In principle, Germany does not allow dual citizenship. However, the German nationality law was recently changed to allow more people to qualify for dual citizenship.
Now, children born to at least one German citizen may qualify for multiple nationalities, while others— who meet the qualifying criteria— can apply to hold German dual citizenship.
How Do You Become a German Dual Citizen?
You can become a dual German citizen if you gain your German citizenship in one of the following ways:
- By birthright.
- By declaration (if your ancestor was German).
- By naturalization (if you fulfil the residence criteria in Germany).
- By retaining citizenship (if you received permission to hold your German and second foreigncitizenship).
German Dual Citizenship by Birth Rules
You can automatically obtain German dual citizenship by birth if you were born to a German citizen parent. But, there are certain criteria you have to meet depending on the circumstances of your birth:
| Born in Germany to a German parent and a foreign parent | If you have a foreign parent and a German parent (regardless of birthplace), you can retain both citizenships. |
| Born in Germany to parents with multiple citizenships | If you are born to parents with multiple citizenships (including German citizenship) you can retain all nationalities—irrelevant of your birth country. |
| Born in Germany to foreign parents | If you are born in Germany to foreign parents, you can become a dual German citizen— if at least one of your parents lived in Germany for eight years with a permanent residence card. |
| Born abroad to a German parent | If you are born outside of Germany to at least one German parent, you qualify for dual citizenship. However, you must have lived in Germany for at least eight years and attended school there for at least six years. |
Please note that to have valid German dual citizenship by birth, your home country must also allow dual citizenship.
Can I Get Dual Citizenship in Germany as a Naturalized Citizen?
You can get German dual citizenship by naturalization only in the following cases:
- Your home country does not permit you to give up your citizenship.
- You have refugee status in Germany.
- You cannot give up your other citizenship due to hardship, i.e., it would lead to a strain on your finances, loss of resources (properties, possessions), loss of income, etc.
- Your other country is an EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland.
How Can I Become Naturalized in Germany?
To become a naturalized citizen in Germany, you must have lived there for at least eight years with a valid residence permit. You must also have at least a B1 level of German language proficiency and enough resources to support yourself and your family.
Please note that the eight-year residence requirement may be reduced to six if you attend an integration course.
Getting German Dual Citizenship When Living in Another Country
To get a second nationality in addition to your German citizenship, you have to get permission from the German government. You have to submit an application for a retention permit and explain why you want to obtain second citizenship and how it will benefit you.
Here’s how to apply for a retention permit:
- Download the application form. Find the application form for a retention permit on the German Federal Office website and download it. Then, fill out your details and the required information.
- Get your documents prepared. For your permit, you need to prepare the documents listed below:
- Your national passport and ID.
- Residence card from your other country (if applicable).
- Proof of how the second citizenship will benefit you (evidence of scholarships, economic benefits, tax benefits, etc.).
- Evidence that you still have a strong connection to Germany, i.e., you have family/friends there, or you have a business or property in Germany.
- Apply for the retention permit. If you are applying for your retention permit outside of Germany, you have to submit your application to a local German authority. Then, your application will be reviewed by the Federal Office. But, if you are in Germany, you have to apply via a local office in your region/municipality.
- After you apply: If your application is approved, you will receive a retention certificate, which will prove your dual citizenship. The Federal Office will send the certificate to your local mission abroad. You have to pay a fee of EUR 255 for your retention permit.
What if My Application for a Retention Permit Is Denied?
Your retention permit application can be rejected for any of the following reasons:
- You did not provide sufficient evidence of why you benefit from a second passport.
- You do not have sufficient ties with Germany to retain citizenship.
- Your other country does not allow dual citizenship.
To avoid a rejection notice, you can contact the immigration lawyers at Jaberi Lawyers
to help you submit a successful application. They will also help you apply for an appeal if necessary.
How to Get Dual Citizenship if I Have a German Ancestor?
If you have an ancestor from Germany, you can get dual citizenship by applying for German citizenship through declaration as instructed below:
- Fill out the application form. Find the correct application form on the Federal Office website and download the application. Then, you must answer the questions and fill out the form.
- Prepare the application documents. You have to provide a list of required documents proving you have/had a German ancestor, including the following:
- Your national passport and ID.
- Residence card from your other country (if applicable).
- Proof of how the second citizenship will benefit you (evidence of scholarships, economic benefits, tax benefits, etc.).
- Evidence that you still have a strong connection to Germany, i.e., you have family/friends there, or you have a business or property in Germany.
- Apply for the retention permit. If you are applying for your retention permit outside of Germany, you have to submit your application to a local German authority. Then, your application will be reviewed by the Federal Office. But, if you are in Germany, you have to apply via a local office in your region/municipality.
- After you apply: If your application is approved, you will receive a retention certificate, which will prove your dual citizenship. The Federal Office will send the certificate to your local mission abroad. You have to pay a fee of EUR 255 for your retention permit.
If you are not sure whether you meet the requirements for German citizenship by Jaberi Lawyers
The immigration lawyers of our team will review your specific case and guide you on how to proceed further.
Advantages of Having German Dual Citizenship
If you qualify for German dual citizenship, you can benefit from several advantages, such as:
- Having access to over 180 visa-free countries.
- Being able to live in any EU country.
- Being able to work and study in any EU country.
- Having consular protection abroad from two countries.
- Being able to open new business opportunities in both countries.
Conclusion
In simpler words, German dual citizenship is possible in the following situations:
- If you obtain German citizenship by naturalization, you can keep both nationalities only if renouncing your current citizenship would lead to hardship (financial or otherwise).
- If you were born to a German parent (and a non-German parent) you are eligible for German citizenship. However, if you were born abroad, you may only keep dual citizenship if you live in Germany for at least eight years.
- If you are a German citizen living abroad, you may acquire a second passport by applying for permission from the German government.
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