In certain cases, German nationality law allows its citizens to have or acquire an additional citizenship. … As a rule, children born to a German and a non-German parent, or to parents with dual nationality, acquire the nationalities of both parents at birth, according to the principle of descent.
Can I be a dual citizen of US and Germany?
Both the United States and Germany recognize the concept of multiple nationality. A child born to an American parent and a German parent acquires both American and German citizenship at birth, regardless of place of birth. … American-German dual nationals may owe taxes in both countries.
Who is eligible for German citizenship?
German Citizenship Requirements for Naturalization
You must have lived in Germany on a residence permit for at least eight years, or. You must have lived in Germany on a residence permit for seven years and attended an integration course (this becomes six years in special integration circumstances)
How do I get German citizenship through descent?
German citizenship is mainly acquired and passed on through descent from a German parent. The parent has to be German citizen at the time of the birth of the child. Children who are born to former German citizens do not acquire German citizenship.
Can I get German citizenship through my grandparents?
If you do have family ties, then you may be eligible to apply for German citizenship by descent. This means that if one of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents was a German citizen, then you may also be one!
What happens when you marry a German citizen?
If you marry a German citizen, you are not automatically entitled to German citizenship. However, spouses of German citizens are permitted to apply for citizenship by naturalisation much sooner than others: usually after two years of marriage.
Can I live in Germany if I marry a German?
Once you are married to a German national, you are normally entitled to a residence permit. Marrying a German national does not automatically result in German citizenship, though. Depending on your citizenship, you can apply for naturalization later on.
How much does German citizenship cost?
Pay the application fees
There are some fees that each applicant will have to pay during their application process, which are as following: Application form for adults – 255 € Application form for children under 16 years old – 51 € Naturalization/Citizenship test – 25 €
Can you buy German citizenship?
In terms of visa-free travel, here are the 25 countries with the most powerful passports, according to a new ranking by Henley & Partners, which is into “citizenship planning.” But among them is only – Austria – one whose citizenship can be bought (more on that in a moment): Germany: visa-free travel to 176 countries.
Can I get German citizenship after 5 years?
If you’ve been here between 5 and 8 years, you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence. Under German law, dual citizenship may be granted to citizens of EU states, the EEA and Switzerland, refugees, children born to a German parent abroad, and children born after 2001 in Germany to non-German parents.
Can a German citizen get US citizenship?
Being a dual citizen of both the United States and Germany is possible. … Many German citizens can become US citizens and retain their original citizenship thanks to Germany’s retention permit. The retention permit allows Germans living in the US to become Americans and still remain German citizens.
Are you a German citizen if born in Germany?
German citizenship acquired through birth in Germany
Since 2000, children born in Germany to foreign parents acquire German citizenship at birth in addition to the foreign citizenship of their parents, on the principle of jus soli (Latin for “right of the territory”).
Can you get dual citizenship through grandparents?
One of the easiest ways to acquire dual citizenship is by descent. Many countries let you claim citizenship if your parents, grandparents or — in some cases — great grandparents were born in said country. There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization.
How do you know if you are German?
7 surefire signs your kids are definitely German
- They‘re already beer enthusiasts in the making. …
- They‘ve picked up the local phrases (probably better than you have) …
- And they start to correct your German. …
- When their accents speaking English no longer sound like your own.
Can I get a German passport if my mother was born in Germany?
Can I get a German passport? A child can attain German citizenship by being born in Germany even if neither parent is German. … Children who become German citizens in this way must however decide between the age of 18 and 23 whether they want to retain German citizenship or the citizenship of their parents.