The British Berliner
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How to get German citizenship if you’re British – How to be a German via Double Nationality!
Yes!
It happened!
OMG!
So a fortnight (two weeks) ago, was a really great day.
As you all know, I’m a very proud British person.
However, after the very disappointing result of the Brexit Referendum in 2016, many of my fellow British citizens began to wonder whether the discussions and talks would lead to a better understanding of British / European relations, or a hardline stance.
I’ve always been determined to remain British to the core.
Indeed, I even told a reporter of the Bloomberg newspaper that the only way you would get me out of this country, would be kicking and screaming!
But the writing on the wall was crystal clear, that British – European relations was not going to get better anytime soon, but effectively worse.
So at the end of 2016, I changed my mind, and decided to apply for double nationality.
There is no doubt in my mind that regardless of the dismal politics, I love both England – my original birth country, and Germany – my adoptive new country, and I don’t see why I should have to choose, as I have spent a lot of my life and money, in both.
In fact, I’ve written about both how to be British and how to be a German.
And, I’m not alone!
How to be a German – 10 ways to do it!
Basically, I want to be both British and German, and to effectively have the best of both worlds!
And while the UK is still in the EU, I certainly can!
Now for British citizens living on the European continent, and European citizens living in the UK, what’s next, is a constant worry, and I attend many a meeting, press sessions and network groups, on this very question.
©Dr. Meddy – The Cartoon Movement
If you are British, and have the opportunity to apply for European citizenship anywhere in the EU, do so as quickly as possible, as the clock is ticking, and even though 2018 has only just begun, 2019 will be upon us sooner than you or anyone else anticipated, and then it will be too late.
If you’re a British national of Irish descent or anybody born in Northern Ireland, you have the right to acquire Irish citizenship, so if there’s a whiff of Irishness in your ancestral tree, go and get it!
I can’t tell you what to do and where to choose, but I can give you some simple tips and guidelines as to how to apply for German citizenship, if you’re British.
HOW TO GET GERMAN CITIZENSHIP IF YOU’RE BRITISH – HOW TO BE A GERMAN VIA DOUBLE NATIONALITY!
Before we go any further, let me make it clear that I am not a lawyer, so if you need legal advice, go ahead and contact an expert specialised in naturalisation / citizenship matters. This post is based on my personal experience. I assume no liability for the accuracy of the enclosed data.
Right, now that’s out of the way, let’s go on.
THE RULES:
- If you live in Germany permanently, and have done so for at least 8 years, you can apply for German Citizenship
- If you’re a member of the EEA, a Swiss citizen, or the EU, citizenship is not required. EU law allows for the Freedom of Movement Act which effectively means, that you can live in any Schengen country, whenever, and however you like
- If you’re highly qualified in fields such as science, research, IT, or have a firm job offer, immediate permanent residence is usually offered
- If you’re a self-employed entrepreneur, Germany is happy to have you
- If you have German skills, can support yourself financially, have health insurance, and no criminal record, residency shouldn’t be an issue
Then there is naturalisation.
HOW TO APPLY FOR GERMAN CITIZENSHIP via NATURALISATION OR DOUBLE NATIONALITY
WHAT DOES NATURALISATION MEAN?
Legally, naturalisation (or naturalization) is the documented act or process, by which a non-citizen, may acquire citizenship or nationality, of another country. This may be done by statute, without any effort on the part of the individual, or it may involve an application and approval by legal authorities.
Britain opted to leave the EU, therefore, after March 2019, no UK citizen will have automatic free access to the EU, and no EU citizen will have automatic free access to the UK either.
This has brought about a Pandora’s box of conflicting problems.
This also means as a UK citizen, if you live in the EU and wish to ensure a continuation of EU rights, then the path to go down for legal certainty is either naturalisation, or double nationality.
WHAT DOES DOUBLE NATIONALITY / DUAL CITIZENSHIP MEAN?
©i.redd.it
Double Nationality or Dual Citizenship, is the concept where an individual is a national or citizen, of two countries at the same time.
In Germany, it’s the norm to give your nationality up, in order to get German citizenship. However, German law permits certain people to hold two citizenships if:
- A child, with a parent who has double nationality
- A child, who has one German and one foreign parent, and therefore, automatically acquires all the citizenships their parents have
- A person of ethnic German descent
- A German citizen who also holds citizenship of another EU country, or Switzerland
If you have Double Nationality, under German law you are viewed as a German citizen, and have the same rights as any German National. However, you lose your right to claim German consular protection if you chose to live in your original home country, (or any other country where you hold citizenship). In this case, you will be viewed by that country as one of its citizens, and their own services will apply
I chose double nationality.
Either way, there’s a lot of red tape to get through.
There was a time, when there was an unwritten thing about fast-tracking Brits who wanted to become German citzens before the Brexit Referendum, but that’s stopped now…
©DPA
According to the BAMF – Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, otherwise known as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the process of Naturalisation is extremely challenging, and can only occur under certain circumstances and conditions.
