Staatsangehörigkeit; Beantragung der Feststellung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit

Whether or not German citizenship exists can be decided by the administration in cases of doubt in a generally binding manner.

As a rule, the authorities in Germany only need a valid passport or identity card to verify German citizenship. In cases of doubt, it can be determined with binding effect whether German citizenship exists.

Upon application, Germans receive a citizenship card as proof of German citizenship.

Foreigners can apply for a negative certificate to prove that they do not have German citizenship.

• Application available from the competent authority or online procedure
• Documents proving possession of German citizenship
  • Documents or other evidence of acquisition or possession of German citizenship such as:
    • Naturalisation certificates
    • Certificates/documents on the acquisition of German citizenship by declaration or option
    • Certificate in accordance with § 15 of the Federal Expellees Act
    • Appointment certificates for civil servants
    • Determination notices on the acquisition of citizenship through service in the former German armed forces and other comparable associations
    • Documents on membership of the group of persons to whom a collective naturalisation extended
    • Expellees' identity cards, Volksliste identity cards, certificates of nationality or other documents on German nationality
    • Proof of (former) right of domicile, citizenship or residence in the areas concerned, certificates of renunciation of the right of renunciation
    • Documents on the possession of German citizenship or former legal status as a German or on treatment as a German
    • Citizenship cards, certificates of origin, documents/identifications on legal status as a German
    • Passports, identity cards and other identification documents (also old ones)
    • Excerpts from (former) family registers, citizens' lists, citizens' directories
    • Documents on military service or work as a civil servant
    • Confirmation of registration; documents on permission to retain German citizenship, ID cards for displaced persons, (old) refugee ID cards, registration certificates in single copy
    • Other possible documents
  • If required, the following additional documents may also be necessary:
    • Documents on the non-acquisition of another nationality (non-acquisition certificate)
    • Proof of acquisition/possession of other nationalities
    • Name change documents/certificates
    • Civil partnership certificate
    • Consent from the Federal Ministry of Defence or the Federal Office of Defence Administration to serve in a foreign army
    • Documents on custody (for applications from persons under 16 years of age)
  • Further documents will be requested by the competent authority if required.
• Documents proving non-possession of German citizenship
  • In addition to the information on your parentage, the following documents are also required
    • Proof of acquisition and possession of foreign citizenship
    • Proof of loss of German citizenship
    • Proof of completion of military service abroad

  regularly required.

  • Further documents will be requested by the competent authority if necessary.

• Certificate of citizenship: Possession of German citizenship and proof of an interest in a material decision
• Negative certificate: Non-possession of German citizenship

The fee for a certificate of citizenship or a negative certificate is 51.00 EUR. Rejection is also subject to a fee.

The application for a certificate of citizenship / negative certificate must be submitted to the citizenship authority (district administrative authority).

The application for a certificate of citizenship / negative certificate must include the applicant's personal details and documents or other evidence proving possession or non-possession of German citizenship.

The application can already be submitted to many authorities online or alternatively in paper form.

The processing time can take several months. It is significantly influenced by the extent to which you support the citizenship authority within the scope of your duty to cooperate and the validity of the enclosed documents. Considerable delays may occur if inquiries have to be made in old registers.

An appeal against a negative decision by the authority can be brought before the competent administrative court.