoy your German passport as soon as possible. Set up a call with us today to secure your Tier-A European passport.

What is Citizenship by Descent?

Citizenship by descent is granted to people who can prove that their bloodline connects them to a particular foreign country. In most instances, the key to obtaining CBD is demonstrating ancestral ties directly connecting the applicant to their motherland. Every nation applies this system differently, with some being more selective than others, but establishing ancestral ties is the basic rule.

For example, let’s imagine you had a great-grandfather from Germany who came to the United States. After he arrived, he had a son who, in turn, fathered your own dad. In this scenario, all three generations could claim German citizenship.

And, most importantly, so could you. 

Citizenship by descent helps an individual reclaim a citizenship that’s rightfully theirs but that they lost over the years due to varying circumstances. Multiple countries around the world, many in Europe, allow people to claim citizenship this way. 

German Citizenship by Ancestry

Germany is one of several countries that offer the members of its diaspora the opportunity to get citizenship through ancestry. 

The program is not as well-known as the programs in Italy or Ireland, but it still attracts quite a few applicants every year.

Germany allows people to apply based on the ancestry of their parent(s), grandparent(s) or great-grandparent(s). 

Demonstrating your connection to your parents should be easy for most. But things can get tricky when it comes to grandparents, even more so when it comes to great-grandparents.

How To Get German Citizenship by
Descent

How do you determine that your ancestors were German citizens? How can you uncover the paper trail that connects you to the modern country of Germany? It’s not always easy, but it is the most fundamental part of the entire citizenship-by-descent process. 

Before applying or beginning the application process, ensure you’ve thoroughly established your right to citizenship. As touched on briefly above, this entails recreating your family tree and providing evidence for each of your ancestral claims and ties. 

In other words, this process involves more than simply setting up an account on Ancestry.com and making a family tree copied from another user. You must demonstrate how you’re related to these ancestors and provide supporting documentation for each claim.

Eligibility Requirements for German CBD

Did you know you could be eligible for German citizenship even if you’ve never visited the country and can’t speak the language?

As previously indicated, you could be eligible if your parent(s), grandparent(s) or great-grandparent(s) are/were German citizens. 

However, citizenship is not always automatically passed down. That’s where eligibility requirements come in. 

German citizenship by descent can be claimed if any of the following conditions are met: 

• German citizenship is earned and passed down primarily through ancestry from a German parent 
• If you were born after January 1, 1975 to married parents, and one of your parents (mother or father) was a German citizen at the time of your birth.

Disqualifications include the following scenario: 

• The parent must be a German citizen at the time of the child’s birth. That means if your parent became a naturalised citizen of another country before you were born, then you are not eligible. Children born to former German citizens are generally not granted German citizenship.

Paternal Line:

• If you were born between January 1, 1914 and December 31, 1974, to married parents, and your father was a German citizen at the time of your birth
• You were born out of wedlock to a German father and a foreign mother before July 1993.

Maternal Line: 

• If you were born after January 1, 1914 to unmarried parents, and your mother was German at the time of your birth.
• If you were born between January 1, 1914 and January 1, 1975 and did not acquire German citizenship because your German mother married your foreign father before your birth (and consequently had to forfeit her German nationality), you can reclaim your citizenship. This is valid only until 2031. 

Claiming citizenship through your maternal lineage is a little more complicated and there are several notable obstacles that could impede your ability to claim CBD in Germany:

• If you were born between January 1, 1964 and December 31, 1974 to married parents, and your mother was German, but your father was not, you can’t gain German citizenship through your mother.  Women at this time who married a foreigner lost their German citizenship and couldn’t pass it on to their children. 

The conservative and tradition-based laws that governed Germany from the early to mid-1900s meant that German women could easily lose their citizenship. Since citizenship was passed from the father to the child, the child would not gain German citizenship if a German child was born to a man holding foreign citizenship.

