For almost a decade, I’ve wanted to obtain a German passport, but before I can do that, I must first secure German Citizenship, something that was nearly impossibly under the laws Germany had in place for many years.
My grandmother was able to get her German passport because of her dad, but because German nationality was once only passed down through men, my mother and I were ineligible.
In 2023, I began hearing about changes that would finally make it easier for descendants like me to reclaim their German citizenship. The reforms to Germany’s nationality law happened just last year, making me officially eligible.
If you’ve been hoping to obtain a German Passport, here I’ll explain the process of how to get a German passport and why it might be worth pursuing if you’re eligible too.
Germany’s Nationality Law
Before I walk you through the process of getting a German passport, it’s important to understand what category you fall under.
Here are the main categories:
Citizenship by Descent – My case falls under this category.
Citizenship by Birth in Germany – For those born in Germany to non-German parents.
Citizenship by Naturalization– For individuals who gain citizenship after living in German for a qualifying number of years.
Restoration of Citizenship – For descendants of those stripped of their citizenship.
The reform of Germany’s Nationality Law didn’t just remove the restriction that only allowed citizenship to pass through a father, it also introduced several other changes that affects different cases.
The new law came into effect June 2024 with the goal of making it easier for people with German heritage to obtain citizenship. Before this reform, becoming a German citizen often required giving up your original nationality. In most cases, applicants had to renounce their previous citizenship, unless they qualified under special exceptions.
For example. My grandmother was able to retain both her Peruvian and German citizenship, but this was not the same case with my mother. She was excluded due to the gender discrimination in the old law, and she would have had to renounce her nationality had she been eligible.
Now, with the reforms, not only is dual citizenship allowed in far more cases, but descendants like me can finally apply through our maternal line.
So what’s new?
There are plenty of things that changed with the reforms, but here are a few that make it possible for me to get a German passport.
- Dual Citizenship – You no longer have to give up your current nationality to obtain German Citizenship. For example, I can now hold a U.S. Citizenship and hold a German passport.
- Reduced residency requirements – while this doesn’t affect me directly, this is huge for anyone trying to get naturalized through legal residency. Instead of eight years being the minimum period of legal residency for naturalization, it is now five years, and if you’re well integrated you can apply after three years.
- Restoration of Citizenship – German citizenship can now be restored to individuals (and their descendants) who were stripped of it in the past.
- End of Gender Discrimination – Previously, citizenship could only be passed through a German father. If your mother was German, but your father was not, you were excluded. Children were not automatically granted German citizenship. However, this is now gone! This is the reform that made it possible for my mother and I to apply.
How to Get a German Passport
I’ll admit, when I first read through the Nationality Act, my head was spinning. The law is divided into several sections, each covering different cases. For example, in some situations eligibility depends on whether your parent was born before or after a certain year, which can make things confusing.
Luckily for me, one of my mother’s cousins had already gone through the process in years ago (she qualified through her dad). Thanks to the reform, however, my mother is now eligible as well. My own case falls under citizenship by descent, which is covered under Section 5 of the act.
German Passport Requirements
The exact requirements for obtaining a German passport depends on which category of citizenship you’re applying under. However, if your goal is to apply for German Citizenship by descent (and then obtain your passport), here are the main requirements you’ll need to meet.
1) Direct Descent from a German citizen
It’s easy for me to prove that my great-grandfather was a German citizen, especially since my grandmother also has German citizenship. In order to apply, you need to prove that at least one of your ancestors was a German citizen at the time of your birth.
2) Eligibility based on Birth Dates & Parentage
Remember how I mentioned that certain parts of the law mentioned your parent had to be born before or after in order for them (or you) to qualify? Well, this still does apply. However with the reform, any descendants of those previously excluded due to gender discrimination (born before 1975 to a German mother and foreign father) can now apply!
3) Documentation
Documentation is everything! if you don’t have the proper documents, your application will get delayed or blocked.
To support your claim, you’ll need:
- Your birth certificate
- ID, Passport or any other form of identification
- Ancestors documents: birth, marriage, death certificates, and proof of German citizenship
- Reference number: if your parent recently submitted an application or have in the past, they should have received a reference number. You can add this to your application so that the people reviewing the documents know there is a relation there.
Tip: Think of how these documents connect you to the German citizen in your family. Once you think about the connections, gathering the documents becomes easier.
Also make sure all documents are translated and certified by a notary or a German mission.
German Passport Application
The German Passport and German Citizenship application are different. You must first apply for the German Citizenship before you can get a passport. After you’ve gathered all your documentation – notarized, translated and apostilled, you then make an appointment with the nearest German consulate, and submit your documents and application.
It’s a bit of a waiting game as they thoroughly check your documents, but once your German citizenship has been officially recognized, you’ll then be able to apply for a German passport!
For the German passport, you’ll need the following documents:
- Proof of German citizenship
- Valid ID
- Completed application form
- Passport photos that meet German specifications
- Pay the fees
You can apply at your German Consulate or Embassy. I’ll be headed to the German Consulate in Miami as soon as I get my mother’s reference number for my application.
The processing time for the passport is about 4-6 weeks, though I’ve heard stories of it taking a few years!
Why obtain a German Passport
When it comes to my lineage, I am very proud of where I come from and my ancestors. While I haven’t fully traced my lineage all the way to the 1800’s like some people, I do know a bit about my great-grandparents from what my grandparents have shared.
As a teenager, I even went to an Italian State Archive to find more information about my Italian great-grandfather, but had no luck there. At the time, my mother was trying to get Italian citizenship.
Now that we have the chance to get German citizenship and a passport, we are going through the process. So why get a German passport? The German passport is one of the top passports! As of now, it is the third most powerful passport globally.
This means I could travel to many different countries without needing a traditional visa. This also facilitates international travel. I could also live, work and study in Germany, and because of the freedom of movement within the EU, I could live in any EU member state.
Sure, there are a few cons that are mainly tax related with some legal responsibilities, but as I see it the pros outnumber the cons.
Are you considering obtaining German citizenship? Here is a quick checklist to help you through the process.
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