THE CONDITIONS:
You have a right to Naturalisation, if you fulfil the following conditions:
- You have an unrestricted right of residence, at the time of being naturalised
- You have passed the Naturalisation Test (knowledge of the legal and social system, as well as living conditions in Germany)
- Your habitual, lawful place of residence has been in Germany for at least eight years (this period can be reduced to seven years if you attend an integration course and pass, and can be reduced to as little as six years, in the case of special integration measures. A reduction can also be made for marriage, the co-naturalization of spouses and children, foreign spouses of Germans, or under the laws of asylum or refugee status
- You have independent means of securing a living (including dependent family members), without resorting to social welfare payments or unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld II)
- You have adequate German-language skills
- You do not have any criminal convictions
- You are committed to the free democratic constitutional order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany
- You have lost or given up your former nationality (exceptions apply, depending on the country of origin)
It is however possible to obtain “discretionary naturalisation.”
This means that the naturalisation authority can agree to naturalisation if there is public interest in your Naturalisation, and some of the basic requirements have been fulfilled.
CHILDREN:
- Children born in Germany have an automatic right to German nationality if their mother, their father, or both parents, are German
- Children of foreign nationals take German nationality if they were born in Germany and if, at the time of their birth, Germany was the habitual, lawful place of residence of at least one parent for eight years, and the parent has unlimited right of residence
- Children of foreign nationals, must decide when they are aged between 18 and 23, whether they wish to take up German nationality, or retain the nationality of their parents
Luckily for us, The Tall Young Gentleman is half German (by virtue of his German father) – half British (by virtue of his British mother – me) by birth, and has always been entitled to both nationalities.
I’m extremely glad that I had the foresight to register him at the British Embassy in Berlin, at birth, and have it recorded on his birth certificate too!
As far as being British is concerned, point Nr. 8 above “you have given up your former nationality (exceptions apply, depending on the country of origin)” is extremely important, because the way to bypass that point as of now, is still double nationality. After 2019, if you are British, you’ll have to choose.
HOW DO YOU START THE PROCESS OF NATIONALISATION / DOUBLE NATIONALITY:
- The first thing you have to realise is that the clock is ticking, and the UK government is not backing down from Brexit, so if you want double nationality, you ought to start processing it. Like YESTERDAY!
- Next, you must submit an application.
Parents can make an application for children who are under 16. Anyone over 16, must submit their own application.
You can obtain application forms from the following places:
- The city / town council
- The local authority
- The regional district office
- The local immigration office or authority for your town or community
- Youth migration services
- The immigration advice service for adult migrants
To find out which authority handles the citizenship process in your area, ask your local advice office, regional advice office, or local foreign affairs office. The information and documents that are required for your specific case, will be provided by your local authority.
51 reasons to go to the seaside. In Germany! ©Usedom Tourismus GmbH
If you are applying for German citizenship while in the UK or abroad, you need to seek advice from your local German Embassy, German Consulate, or German Diplomatic Mission.
Before submitting your application, you should schedule an appointment for a free-of-charge advice session with your local authority office, so that you can ask any questions necessary, make sure that your documentation is complete, and also pay the Naturalisation Application fee.
I scheduled my advice session at my Regional District Office.
I live in Berlin.
Berlin is the capital of Germany.
It’s a very busy important city.
- The only way to schedule a meeting is by online appointment only – nur nach Terminvereinbarung – via the electronic appointment scheduling system
You won’t get it any other way.
- And you must be a resident of the district
My Naturalisation Office would only take appointments on two (2) days of the week, and so the next available appointment slot would usually be about 5 weeks ahead, and even then, you really had to be snappy with your fingers, ‘cos if you weren’t fast enough, that would be another week lost!
And right now, that office is so over-whelmed, consultation hours have been cancelled until the middle of February!
Some districts are flexible, and will take applications from anywhere in the city, via open consultation – offene Sprechstunde ohne Terminvereinbarung – but right now, many offices have enough worries of their own!
Oh, and don’t forget to take along your current passport!
©dpa- A. Rain
Once the local authority office is satisfied that you fit the requirements for Naturalisation or Double Nationality, you might also be asked to provide evidence of the following:
- A sufficient knowledge of German, which is at least equal to the level of B1, in the Common European Framework of Reference
If you have a Deutsche Sprachdiplom, a B1 Zertifikat Deutsch, a Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) – German Test for Immigrants, were educated at a German High School, a German University, or a German institution of Higher Learning, you will not be required to do anything more than show proof.
If not, you might be asked to do a language test.
You can do that test, or find your German language ability, here.
- General knowledge skills regarding the political, social and legal aspects of living in Germany. Proof of that is usually derived by taking and passing, the Naturalisation Test.
WHAT IS THE NATURALISATION TEST?
