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Apply for citizenship card

Service Description

You can file an application to establish the existence of your German nationality if there is a well-founded interest in establishing this.

An interest in a determination exists, for example, if

  • German authorities or courts require you to have persisting doubts about your German nationality clarified by the nationality authority after their own examination of evidence already available (for example, German identity papers or birth certificates), or
  • you have to prove your German citizenship to German or foreign authorities or courts by means of a special document despite presenting a valid German proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card).

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

Process flow

  • You must apply for the determination of the existence of German citizenship and the issuance of a citizenship certificate at the responsible citizenship authority.
  • If necessary, a personal consultation at the citizenship authority may be required.
  • For your application, use the application form provided for this purpose by the citizenship authority for download 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.
  • After receipt of the application documents, the citizenship authority will contact you. You do not need to do anything else before that.
  • In the course of the procedure, the citizenship authority will ask you to submit the original documents to them 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 this (for example because you have German ancestors).
  • You usually stay in Germany.
  • You must credibly demonstrate a justified interest in the determination. Such an interest is credible if you state certain facts which make it appear predominantly probable for 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 requires the presentation of a citizenship certificate).

Which documents are required?

  • Fully completed application form
  • Proof of identity (foreign passport, recognized foreign passport replacement document or other official foreign identity document with photo, for example an identity card or identity card).
  • Proof that German citizenship was in any case once held and, if applicable, is still currently held:
    • German identity documents (for example, passport, children's ID card, identity card),
    • Naturalization certificates,
    • certificates or documents on the acquisition of German citizenship by declaration or option,
    • Spätaussiedler certificates,
    • expellees' identity cards,
    • registration certificates,
    • refugee identity cards,
    • Appointment certificates (in the case of civil servants),
    • citizenship certificates,
    • Heimatscheine,
    • documents or identity cards on legal status as a German or a German citizen, or
    • documents on membership of the group of persons to whom a collective naturalization applied (for example, proof of - former - right of domicile, citizenship or residence in the areas concerned, certificates of renunciation of the right of renunciation).

What are the fees?

The fee for the declaratory decision is 51 EUR

Remark:

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

There are no additional costs for the issuance of the citizenship certificate.

Special shipping options (e.g., registered mail or cash on delivery) will incur additional expenses to cover costs.

A citizenship certificate will only be sent if the assessment 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 correctness of your information and the completeness of your application documents. In addition, it depends on which, if any, difficult facts have to be determined in order to be able to make the requested determination. Depending on the circumstances, it may take a few weeks or even more than a year to reach a final decision on your application.

Legal basis

Appeal

Personal appearance required: Yes

What else should I know?

  • Citizenship certificates are only issued if this is necessary to prove German citizenship to German or foreign public authorities or is at least specifically useful in individual cases (for example, for a civil service appointment or adoption). If the existence of German citizenship is not in doubt, applications for determination are generally not granted.
  • The citizenship certificate 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. In principle, it is sufficient to present a valid German passport or a valid German identity card. You should therefore only apply for a citizenship certificate 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

Technically approved by

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

Professionally released on

08.02.2022

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

No competent authority found