Citizenship by Declaration – Amendments to the German Nationality Act in 2021
From August 2021, children born after 23 May 1949, to a German parent (but who were excluded from German citizenship because of gender-discriminatory rules at the time) can now acquire German citizenship by Declaration. The new rules will be in force for ten years, until 19 August 2031. Applicants benefit from the 2021 amendments to Germany’s Nationality Act if:
- Your German mother married your foreign father before you were born and had to forfeit her German nationality – therefore, she could not pass it to you
- Your German mother married your foreign father after you were born – therefore, both you and your mother lost your German citizenship
- You were born to unmarried parents, but your father was German, and your mother was foreign, and therefore, you were exempt from German Nationality.
Restoration of German Citizenship for Victims of Nazi Persecution
During World War 2, Victims of Nazi rule, including a substantial number of Jewish Victims, who had to forfeit their German nationality between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945, as a result of being prosecuted on political, racial, or religious grounds, can now reclaim it. If you meet the listed criteria, then descendants (such as Grand-children and Great-Grandchildren of the Individuals below), may be be naturalized according to Article 116 II of the German Basic Law (“Grundgesetz”) or if Persons did not lose their German CItizenship but were deprived of it or lost it for other reasons or did not acquire it, may be eligible for naturalization pursuant to section 15 of the German Nationality Act:
- You surrendered or lost your German citizenship before 26 February 1955 to acquire a foreign nationality or marry a foreigner
- You were banned from acquiring German citizenship through marriage, legitimisation, or naturalisation of individuals with German ethnic origin
- You were not naturalised as a German citizen, despite being eligible for citizenship, when you applied
- You were banned from applying for naturalisation, despite being eligible for citizenship, when you applied
- If you surrendered or lost your German citizenship, as long as residency was established before 30 January 1933 – for children, even after 30 January 1933.
Contact our Visa Consultants and German Citizenship Lawyers for advice and assistance with your application now!
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