©Adam Fletcher – How to be German
The Naturalisation Test is proof that you have the knowledge of the legal, social system, and living conditions in Germany that you need, to understand, successfully integrate, and be Naturalised, in Germany.
HOW TO PREPARE:
The best way to prepare for the Naturalisation Test is by using the government’s Online Test Centre.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has more information about the test including how to prepare, free online tests, and where to take it.
There are many platforms that you can use to practice online.
I used this Einbürgerungstest online platform – which is totally free of charge – because not only did it provide the test from each Bundesland, but it also gives you the possibility to test yourself from Easy to Very Hard, and if you get them wrong, you’d be provided with the correct answer, and why!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
I started with Very Hard (obviously), and got all the answers right, but struggled with all the simple easy questions, so it was good practice!
WHAT DOES THE GERMAN NATURALISATION TEST CONSIST OF?
- You have one hour to answer 33 multiple choice questions, and you have to get at least 17 questions correct, to pass the test (you have the right to re-sit it, if you don’t)
- Topics covered include: ‘Living in a Democracy,’ ‘History and Responsibility,’ ‘People in Society,’ as well as some specific questions about the particular State / Region in which you live. In my case, Berlin
- The local Naturalisation Office in your area, will tell you where your nearest test centre, is so you can register.
Again, it’s a bit of a long process and requires hours of queuing to register.
HOW TO REGISTER:
I allocated an afternoon to do this.
After waiting for hours, I approached an officer, who told me to go around the corner, and register with another office that had absolutely no one in it!
I was the only person there, and within 5 minutes, filled in the required form, paid the fee, and received a choice of dates.
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner
I registered and sat my test at the Kultur- und Bildungszentrum Sebastian Haffner in Berlin.
I answered 30 questions correctly out of 33, so I was very pleased!
- The cost of the test is a €25.00 fixed fee
- It takes a couple of weeks, then if you pass, you’ll receive your certificate with the test results, from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, by post.
Once you have the Einbürgerungstest – Naturalisation Test Certificate, you then send a copy of it (do NOT send the original document, as they can’t send it back) to the Naturalisation Office, you applied to.
WHAT NEXT?
Referring back to your original advice session at the very beginning of your application:
Remember to make it crystal clear that you’re applying for Double Nationality rather than full Naturalisation, so that you don’t have to give up your British passport, and there’s no misunderstanding later on!
Then pay the fee.
Erfurt Bürgeramt ©Friedhelm Funke – Instagram – @friedhelm_funke
- The process of Naturalisation costs €255, but you’ll be required to pay €191 at the initial stage.
- Minors who apply with their parents, pay a fee of just €51.00
- A reduced fee, or payment by installment, is available for low-income earners, or applicants with large families
Remember!
Once you have the Einbürgerungstest – Naturalisation Test Certificate, send a copy of it (do NOT send the original document, as they can’t send it back) to the Naturalisation Office, you applied to.
Then you wait.
Come to Berlin. We’re waiting for ya!
The average process time takes between 6 months and a year, depending on where you live, and the number of applications.
British citizens applying for German citizenship, have increased tenfold!
My advice is to stay in touch with your Naturalisation Office, and give them a quick call every 3 to 6 months, just so that you know how far they’ve got, and if they need anything else.
They really don’t have the time or resources to contact YOU, so make sure that you do everything you can to make their work easier, as in my Regional District Office, only two (2) officers were allocated to Naturalisation and Citizenship, and it’s such a huge task, it’s over-whelming!
Once you get the lucky letter that your application is accepted for Double Nationality, this is what happens next.
YOU’RE ALMOST THERE!
©Kai-Uwe Heinrich
You’ll receive a letter with the appointed time and date, when German Naturalisation will be conferred upon you.
On getting to the Naturalisation Office, you’ll be required to bring your current passport, one (1) biometric passport photo, and to pay the remaining €64.00 Application Fee, at a special automated machine.
You’ll also have to sign a few more documents, and get your passport photo verified, and stamped.
There will then be a small pledge ceremony.
I was extremely excited and very much looking forward to a fanfare ceremony akin to this one.
My husband – The Music Producer – told me to not to expect drums and whistles in Berlin, and sadly due to a lack of personnel, he was right!
Mind you, I signed a petition asking for a proper Swearing-in Ceremony, sometime in the future!
I’m proud to be a German, so I want my bells and whistles!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – Berlin – The British Berliner
At least, I got a pledge ceremony, in which I had to cite my allegiance and loyalty to the Federal Republic of Germany, and tried not to stumble over my words!
My German Nationality Certificate / Einbürgerungsurkunde, was given to me, and my German Permanent Residency Document taken back, (I received this 5 years after I arrived in Germany, and it was always in my British passport…) and returned to the Foreign Office!
We shook hands, then I went to collect my new passport, and pop the champagne!
Whooooooa!
Not so fast Missy!
I was given a waiting number and sent to another department!
