Is it possible to have another citizenship in addition to German citizenship?

In certain cases, German nationality law allows its citizens to have or acquire an additional citizenship. Multiple nationality may result from the following situations:

• 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.

• Ethnic German repatriates and family members admitted with them acquire German citizenship when they are issued a repatriates certificate, in accordance with Section 7 of the Nationality Act; they do not have to give up their previous citizenship. If allowed by their countries of origin, their children born in Germany then acquire at birth both German citizenship and that of their parents.

• In certain cases, German citizens may apply for dual nationality, allowing them to acquire foreign citizenship while retaining their German citizenship.

Those who have multiple nationality for one of these reasons normally pass multiple nationality on to their children. In such cases, German law allows children to retain their multiple nationality permanently. Persons with multiple nationality may, however, choose to give up their German citizenship (Section 26 of the Nationality Act).

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Can I become a naturalized citizen without giving up my previous citizenship?

Section 12 of the Nationality Act

As a rule, no. One aim of German nationality law is to avoid creating multiple nationality through naturalization as far as possible. However, there are exceptions for cases of special hardship.

For more information please contact your local naturalization authority.

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Do special rules apply to EU citizens?

Given the aim of increasing European integration, EU citizens are not required to give up their previous citizenship. According to Section 25 para. 2 of the Nationality Act, Germans who become naturalized citizens of another EU country may retain their German citizenship.

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Do multiple nationals have special rights?

In Germany, a person with foreign citizenship in addition to his/her German citizenship (a multiple national) has exactly the same rights as all other German citizens.

Additional rights may result in relation to the other state whose nationality they have. Whether they may exercise these rights (such as the right to vote) depends on the laws of the other state and does not affect policy, society or the individual in Germany.

When German multiple nationals are in the other country of their citizenship, the German embassy or consulate there may be able to provide them only limited protection, as such persons are regarded by the other country primarily as their citizens and treated accordingly.