I was born in Germany can I get citizenship?

If only the answer could be yes or no.

Instead, you have to understand the multiple pathways to German citizenship.

But don’t worry. In this article, we will clarify how you can determine if you qualify for German citizenship through birth.

Then, we’ll dive into the reasons why the answer is not so simple.

If you read this and think you might qualify for German citizenship, why not schedule a FREE consultation call with GDC? Our dual citizenship experts work every day to guide people through the rewarding but complex journey.

Who Is a German Citizen Based on Birth?

There are actually a few ways you can become a citizen this way:

 

  • Born to German Parents (Jus Sanguinis Principle): The most common way of acquiring German citizenship by birth is through descent. That’s granted to anyone with at least one parent who was a German citizen at the time of your birth—no matter where in the world you were born. That’s the heart of the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood).Sound like you? Check out our full guide here to apply by descent.

 

  • Born in Germany to Foreign Parents (Jus Soli Principle): Since 2000, German citizenship law has allowed children born in Germany to foreign parents to claim citizenship, provided certain conditions are met. For example, at least one parent must have been legally residing in Germany for at least eight years and must have a permanent residency permit. This approach reflects a modified version of jus soli (right of the soil), granting citizenship based on birth location under specific circumstances.

 

  • Children Born in Germany to Stateless Parents: In some ways, the German citizenship policy strives to protect people born here. Toward that effort, they will automatically grant citizenship to children born in the country whose parents are stateless. We’ve seen first hand how getting citizenship this way provides much need stability.

Focus on the Details

It’s all about details with German dual citizenship.

Are you looking to get it through citizenship through descent? That is typically an easy pathway compared to others. But the change in laws over the 20th century and even recently can add some headache-inducing complexity.

For instance, if you were born before 1975, you could only claim citizenship through the father, not the mother. This gender-based rule has since been abolished, and people who would have been citizens had this rule not been in place can get their citizenship restored. Once they’ve restored it, their children have a pathway to citizenship through descent.

If your German parents lost their citizenship before your birth (e.g., by voluntarily renouncing their nationality), you might not be eligible.

Children born to parents who regained German citizenship due to the 2021 amendment that restored rights to descendants of those persecuted during the Nazi era may now claim citizenship.

Help on Your Path

A lot of our clients come to us with less-than-straightforward claims to German citizenship. And we understand how this web of laws can be confusing at first, especially when you don’t have experts to help.

If you believe you qualify for German citizenship by birth or descent, scheduling a consultation with experts like GDC can simplify the process.

And who doesn’t like a simplified process?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there German citizenship through birth?

Only if one (or both) of your parents are German citizens at the time of birth. If not, you may still qualify, but it gets much more complicated from there. Check out all the pathways how to become a German citizen in this guide.