Instagram – ©Jascha Huschauer – @huschauer
We waited for about 30 minutes, and then went to another office in which I had to:
- Show my current passport
- Show my Naturalisation Certificate
- Show my verified and stamped biometric passport photo
- Scan a fingerprint of my index finger. On both hands!
©picture alliance / dpa
This is also the time to apply for a German I.D. card / Personalausweis, too because as a British citizen, I only ever had a passport as a legal form of identification, which I was always supposed to take out with me.
And which I never did!
Whoops!
Now I’ll be able to have a German Personalausweis too.
- The cost of the actual German passport is €60.00
- The cost of a German passport for anyone under 24 years old is €37.50
- A German I.D. card / Personalausweis can only be issued to children 16 years and above. For young people under the age of 24, the cost is €22.80
- For adults over 24, the cost of a German I.D. card / Personalausweis is €28.80
I applied for a German I.D. card / Personalausweis, for both myself, and The Tall Young Gentleman, who will be 16 this year.
He will be pleased.
Gulp!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – Berlin – The British Berliner
So there you have it.
I’m a real British – German now!
SOME VERY IMPORTANT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
CAN I GET GERMAN CITIZENSHIP, WITHOUT NATURALISATION?
Our son as a baby – 20 months old!
Yes!
- You can obtain German citizenship by right of blood or Jus Sanguinis in which you have at least one German parent. It doesn’t matter whether you were born in Germany or not
- You can get German citizenship by descent, if your parents registered you at the German Embassy or Consulate, in the country you were born in
- You can get German citizenship by descent, if you were adopted by German citizens, as a child under 18
- You and your descendents can get German citizenship by descent if you, your parents / grandparents, were German Jews between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945, and were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
- You can get German citizenship by descent if you’re a spouse or descendant of an ethnic German from the former USSR, or certain parts of Eastern Europe, who previously had German citizenship, and were expelled and deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
- You can get German citizenship by descent, if you’re a British citizen, and you are a descendant of German Jews who would have been German citizens by birth, but were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds, during World War II
- You don’t qualify if you were born in a foreign country, and your German parents were also born in a foreign country, after January 1st, 2000
- Outside of the points above, you don’t qualify for German citizenship through any other ancestor, except your parents
IF I WANT GERMAN CITIZENSHIP, DO I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY FORMER NATIONALITY?
British Berliner BAMS I – ©Axel Springer
Sorry! Under normal circumstances, you do!
However, you can keep your birth nationality, if:
- You’re a member of the EEA, a Swiss citizen, or the EU
- You have double nationality
DOES MARRIAGE ENTITLE ME TO GERMAN CITIZENSHIP?
© 2017 Samuel Docker
Nope!
It certainly helps of course, and once married to a German national, the spouse is usually entitled to a residence permit. However, the legal stance is that if you want German citizenship, you’ll have to:
- Meet some of the criteria I discussed previously
- Be married for at least two years
- Be resident in Germany for at least 3 years
- Depending on your original citizenship, you can apply for naturalisation later on…
ARE CHILDREN BORN IN GERMANY, AUTOMATICALLY GERMAN?
I’m afraid not.
- Of course, children born to at least one German parent, even outside the country, are eligible for German citizenship
- However, children born on German soil to non-German parents, on or after January 1st 2000, can only obtain German citizenship under certain circumstances
- At least one parent must have permanent right of residency, and have lived in the country regularly and legally, for at least eight years
- In some cases, children born on German soil to non-German parents, can acquire German citizenship by right of birth in Germany, through Naturalisation, or via Dual Nationality. However, between the ages of 18 and 23, they must decide which nationality to keep, if they have more than one
IS IT POSSIBLE NOT TO TAKE THE NATURALISATION TEST?
Yes, it’s possible if:
- You’re under 16
- You went to a German High School, or a University in Germany
- You are unable to meet the testing requirements due to age, disability, or illness
HOW EASY IS IT TO GET GERMAN CITIZENSHIP?
Ha! Ha!
For a newbie, Germany is one of the most difficult countries to move to, on a long-term basis.
- If you’re just arriving, it isn’t easy
- If you’ve been here for at least 3 – 5 years, you’ll know how difficult it really is
- If you hold a permanent residence permit at the time of application, your legal place of residence has been Germany for at least eight years, (seven if you’ve attended an integration course, or six in special integration circumstances), speak “good” German, have a reliable income, can support yourself and your dependents, and are a British citizen, apply now!
Yep!
The British Berliner will be a British – German not just in name, but on paper too.
I’m still British of course, but I’m German too.
And why?
Because I deserve it!
Hurrah!
For support and advice, please contact the following organisations:
HOW TO GET GERMAN CITIZENSHIP IF YOU’RE BRITISH – HOW TO BE A GERMAN VIA DOUBLE NATIONALITY!
This article is not sponsored, and I’m delighted to be a British German!
See you next week!
Watch this space!
DISCLOSURE!
Please note that there are two affiliate link companies connected to this post! Every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Do you want to be a German citizen? Are you British?
