Can I claim German citizenship through ancestry?

Many people whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Germany qualify for German citizenship through descent. In essence you can reclaim your German citizenship by descent if: You have ancestors who had their citizenship taken away under Nazi rule on political, racial or religious grounds in 1938.

Can I claim German nationality?

Technically, you are considered a German citizen and can reclaim your German citizenship if: You were born to married parents and your father was a German citizen. You were born on or after 1 January 1975 to married parents and either one of your parents was a German citizen.

Does Germany determine citizenship by bloodline?

In general, German citizenship is not established through birth on German territory but by descent from a German legal mother and/or a German legal father.

How can a EU citizen get German citizenship?

To be eligible for naturalization, a person has to have lived legally in Germany for at least eight years and possess the appropriate residence permit. Foreigners who have successfully completed an integration course are eligible for naturalization after seven years.

Is German a nationality or ethnicity?

This reflects attitudes toward nationality that are both controversial and in flux. By tradition, Germanness has always been an ethnic identity, based on shared descent or “blood”. But today Germany is becoming a multi-ethnic society like other Western countries.

Who is eligible for a German passport?

German citizenship through birth on German territory you have been habitually resident in Germany for eight years, you have attended school in Germany for six years, you hold a school-leaving certificate or have completed vocational training in Germany.

How do I apply for European citizenship by descent?

The Parent Connection. The majority of E.U.-member countries that offer citizenship by descent require you to have a parent who was a citizen of that nation. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.

Does having a German passport make you a citizen?

German Naturalization. German naturalization means that after a certain period of living in Germany as a permanent resident, you apply to become a citizen. There are many restrictions and requirements for obtaining naturalization, so not everyone can get it.