Children Born to Unmarried Parents

Those born to unmarried parents can still claim citizenship if the following requirements are met: 

• If you were born to unmarried parents after July 1, 1993 and your father was a German citizen who established paternity in accordance with German law
• If you were born after January 1, 1914 to unmarried parents and your mother was German at the time of your birth
• If you were born to unmarried parents prior to July 1, 1993 and your father was a German citizen who established paternity and you declared German citizenship by your 23rd birthday
• You were born between January 1, 1914 and June 30, 1998 to unmarried parents but your parents married after you were born.

Germany has strict citizenship laws, so if your scenario isn’t set out above, it’s doubtful that you’re eligible to apply. For example, children born to former German citizens are not granted German citizenship by the German nationality law. 

If you’re unsure whether your case qualifies you for Germany’s citizenship-by-descent process, it’s probably best to speak to a local lawyer. Germany does offer alternative citizenship routes, so if you don’t qualify for CBD, consider a different method, such as citizenship by naturalisation. 

The Restoration of the German Citizenship Program

Let’s talk about the first scenario in more detail. 

Germany offers a special restoration program for those who lost citizenship for political, racial or religious reasons. This program applies to those who lost citizenship between May 8, 1945 and January 30, 1993 due to this persecution and, no prizes for guessing, is essentially a legacy of Germany’s Nazi past. 

Those of Jewish ancestry are the primary beneficiaries of this program, but it also applies to other groups who suffered under Nazi rule. It isn’t limited to racial quotas either. German people who suffered because of their opposition to Hitler’s Nazi party can also apply to regain citizenship. This applies to those who directly lost their citizenship and their descendants. 

To qualify for this program, you must meet the following criteria: 

• You could claim citizenship through lineage if your ancestor lost their citizenship through persecution.
• Your ancestor was a victim of persecution on religious, political or racial grounds. If they fled the country due to this persecution and lost their citizenship, they have a right to reclaim German citizenship through restoration.

The same process applies to applicants following the restoration route as any citizenship by descent application. But the citizenship must first be restored before you can claim citizenship by descent through this ancestor.

Germany’s Citizenship-by-Descent Application Process 

Germany is well-known for its punctuality and efficiency, a national trait that permeates its citizenship-by-descent program. 

Unlike the infamously bureaucratic systems of Poland and Italy, Germany’s system is more straightforward and practical than its European counterparts. So, it’s unlikely you’ll have to deal with constant foot-dragging and slow processes faced by applicants in many other European nations.

That said, even though the country has clearly set out the criteria for citizenship applications and it’s unlikely you’ll face repeated demands from bureaucrats for more paperwork, the process is still lengthy. All in all, you can expect to wait between 2–3 years before hearing back about your citizenship application. 

This seems as good a juncture as any to again stress the importance of ensuring you’re eligible to apply before you actually do so. But if you’ve connected all of your historical dots and are sure you meet the requirements, then you’re ready to take the first step.

That will generally bring you to your nearest German embassy or consulate.

Required Documents for German Citizenship 

The documents that you need for the certificate of citizenship include:

• Your birth certificate
• The birth certificate of the relevant ancestor
• A pedigree chart – a recorded ancestry or lineage of your family
• The marriage certificate of the applicant (you), if applicable
• The marriage certificate of the relevant ancestor
• Family books, a form of German record that’s a booklet which denotes the relationships within a family
• Foreign personal documents (passport, identity card alien card)
• Applicant’s residence permit in the country of residence, if applicable
• Documents concerning the non-acquisition of another foreign nationality, if applicable
• Proof of the acquisition/possession of other nationalities, if applicable
• Name change documents, if applicable

You will also need to complete an Appendix V form for every generation of your family until you get to a relative who:

• Possesses/possessed a certificate of nationality issued by a German authority
• Was born in Germany before 1914 or was a German citizen who emigrated from Germany before that date
• Acquired German nationality by any other way than descent (for example, through marriage or adoption).

The Pros and Cons of German Citizenship 

Before making the bold move to apply for German citizenship, you should consider the costs and benefits. 

Germany is a beautiful nation with stunning natural beauty and welcoming people. But change can be challenging and you might initially find a stark cultural contrast to your home country.