Are you looking to change nationalities because of Brexit?
Have you applied for Double Nationality / Dual Citizenship, or are you going the whole hog?
How has Brexit affected you as a British person living in the EU?
Was this article useful? Let me know in the comments below!
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See you in Berlin.
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60 Comments on “How to get German citizenship if you’re British – How to be a German via Double Nationality!”
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Congratulations on your dual citizenship Victoria! I know that gives you some peace of mind.
Thanks very much Stephanie! I’m very, very happy indeed! 😀
Hi! Thanks for the helpful post. I was wondering if you could post a link to what exactly you need to take to the appointment in Pankow (which is my district too) and do you know what the official German word is for Duel Citizenship, so I can make sure I’m asking for the right thing when I get my appointment?
Thanks so much Chloe. ‘Sorry for the delay.
Here’s the link for the requirements of the things you need from Pankow – https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/318998/standort/327427/
Here is the link for making appointments: https://service.berlin.de/standort/327427/
I suggest you make the appointment first, and then start looking for the things you need afterwards! Oh, and you need to get up early and be extremely quick on the button. Appointment places go speedily as there are only 2 days in the week when appointments can be made. DON’T look for stuff first!
The German word for Dual Citizenship is: Doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft.
If you have further questions, please ask. 😀
not very useful. account prolly managed by Russian trolls, bent on wreaking chaos in EU by supporting Brexit first and then by providing misinformation. i searched for “get German citizenship by ancestry” and this is the top result? seriously? “I’m British”? who the f*ck cares if you’re Maledivian or a Martian? extra money thrown by trolls to get top of the search results for the non-British individuals.
Thank you for your comment John Doe!
As you can very well see, this account is NOT managed by trolls but by my brilliant self. And since my blog is called – The British Berliner AND is about a British person living in Berlin, it’s utterly very apt.
And the reason that my post is a top result verified by Google is because:
1. I’m a good writer
2. It’s about German citizenship!
Good afternoon all,
Trust all are well,
I’m currently a South African citizen and would like to find or know where can o get more details if I can apply for Dual citizenship with Germany. Both my late Grandfather and Grandmother where born in German , when to school in Germany and as far as I’m aware, they also worked in Germany before coming to South Africa. Am i eligible for dual citizenship and if so how do I get the ball rolling. I know my sister tried a few years back but a family member didn’t want to hand over their birth certificate. ( so would also need to know the steps to get a copy) . any help regarding this or if someone can point me to the correct people/departments will be highly appreciated.
Kind regards
Kobus Bekker
Hi Kobus,
Thank you for your comment! It’s Victoria – The British Berliner writing.
I’m guessing that you don’t live in Germany. Is that right?
Please note, that I am not a lawyer, so if you need legal advice, go ahead and contact an expert specialised in naturalisation / citizenship matters. This post is based on my personal experience. I assume no liability for the accuracy of the enclosed data.
Right. In your case, you might be eligible by ethnic descent however, you would have a much stronger case if one of your parents were German too!
German law permits certain people to hold two citizenships if:
I hope this helps? If you require further help, I offer a consultancy and can be contacted via this link: https://thebritishberliner.wordpress.com/let-me-help-you/
Congratulations! You do deserve to be both British and German officially!
Thanks so much Natalie! I think so too! 😉
It’s a relief to know, that come what may (excuse the pun), I’ll be perfectly alright! 😀
My congratulations, Victoria! I think it was an interesting decision. Why not? You loose nothing.
Thanks very much Victor!
Yep! It had to be done. ‘Just to be on the safe side. And as you say, why not? I’ve lived in Berlin long enough so I’m practically German! 😉
Congratulations! I know how much it means since you love both countries and have yep..done lots to promote both. I think it was a great move, and this is helpful of others too. I need to start my Italian one too. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks so much KemKem!
It really is a great move, not only because I’ve spent equal amounts of my life in both, but sadly, ‘cos the writing on the wall in EU / British politics, makes this a necessity. As an American citizen, Brexit won’t affect you, but hey, if you have a right to Italian citizenship, go and get it before Italy closes it’s doors too. 😉
such a nice blog thanks for sharing n keep it up….!
Thanks very much Sandeep! 😀
Very interesting post, I have dual citizenship (Brazilian and British) and hope to never have to choose between them, since I love both countries. I can also get Italian citizenship since my grandparents were Italian and many members of my family have that. With Brexit looming I have thought about applying for my Italian citizenship just so I can have the ability to travel around Europe without restrictions. I still hope that Brexit will not happen and people will see sense in the end…should I hold my breath on that?
For some reason, I am not getting your new posts in my email box???Do I need to register again? I will tick the box below in any case 🙂
Thanks very much Gilda!
