Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis

§ 30 para. 1 sentence 1 i. in conjunction with § 30 para. 3 sentence 1 (StAG)

A (German) citizenship card serves as binding proof of German citizenship.

The possession of German citizenship is proven - binding for all authorities - by a citizenship card or a negative certificate. These are issued by the citizenship authority on application as part of a special determination procedure.

For proof of German citizenship, it is necessary, but also sufficient, if the existence or non-existence of German citizenship can be proven with sufficient probability by means of documents, extracts from the population registers or other written evidence.

The following documents may be useful:

• on parentage and marital status (e.g. marriage certificates),
• on the acquisition of German citizenship (e.g. naturalization certificates),
• membership of the group of persons to whom collective naturalization applied (e.g. expellee identity card),
• acquisition of legal status as a German without German citizenship,
• possession of German citizenship or legal status as a German (e.g. documents authorizing the retention of German citizenship),
• the acquisition of another nationality (e.g. naturalization certificate).

A certificate of citizenship or a negative certificate can only be issued if there are doubts about German citizenship or if proof is expressly requested by an authority. The citizenship authority will check

• whether you can credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest in the determination,
• whether and how you acquired German citizenship,
• whether you have lost your German citizenship and, if so, by what means.

In addition to your personal details, information about the persons from whom you derive your nationality is therefore also required.

To the citizenship authorities of the districts or independent cities or, in cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, to the respective city.

The Federal Office of Administration is responsible for applicants living abroad.