That contrast can cut both ways, though, and cultural difference is precisely what some people seek. As with just about everything to do with this nomadic lifestyle we seek, it all depends on the individual and their preferences. We’ll dive into some of the pros and cons to help you determine if it’s right for you. 

Benefits

The main benefit of German citizenship is its powerful passport. It’s currently one of the strongest passports in the world. Not only does it pack a punch when it comes to visa-free travel, but it also gives you free access to the entire European Union and everything it offers, from business to art, from sport to culture. 

That means, for example:

• Want your children to study art in France? They’ll be able to, pretty much for free. 
• Want to have a holiday villa in Corsica to spend your summers in? You got it. 

With a German passport, your time in the European Union will be unlimited and you’ll be free not just to reside but also to work legally anywhere in the region. 

That’s why it’s also a great Plan B. 

Germany has a vast, stable economy which could be a great alternative if you feel your homeland’s economy starting to trundle downhill. 

It also boasts top-notch healthcare, education and a continually evolving and expanding industrial sector. And these are just some of the most valuable aspects of Germany – we haven’t even mentioned the locals yet. 

While some national stereotypes are true – Germans do value punctuality and mutual respect – you don’t have to spend a lot of time here to dispense with others. A weekend in Germany is more than enough time to discover that Germans are very warm and welcoming and, in most cases, very unlike their reputation for being cold and, well, Germanic. 

Drawbacks

Germany greatly values free or affordable public services. While these services are wonderful, they also come with a price. The price? Germany’s tax rate is rather intense, and citizens end up paying large sums every year. 

Germany’s tax environment is quite unfavourable to high-net-worth individuals, but there are legal ways around it. If you claim your citizenship in Germany but don’t become a tax resident, you won’t be liable to pay any tax.

Just be aware that you can become a tax resident by either remaining in the nation for six months out of a year or having an abode in Germany that is regularly available to you. This includes a rented apartment or even something as small as a friend’s room, which is made available to you. 

Remember, when it comes to taxes and whether or not you need to worry about paying them, the burden of proof lies on your shoulders.

However, if you ultimately decide to move to Germany long term, be prepared for personal income tax that climbs all the way up to 45% and corporate tax rates of 15%, plus many other miscellaneous taxes and levies.

Then, there is the case of dual citizenship. Germany isn’t a very open country when it comes to German citizens holding dual citizenship. Germany only allows dual citizenship in particular scenarios.

Specifically, children born to a German and a non-German parent can acquire the nationalities of both parents at the time of birth. In other cases, Germans can apply to be considered for dual nationality, which would technically allow them to acquire some other citizenship while retaining their German citizenship.

However, this is more of an exception than a rule, so don’t count on it when it comes to building your global passport portfolio.

Having said all of the above, it’s worth remembering that while Germany’s tax code might be less favourable to those hoping to save on their annual tax bill, it does offer many public services not available in other nations. 

It all comes down to what you’re after and what you value more. Is affordable, high-quality schooling and healthcare worth the high tax rates to you? Then Germany is an excellent choice.  If you’re also hoping to save on annual taxes, then Germany may not be your best option. 

How to Obtain German Citizenship by Descent: FAQs

Is German Citizenship by Descent Worth It?

Whenever free citizenship is on the table, we generally advise our clients to take it, though not before we help them weigh up the impact that this additional citizenship might have on their lifestyle and wealth management choices. 

Luckily, Germany is a superb country to have ancestry in and from which to obtain citizenship by descent. Although the process can take a few years, it’s inclusive and straightforward.

Ultimately, a German passport will absolutely be worthwhile if you’ve always dreamt of having European citizenship but have never had the means of getting one by investment. That’s invaluable for an entrepreneur who does business in Europe and would love to spend more than 90 days there. 

Getting citizenship by descent is the cheapest way to get a second passport, but it’s not the most direct. Gathering relevant documents can take years, and the governments usually aren’t in a hurry to process your application either. As for dual citizenship – that will depend greatly on your nationality and ancestry.

However, for some people, a tier-A EU passport will be worth all the effort.

If that’s you, set up a call with our team today to discuss your situation and discover if you’re eligible for second citizenship in Europe.