Brexit is crazy isn’t it? Lucky you, for already having dual citizenship. 😀 I doubt that Brexit will change, as the people voted to leave. We can only hope for a softer stance come 2019, but don’t hold your breath. If you are able to get Italian citizenship, do so quickly. British /EU negotiations are still “friendly,” but if anything changes, all governments will make things extremely difficult. Most EU countries are delighted to have Brits among them, it’s the UK that is causing a ruckus, leaving EU citizens feeling very unwelcome indeed. 😉
p.s. I haven’t a clue why you can’t get my posts, but it would be lovely if you could register again…. Thank you! 🙂
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Hey, Thanks for this article. I am really tempted to try and get my dual citizenship underway quickly now after reading it. I’ve been living in Berlin for nearly 7 years, have a job, speak German and am worried now about what Brexit will mean for me (I’m British). Can you tell me what the first step would be as I’m not sure from the article, is it to get an advice termin from BAMF or from the Bürgeramt (Prenzlauer Berg in my case)? Also, did you have to do things like get your birth certificate officially translated? Many thanks! Katy
You’re very welcome Katy!
If you’ve been here for 7 years, you might still qualify for 6! I live in Prenzlauer Berg too, and the Bürgeramt to go to for citizenship stuff would actually be at Pankow Town Hall! I wrote this guide a week after I got my nationality certificate, so you can trust it!
You need to make an appointment at the Regional District Office in Pankow. Appointments are only available online, and takes weeks to get an appointment so I strongly advice starting as soon as poss. It’s free-of-charge and the advice session is exactly what you need to ask any questions necessary, confirm what’s missing, and to find out if you already qualify! I qualified years ago of course, but in those days, it wasn’t necessary! I didn’t put the address or the link on the blog, as they’re seriously overwhelmed, but since you live in Prenzlauer Berg, you’ll know the place I mean.
I didn’t translate my birth certificate, although I already had a translated version back from the days of my wedding… But if they need you to do that, they’ll tell you. What’s important, is that very first appointment complete with the listed things that they ask for. You’ll find it on the Pankow website. Since you live locally, if you have further questions, just send me an Email, and I’ll do my best to help. 😉
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Hi Victoria,
thanks for this detailed information. Once you got your German citizenship, did you have to inform any other official institutions? My husband is going through the process of naturalization at the moment and we were just wondering who he would have to tell afterwards?
Thanks so much Carol!
There is no official requirement as far as I’m aware except perhaps to tell your employer! And the pension office! 😉
It didn’t come to mind until I got the habitual letter of how much I wold be due in my later years, etc, etc. However, the last photograph stated that due to the fact the UK was out of the EU, they had no ideas as to the pension rights for UK Citizens and that I should effectively sort it out myself… I immediately called them up, informing them of my new status as a Dual Citizen. They asked me to send in a copy of my naturalization certificate and my German passport so that they could update their records.
When visiting Federal or State Offices in the future, it wouldn’t hurt to take the German passport /ID card with you rather than the British one. They’ll update the records on your behalf…
Hi Victoria, thanks for your reply. It seems astonishingly uneventful, once the naturalization is done and dusted ….
We need to do some more research into how the British pension is going to be affected, any tips on websites, organisations etc. would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Thanks very much Carol!
I’d recommend Facebook at the moment as no government official knows for sure, and well, I wouldn’t trust anything that Theresa May would say at the minute….
There are quite a few organisations that are helpful such as Brits in Berlin, Berlin Expats and Diplomats, Expatriates in Berlin, Brits in Germany, German-British Dual Citizenship, British in Germany, Forum for EU Citizens (the3million), etc. You still have to take a lot of the comments with a grain of salt as it’s not hosted by experts, but interested Brits who happen to live either in Germany, or the EU. Nevertheless, you can ask your questions, or perhaps find a few people who are going through same. Good Luck! 😀
Hello, im slightly confused by the concept of gaining \german nationality via dual citizenship. You mentioned above that one option , if i’ve understood correctly is that of a child holding dual citizenship already. In my case, i hold British and a non EU citizenship and so do my children. How would we qualify for German citizenship if we are still living in the UK?
Thanks.
Thanks so much for your comment Vikram!
Yes, that’s right in the case of the child having parents from elsewhere in the EU, but born in Germany.
Sadly, if you’re British but don’t live in Germany already, you won’t be entitled to German citizenship. Moreover, the minimum requirement is EU Citizenship, hence the need for Brits to rush things through, before Britain no longer becomes a member of the EU, in 2019! 🙁
Great information, so useful thanks for sharing 🙂
Michel Henig (relocation consultant) advised me that EU citizens are in title to apply for their German Citizenship application in their 5th year of being in Germany. I ask her kindly to share her source as all my readings suggest otherwise.
Is that true?
Thanks very much G Ritchie!
It’s not 5 years but 6 – 8 years, depending on the German language skills. 5 years is for permanent residence & nothing to do with German citizenship!
What about this for a predicament.
