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Apply for a citizenship card

Service Description

You can file an application to determine the existence of your German citizenship if there is a justified interest in a declaratory judgment.

An interest in a declaratory judgment exists, for example, if

  • German authorities or courts demand that you have any remaining doubts about your German citizenship clarified by the citizenship authority following their own examination of existing evidence (e.g. German identity documents or birth certificates), or
  • in exceptional cases, despite presenting valid German proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card) to German or foreign authorities or courts, you must prove your German citizenship with a special document.

If the citizenship authority determines upon your application that you have German citizenship, you will receive a special document (citizenship certificate).

Process flow

  • You must apply to the relevant citizenship authority to establish the existence of German citizenship and to obtain a citizenship card.
  • If necessary, a personal consultation at the citizenship authority may be required.
  • To submit your application, please use the application form provided for download by the citizenship authority or sent to you on request.
  • Submit the completed application form with all documents (see "Required documents") in clearly legible copies (on white paper, DIN A4) to the citizenship authority.
  • Once the application documents have been received, the citizenship authority will contact you. You do not need to do anything else before then.
  • In the course of the procedure, the citizenship authority will ask you to submit the original documents for verification; you will then receive the documents back immediately.

Who should I contact?

For individual advice and application, please contact the citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence

  • in Germany to the citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence,
  • outside Germany to the competent German diplomatic mission abroad or the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne.

Requirements

  • You have German citizenship or at least suspect that you do (for example, because you have German ancestors).
  • You usually reside in Germany.
  • You must credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest in the determination. Such an interest is credible if you state certain facts which make it appear predominantly probable to the citizenship authority that the determination of the existence of German citizenship is relevant for a purpose worthy of protection (for example, because a German public authority has doubts about your German citizenship and expressly requests the presentation of a proof of citizenship).

Which documents are required?

  • Fully completed application form
  • Proof of identity (foreign passport, recognized foreign passport replacement document or another official foreign identity document with photograph, for example an identity card or ID card)
  • Proof that German citizenship was previously held and, if applicable, is still held:
    • German identity documents (for example passport, child's identity card, identity card),
    • Naturalization certificates,
    • certificates or documents on the acquisition of German citizenship by declaration or option,
    • late repatriate certificates,
    • ID cards for displaced persons,
    • registration certificates,
    • refugee identity cards,
    • certificates of appointment (for civil servants),
    • certificates of citizenship,
    • certificates of origin,
    • certificates or identity cards concerning legal status as a German or German national or
    • Documents relating to membership of the group of persons to whom a collective naturalization applied (e.g. proof of - former - right of origin, citizenship or residence in the areas concerned, certificates of waiver of the right of renunciation).

What are the fees?

The fee for the declaratory decision is EUR 51

Remark:

For reasons of equity or public interest, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be granted.

There are no additional costs for issuing the certificate of nationality.

For special shipping options (e.g. registered mail or cash on delivery), additional expenses will be charged to cover costs.

A nationality card will only be sent if the determination fee and any expenses have been paid in advance or if cash on delivery is requested

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

The citizenship card is issued for an unlimited period of time.

Processing duration

The duration of the application processing depends, among other things, on the factual accuracy of your information and the completeness of your application documents. It also depends on which, if any, difficult facts need to be determined in order to be able to make the requested determination. Depending on this, it may take a few weeks or even longer than a year to reach a final decision on your application.

Legal basis

Appeal

Personal appearance required: Yes

What else should I know?

  • Certificates of citizenship are only issued if this is necessary to prove German citizenship to German or foreign public authorities or is at least useful in individual cases (e.g. for a civil service appointment or adoption). If the existence of German citizenship is not in doubt, applications for declaratory judgment will generally not be granted.
  • The certificate of citizenship is not proof of identity. It cannot be used for travel or as a substitute for an identity card.
  • As a rule, you do not need a citizenship certificate to prove that you have German citizenship. It is generally sufficient for you to present a valid German passport or a valid German identity card. You should therefore only apply for a nationality card if you have been requested to do so in text form by an official body.

Further Information

  • Information provided by the Federal Office of Administration

    Remark: The website provides more detailed information on the procedure for determining German citizenship and an electronically fillable application form (PDF file) for download. Although the information is aimed at persons living abroad, it also applies to persons with their habitual residence in Germany

Author

Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, Department 21

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg

Professionally released on

08.02.2022

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)

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