Can I claim German citizenship through a grandparent?

Many people whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Germany qualify for German citizenship through descent. In essence you can reclaim your German citizenship by descent if: You have ancestors who had their citizenship taken away under Nazi rule on political, racial or religious grounds in 1938.

Who qualifies for German citizenship by descent?

German Citizenship Through Descent

1. You were born to married parents and your father was a German citizen.
2. You were born on or after 1 January 1975 to married parents and either one of your parents was a German citizen.
3. You were born to unmarried parents but your mother was a German citizen at the time of your birth.

How many generations of citizenship are there in Germany?

Approximately 45 million people in the United States claim German ancestry. German citizenship is usually forwarded from one generation to the next and many become aware of their German citizenship only after decades have passed.

Can I get an EU passport through my grandparents?

You may be eligible for EU citizenship if you have parents, grandparents or great-grandparents that were from an EU country. EU countries that offer the most favourable route for citizenship by descent are Germany, Ireland, Italy Poland, Portugal, Latvia and Lithuania.

How long does it take to get German citizenship by descent?

It can take as long as two or even three years to hear back about your citizenship status in Germany. We couldn’t stress the importance of making sure you’re eligible to apply, but if you’re absolutely sure and have connected all of the historical dots, you’re now ready to lodge the actual citizenship application.

Can I get German citizenship if my father was born in Germany?

German passports are only issued to German citizens. the fact that your father and/or your mother was/were born in Germany is unfortunately not enough to attain German citizenship. Rather, your father and/or mother have to have been German citizens at the time of your birth.

Can you get EU citizenship through grandparents?

“Citizenship by descent” is a process that allows you to apply for citizenship based on your grandparents’ lineage. Be careful though, as each country has specific rules, application processes, fees and required documentation. To apply, contact the nearest embassy of the desired EU country.

Can you buy German citizenship?

German citizenship is mainly acquired and passed on through descent from a German parent. The parent has to be German citizen at the time of the birth of the child. Children who are born to former German citizens do not acquire German citizenship.

Can I get German citizenship if my grandfather was German?

You cannot jump a generation. This means that you cannot acquire German citizenship by descent from a German grandparent. However, your parent might have acquired German citizenship by descent from your German grandparent(s) and you by descent from your parent.

How to get German citizenship?

There are three main ways to get German citizenship : Naturalization: you’ll have to fulfil certain requirements set by the German government to qualify, such as living in the country for a certain amount of time. This varies depending on the grounds you’re seeking citizenship. By right of blood: if your parents are German.

How do I become a citizen of Germany?

A person can become a German citizen in one of three ways: by birth, by adoption as a minor, or by naturalization. A person may be born a German citizen by either jus sanguinis, i.e., through descent from his/her parents, or jus soli, i.e., through place of birth.

What are the rights of a German citizen?

You’ll become a German citizen through naturalisation, and will receive the rights of a full citizen, e.g. right to vote, free movement, the right to free occupational choice and protection against extradition and deportation.

What is German citizenship?

Acquiring German citizenship. A German citizen is someone who holds German citizenship, i.e. someone who has acquired it and not lost it. Refugees, ethnic German resettlers or exiled persons of German origin and their families who have been admitted into Germany ( Statusdeutsche, or Germans by status but not citizenship) are also German.