Germany

StAG section 4(4) requires that children born abroad after 2000-01-01 to a German parent who was also born abroad must have their birth registered with German authorities within one year of birth; failure to register forfeits ex lege acquisition under section 4(1).

Persons qualifying as Deutsche Volkszugehoerige under BVFG section 6 (Bekenntnis + descent/language/upbringing/culture) who receive a Bescheinigung under BVFG section 15 acquire German citizenship ex lege per StAG section 7. Aufnahmeverfahren applied via BVA.

Persons who held DDR-Staatsbuergerschaft on 1990-10-03 (Unification Day) are treated as German citizens of the Federal Republic under GG Art 116(1) and Einigungsvertrag Art 3; descendants acquire via standard StAG section 4(1) jus sanguinis.

StAG section 40a deems persons with Art 116(1) GG Statusdeutsche status from formerly-German eastern territories (Silesia, East Prussia, Pomerania) to have acquired citizenship by operation of law effective 2000-01-01.

Germany offers no direct investor-citizenship programme. Investment may qualify an applicant for a residence title under AufenthG section 21 (self-employment) or section 18b (skilled-worker), which can then contribute toward StAG section 10 residence counting.

Spouse/civil partner of a German citizen may naturalise under StAG section 9 with reduced residence: 3 years lawful habitual residence in Germany AND 2+ years of marriage/civil union at time of application. Section 10(1) Nr 4-7 criteria (identity, character, B1, Einbuergerungstest) apply mutatis mutandis.

German law provides no direct military-service citizenship pathway. Bundeswehr service by non-citizens does not confer citizenship but contributes toward StAG section 10 residence. Conversely, StAG section 28 triggers loss of German citizenship on voluntary entry into foreign armed forces without BMI consent, with EU/NATO carve-outs.

Applications lodged before 2024-06-27 under the former StAG section 10(1) 8-year residence regime remain governed by prior law per StAR-ModG transitional provisions; applicant must have had 8+ years lawful habitual residence at the time of application and satisfied pre-2024 section 10(1) Nr 1-7 requirements.

Under StAG section 10(1) as amended by StAR-ModG 2024: 5+ years lawful habitual residence in Germany; FDGO commitment; self-sufficiency without SGB II/XII welfare; no disqualifying criminal convictions; identity clarified; B1 German; Einbuergerungstest pass. Dual citizenship permitted (section 25 renunciation abolished).

Former § 10(3) StAG fast-track introduced by StAR-ModG 2024 (effective 27.06.2024), REPEALED via BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256 effective 30.10.2025. During the 2024-06-27 to 2025-10-30 window, applicants with C1 German AND one of (exceptional professional achievement, outstanding volunteer/civic engagement, exceptional educational performance) qualified for naturalisation after only 3 years of lawful residence. Applications lodged during the window may proceed under the former rules (saved-law principle)

BT-Drs 21/4081 — Gesetzentwurf zur Anpassung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts zur Bekämpfung von missbräuchlichen Vaterschaftsanerkennungen. Closes §4(1) StAG abuse-by-paternity-acknowledgment loophole. Currently Ausschussberatung (committee deliberation); plenary vote Herbst 2026.

Under GG Art 116(2), former German nationals denationalised between 1933-01-30 and 1945-05-08 on political, racial, or religious grounds - and their direct descendants - are to be re-naturalised on application. Procedure administered by BVA; no residence, language, or character prerequisites.

StAG § 5(1) grants declaration-based acquisition across four sub-categories (Nr 1-4): Nr 1 children of a German parent born after GG entry-into-force who did not acquire citizenship at birth; Nr 2 children of mothers who lost citizenship via pre-birth marriage to foreigner; Nr 3 children who lost via legitimation by foreigner; Nr 4 direct-line descendants of Nr 1-3. Final-proviso exclusions (no 2+ year custodial conviction, no § 11 StAG exclusion). Ten-year declaration window § 5(3): 2021-08-20

StAG section 14 permits discretionary ministerial naturalisation of foreigners resident abroad where there are recognised genuine ties to Germany and a public interest or special merit (distinguished academic, athletic, cultural, or scientific contribution). No enforceable right to naturalisation even where criteria are met.

§26 StAG voluntary renunciation by application — applicant declares renunciation; effective upon BVA acceptance + foreign-nat acquisition contemporaneous (Art 16(1) GG statelessness safeguard).

§28 Nr.1 StAG triggers ex-lege loss on voluntary entry into foreign military service unless bilateral treaty exempts (NATO members generally) OR BMI grants discretionary retention permission (Beibehaltungsbewilligung).

§28 Nr.2 StAG (introduced BGBl. I 2019 Nr. 30, EIF 2019-08-10) — German citizen who voluntarily participates in combat operations of a terrorist association abroad loses German citizenship ex-lege. Statelessness safeguard: dual-nat only.

§35 StAG Rücknahme of naturalization obtained by deception, threat, bribery, or material misrepresentation. 10-year limitation period. New §35a StAG (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 364, EIF 2025-12-22): 5-year retry block post-revocation.

§17(2) StAG: derivative loss extension to minor unmarried children when parent loses citizenship under §25, §26, §28. Statelessness safeguard: does not extend where minor would become stateless. Kindeswohl framework per BGB §1626 mitigates extension.