Who can acquire German citizenship by declaration?

People who were born after the effective date of the German Constitution on May 23, 1949, may be eligible to acquire German citizenship by declaration if the following applies in the following scenarios:

• You lost your German citizenship due to previously applicable gender-discriminatory provisions in the law of naturalization and citizenship, or
• You were unable to acquire German citizenship through birth due to previously applicable gender-discriminatory provisions in the law of naturalization and citizenship.

The beneficiary group includes:

• Children of a German parent (father or mother) who did not acquire German citizenship;
• Children of a mother who lost her German citizenship through marriage to a non-German spouse; or
• Children who have lost their German citizenship acquired at birth through legitimation because their German mother married their non-German father after their birth; or
• Descendants of a person entitled under No. 1 to No. 3.

How does the process to acquire German citizenship by declaration work?
Since August 20, 2021, affected people may acquire German citizenship by declaration, but their declaration must be received by August 19, 2031, at the very latest.
You can submit your declaration via the consulate general. If the requirements for your declaring of German citizenship are met and proven properly, the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) will then issue you a certificate of acquisition of German citizenship.

Next Steps:

Do not waste time and acquire your German citizenship by declaration before the window of opportunity closes. We at BridgehouseLaw are here to help.