Pathways to German Citizenship
Looking to apply for German citizenship?
GET STARTED
Benefits of German Citizenship
Once you acquire German citizenship, you have the right to apply for a German passport. You will also be entitled to all rights and obligations of a German citizen, such as:
The different options for naturalization are complex and depend on the circumstances of the individual case. Therefore, a careful consideration and legal examination is necessary for each person individually.
The lawyers from Fragomen's Frankfurt office will be happy to advise you on the requirements, the process and whether you qualify for German citizenship.
Discover your eligibility for German citizenship.
Get in touch
5 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
You may qualify for German citizenship if you or your ancestor was formerly German and citizenship was revoked, lost or renounced during the Nazi regime for political, racial or religious reasons. The descendants of this person can also apply for German citizenship.
Even if you or your ancestors were denied German citizenship during the Nazi regime, you could acquire it now.
During the legal review, the past must be looked at in detail. It is necessary to get a good overview of what happened at the time.
Please contact us for further information. We will be happy to take a deep dive into your family’s history and legally assess your options to become a German citizen.
Your ancestors lost their German citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 or had it revoked, gave it up or could not be naturalized at that time:
4 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
You hold German citizenship by birth if one parent was a German citizen at the time of your birth.
First, it needs to be legally reviewed whether your parent acquired citizenship by birth or at a later time; and second, whether your parent lost German citizenship due to certain circumstances at a later time.
In addition, the following aspects may also be relevant: civil status of the parents at the time of birth, automatic acquisition of another nationality, long stay abroad and many more.
This path therefore requires a precise legal analysis based on the applicable German citizenship law of the relevant years.
Please contact us for further information. We will be happy to take a deep dive into your family’s history and legally assess your options to become a German citizen.
If you have German ancestry:
3 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
As the spouse/registered partner of a German, you can apply for German citizenship when living in Germany for three years. You need to be married for at least two years and, besides other requirements, must have German language skills at level B1.
Minor children of a German spouse or registered partner can be naturalized even if they have not been in Germany for 3 years.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you are married to a German citizen:
2 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
You could qualify for German citizenship if you have been legally residing in Germany for 5 years, have a permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card or similar residence permit, your livelihood is secured and you have German language skills at level B1. Under certain circumstances, the required period of residence can be reduced to 3 years.
Spouses/registered partnerships and children can also be naturalized even if they have not been residing in Germany for 5 years.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you moved to Germany:
1 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
As a child of foreign parents, German citizenship can be acquired at birth in Germany if one parent has been legally residing in Germany for at least 5 years and has a permanent right of residence.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you were born in Germany:
Active or passive right to vote
EU freedom of movement
No forfeiture of your residence status
Access to civil servant status
Obtaining so-called basic German rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of occupation
Consular protection abroad
Visa freedom in many countries around the world
Get in touch
Please fill out the form for guidance on your individual circumstances.
PLEASE NOTE: Communications sent to us via email through our website are not secure and will not be regarded by us as confidential. Do not send information that you believe is confidential without first speaking with one of our professionals. Please see our Marketing Privacy Notice. By submitting your information to Fragomen via this form, you are giving consent for Fragomen to process your personal data as described in our Marketing Privacy Notice.
Once you acquire German citizenship, you have the right to apply for a German passport. You will also be entitled to all rights and obligations of a German citizen, such as:
Benefits of German Citizenship
Active or passive right to vote
EU freedom of movement
No forfeiture of your residence status
Access to civil servant status
Obtaining so-called basic German rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of occupation
Consular protection abroad
Visa freedom in many countries around the world
Looking to apply for German citizenship? Discover your eligibility.
Pathways to German Citizenship
Start now
5 of 5
You may qualify for German citizenship if you or your ancestor was formerly German and citizenship was revoked, lost or renounced during the Nazi regime for political, racial or religious reasons. The descendants of this person can also apply for German citizenship.
Even if you or your ancestors were denied German citizenship during the Nazi regime, you could acquire it now.
Please contact us for further information. We will be happy to take a deep dive into your family’s history and legally assess your options to become a German citizen.
Your ancestors lost their German citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 or had it revoked, gave it up or could not be naturalized at that time:
4 of 5
You hold German citizenship by birth if one parent was a German citizen at the time of your birth.
First, it needs to be legally reviewed whether your parent acquired citizenship by birth or at a later time; and second, whether your parent lost German citizenship due to certain circumstances at a later time.
In addition, the following may also be relevant: civil status of the parents at the time of birth, automatic acquisition of another nationality, long stay abroad and more.
Please contact us for further information. We will be happy to take a deep dive into your family’s history and legally assess your options to become a German citizen.
If you have German ancestry:
3 of 5
As the spouse/registered partner of a German, you can apply for German citizenship when living in Germany for three years. You need to be married for at least two years and, besides other requirements, must have German language skills at level B1.
Minor children of a German spouse or registered partner can be naturalized even if they have not been in Germany for 3 years.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you are married to a German citizen:
2 of 5
You could qualify for German citizenship if you have been legally residing in Germany for 5 years, have a permanent right of residence, an EU Blue Card or similar residence permit, your livelihood is secured and you have German language skills at level B1. Under certain circumstances, the required period of residence can be reduced to 3 years.
Spouses/registered partnerships and children can also be naturalized even if they have not been residing in Germany for 5 years.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you moved to Germany:
1 of 5
GET STARTED WITH FRAGOMEN
As a child of foreign parents, German citizenship can be acquired at birth in Germany if one parent has been legally residing in Germany for at least 5 years and has a permanent right of residence.
Use Fragomen’s citizenship tool to find out if you could qualify for German citizenship.
If you were born in Germany:
The different options for naturalization are complex and depend on the circumstances of the individual case. Therefore, a careful consideration and legal examination is necessary for each person individually.
The lawyers from Fragomen's Frankfurt office will be happy to advise you on the requirements, the process and whether you qualify for German citizenship.
Discover your eligibility for German citizenship.
Start now
Get in touch
Please fill out the form for guidance on your individual circumstances.
PLEASE NOTE: Communications sent to us via email through our website are not secure and will not be regarded by us as confidential. Do not send information that you believe is confidential without first speaking with one of our professionals. Please see our Marketing Privacy Notice. By submitting your information to Fragomen via this form, you are giving consent for Fragomen to process your personal data as described in our Marketing Privacy Notice.