My wife is German with a German passport. We have been married 41 years and she has been resident with me in the uk for all that time. Recently, her father died and left his house, in Germany, to her. The will states that she and I must live in it AFTER the current residents, wife’s step mother and step sister have left of their own accord, or died of course. The step sister/mother are not related due to different marriages. The 2 ladies are close to 90 now. We cannot live there yet so the will may not be realised until after Brexit. See the problem? I cannot apply for dual/citizenship because I’m not living in Germany. In a perfect world I would apply for dual citizenship in advance of moving to Germany. I already meet some of the criteria such as self supporting, as we have very healthy savings and we have a non mortgaged house in the uk to sell. We are both retired with good pensions so don’t need to find jobs so we are, in fact, quite wealthy.
So, how about that for a predicament?
Thank you for your comment Alan. Indeed, what a predicament. I’m so sorry for your loss. 🙁
Of course, you can move to Germany whenever you like as you won’t be a burden to the State, etc. etc. Under normal circumstances, you could have at least, applied for the usual 5-year permanent residence for EU citizens, but since you don’t live in Germany, and by the time you do, it’s likely that Britain won’t be in the EU anyway, it’s not going to be helpful! If there’s no agreement on the table by 2019, consider UK citizens to be at kin with American and Australian citizens. i.e. You can either live here because you have the fund to support yourself, you have a business, or you have a skill to offer that other German or EU citizens cannot provide!
I suggest you apply for residency via your German wife with proof that you have an “acceptable income” that will support you both, and very good health insurance. And when I say “acceptable income” there is a legal requirement over what your income is and what percentage your living costs should be, in order to have an adequate standard of living. I don’t believe it’s law, but it would certainly help your case, if you meet those requirements. Plan on at least 1/3 of your pension on utilities, etc. Plan even more, if you have tenants on your property as you are also liable to renovations and repairs every couple of years. And make sure your health insurance is tight! Think about whether a German provider would cost you less or more, in regard to your age and circumstances.
Health insurance is law, so factor that in your cost too.
Perhaps you might want to ask an expert on what requirements would be necessary. Including that of the property.
Good Luck. 😉
Thanks for your help and understanding
You’re very welcome Alan! 🙂
Here’s my predicament, which I’m not sure has been covered so far. My mother is German, meaning that she has German parents, was born there and had a German passport before moving to the UK over 30 years ago and obtaining a UK passport. Does she qualify as German and therefore can I apply for dual citizenship by virtue of having a German parent? Or does the fact that she no longer holds a German passport mean that she is no longer German in the eyes of the powers that be? Struggling to find the answer online!
Thanks very much for your comment James!
Before we go any further, let me make it clear that I am not a lawyer, so if you need legal advice, go ahead and contact an expert specialised in naturalisation / citizenship matters. This post is based on my personal experience. I assume no liability for the accuracy of the enclosed data!
As far as I understand it, by virtue of the fact that your mother’s father was German, then so is she! However, if she gave up her German Nationality, before you were born, it’s possible that you’re not German either! Having a passport or not is not the issue. Did she formally give up her German Rights?
Under normal circumstances, a child, who has one German and one foreign parent, automatically acquires all the citizenships their parents have. You on the other hand, might not qualify! It really depends on your age and when you were born as mothers didn’t qualify as passing German Citizenship on to their offspring before the 1970`s / 80’s I think. It was all on the father in those days! If you were born in “recent” times, then yes, you can apply.
Note:
You can usually obtain German citizenship by right of blood or Jus Sanguinis in which you have at least one German parent. It doesn’t matter whether you were born in Germany or not.
You can usually get German citizenship by descent, if your parents registered you at the German Embassy or Consulate in Britain.
You can get German citizenship by descent, if you were adopted by German citizens, as a child under 18
You and your descendents can get German citizenship by descent if you, your parents / grandparents, were German Jews between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945, and were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
You can get German citizenship by descent if you’re a spouse or descendant of an ethnic German from the former USSR, or certain parts of Eastern Europe, who previously had German citizenship, and were expelled and deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
You can get German citizenship by descent, if you’re a British citizen, and you are a descendant of German Jews who would have been German citizens by birth, but were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds, during World War II
You don’t qualify if you were born in Britain, and your German parent was born outside Germany.
Outside of the points above, you don’t qualify for German citizenship through any other ancestor, except your parent.
‘Hope this was helpful? 😉
Hi James, did you ever find out if you qualified? I am in a similar situation, my father is British, mother born German but took British nationality before I was born. I can’t say if she relinquished German nationality or just didn’t bother to renew anything). I was born in Germany, at a military hospital and my father registered me at the British Consulate. I have German family (cousins/aunts etc.) but have not been able to establish if I can have dual citizenship.
Hi Zwickl,
Thank you for your comment.
Before we go any further, let me make it clear that I am not a lawyer, so if you need legal advice, go ahead and contact an expert specialised in naturalisation / citizenship matters. This post is based on my personal experience. I assume no liability for the accuracy of the enclosed data!
