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Acquiring German Citizenship


#1  2012-03-15 11:56:16

Ovid
Member
Ovid
From: Les Lilas
Registered: 2011-12-13
Posts: 16

Acquiring German Citizenship

Hi there,

I'm actually living in France and planning on getting French citizenship, but I've been doing some research into citizenship laws and I have a quick question about Germany's law here.

Specifically, when one naturalizes as a German citizenship, you're required to renounce your previous citizenship. How does the German government verify this? For example, if you're a US citizen, do you have to go to an American consulate, renounce, and present the paperwork to Germany?

If you can provide any links to verify this, it would be helpful, but personal experience is fine, too smile

Cheers,
Curtis




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#2  2012-03-19 18:23:15

TominStuttgart
New member
TominStuttgart
From: Stuttgart
Registered: 2012-03-19
Posts: 3

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

One doesn't always have to renounce their citizenship. Sometimes dual citizenship is possible. America used to allow this only until the age of 26 and then you had to decide for one. Unofficial exceptions were often made for Israelis with USA connections since they are barred from traveling in some Muslim countries. But the USA laws changed and now dual citizenship with many other countries is possbile if they reciprocate. Germany however has gone the other way, making it more difficult. The reason one can't hold dual USA/German citizenship is now due to German restrictions. I have an American friend, living in Germany who got dual Irish citizenship because a grandparent of his was Irish although he has never even been there. And his Irish passport gives him advantages in Germany since it is in the European Community. I have "unlimited" residency in Germany as I am married to a German woman. But despite having my home and work here, if I leave for more than one year, I have to re-apply and first (again) have a 3 year conditional residency. My American/Irish friend wouldn't have this problem. Another friend is from Argentina and he got dual citizenship with Germany since they consider Argentina a third world country with a history of military repression. So, one needs to check out the specifics of the countries involved and such laws do change over time




 
 
 

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#3  2012-03-19 19:53:35

amgallin
Member
From: Charlotte, NC
Registered: 2012-03-09
Posts: 13

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

Hi, I have friends who have USA/German citizenships. They were born in the USA but had German parents.
It may be different if there is no 'blood' involved. The law probably changed recently because of the end of the compulsory military service in Germany.
I will try to gather some more info.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#4  2012-03-19 23:16:37

TominStuttgart
New member
TominStuttgart
From: Stuttgart
Registered: 2012-03-19
Posts: 3

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

The Germans are generous about awarding citizenship based on "German" blood. If one's parents or even grandparents were German, then it should be relatively easy - without requiring one to give anything up. But without this relationship, it seems to be diferent. I have been here long enough and I could pass the tests for German citizenship but don't want to give up my American passport to do so.




 
 
 

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#5  2012-03-27 16:50:53

felixnuevos
New member
From: manila
Registered: 2012-03-27
Posts: 3

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

hallo hope somebody give there opinions regarding in my concern im a filipino who lives in philippines 22 years old and my boyfriend is from berlin germany were both males we just need to know what are we going to have for we to get married in berlin germany any help? thanks in advance




 
 
 
 

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#6  2012-03-28 14:50:32

beppi
EB member +
beppi
From: World Citizen
Registered: 2010-08-08
Posts: 705

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

According to German rules, double citizenship for non-EU citizens is (other than by birth) only allowed if the other country places unreasonable (from a German standpoint) conditions onto giving up its citizenship.
If that does not apply to you, you have to renounce all your other citizenships (and show proof that you did so) before you are actually given the German one.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#7  2012-03-28 15:02:33

Ovid
Member
Ovid
From: Les Lilas
Registered: 2011-12-13
Posts: 16

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I appreciate it.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#8  2012-05-04 22:46:16

mikern
New member
From: Hamburg
Registered: 2012-05-04
Posts: 4

Re: Acquiring German Citizenship

Here is the german citizenship quiz with official questions: deutsch-werden.de

Questions are really easy but not without understanding german language of course.




 

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