In my opinion, YOU should apply for German citizenship not as a British person, but as an ethnic German!
I’m guessing that your mother’s father was German. If that is the case, then you’re German too!
It really depends on when YOU were born. If you were born after the late 70’s, you’re German by virtue of German blood. If you were born before then, it depends on the FATHER of your MOTHER!
As far as I understand it, by virtue of the fact that your mother’s father was German, then so is she!
In your case, you were born in Germany, and you are already (through your mum) ethnically German.
If you grew up in Germany, speak German, went to German school, and still live in Germany, you’re entitled anyway!
Under normal circumstances, a child, who has one German and one foreign parent, automatically acquires all the citizenships their parents have. It really depends on your age and when you were born as mothers didn’t qualify as passing German Citizenship on to their offspring before the 1970`s / 80’s I think. It was all on the father in those days!
Note:
You can usually obtain German citizenship by right of blood or Jus Sanguinis in which you have at least one German parent. It doesn’t matter whether you were born in Germany or not.
You can usually get German citizenship by descent, if your parents registered you at the German Embassy or Consulate in Britain.
You can get German citizenship by descent, if you were adopted by German citizens, as a child under 18
You and your descendents can get German citizenship by descent if you, your parents / grandparents, were German Jews between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945, and were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
You can get German citizenship by descent if you’re a spouse or descendant of an ethnic German from the former USSR, or certain parts of Eastern Europe, who previously had German citizenship, and were expelled and deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds
You can get German citizenship by descent, if you’re a British citizen, and you are a descendant of German Jews who would have been German citizens by birth, but were deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds, during World War II
You don’t qualify if you were born in Britain, and your German parent was born outside Germany.
Outside of the points above, you must qualify for German citizenship through your parent regardless of their new citizenship.
Go ahead and apply for German dual nationality, but hurry!
‘Hope this was helpful? 😉
Hi, me and my sister very recently applied for German citizenship as our father is German. We didn’t have to do any test but all the documents have been sent off. How long we’ll it take for everything to be finished? Will we get German passports and if so how long will that take? Thanks 🙂
Hi Macy,
Thank you for writing! It’ll really depend on where in Germany you are. Every State / Bundeslander seems to be different, and sometimes require you bring along different items too! If you live abroad, I really couldn’t say and again, would depend on the embassy requirement.
Under “normal” circumstances, if your father is German, then automatically, so are you!
Do let me know how you get on.
Good Luck! 😀
I need a work visa
Thank you for your comment Noormarjan!
For anything related to work visa and the like, please contact the Ausländerbehörde or the Immigration Office of the relevant city that you want to work in.
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Excellent post. Thanks!
Am trying to find info for my kids. Like yours, German dad and British mum. Did your son have to do the language test too?
Thanks so much Christian!
Nope. He didn’t have to do a thing except to put his signature in!
Our son was born in Germany and is in Gymnasium – Elite Grammar School – so…
I just decided to get the passport & I.D. for him, so that we would all have the same passport! Besides, at 16, he’s entitled to the I.D. card anyway. 😆
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Wow, Mega Wow! Toll eh! 🙂
Impressive Blog. First time to read a blog from top to bottom, and left to right. Haha..
Even saw you’ve been featured on our PH Metro Magazine. Glad you liked Philippines.
Well, it happened that today i was thinking to pursue on getting a German Passport via Naturalization(guess thats the only way) because Filipinos are always struggling to go inside a foreign country unless we’ve got VISA. I am currently somewhere in Russia for some company projects.
Here is my History:
I’ve been in Düsseldorf since 2013 with temporary Auswieß(Ausbildung period) for an international company. Later months i got Blau Karte EU and then few months later, i signed up for befristete Auftrag with the same company on 2014. In 2017, with unbefristete Auftrag and after 33rd month, i got my Niederlassungserlaubnis.
Here comes a problem, I am not always in Germany because my job requires me to fly in and out for some global service jobs. Therefore, my German language is inconsistently growing, i would say i would fail a B1(or A2) test for sure. I am good at camouflaging language accents and its basics, maybe that’s why during my interview with the Niederlassungserlaubnis application, i did passed. But getting that link from your blog to do a practice online(integrationkurz), damn that just made inspired.
Thanks a lot British-German Berliner. 🙂
Looking forward for your future blogs. More Power.
Regards,
Filipino Miner
Thanks so much Minerong Pilipino. I’m glad that you enjoyed reading it! 😀
What were your favourite articles?
Yay! ‘So glad that you saw my magazine feature. It was an honour to be asked. I even tried to buy a copy, but it was all sold out! 🙂
Keep at your German language skills. If you speak a couple of languages already (which I guess you do), then learning another one isn’t so different. German isn’t the easiest language to learn, but with determination, you’ll get the B1 requirement in no time. It’s just a matter of concentration and knuckling down, with a bit of hard study! 😉
Good Luck! 😀
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