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Germany citizenship by descent is governed by Article 116 GG · StAG §15 restitution. For descendants of those persecuted under the Nazi regime (1933–1945), Article 116 of the Basic Law provides a constitutional right to German citizenship. We file under StAG §15 for victims, descendants, and survivors of all persecuted groups. The 2021 reform remedied prior gender-equal treatment gaps.
This pillar page clusters every piece of Ancestra content related to German citizenship by descent — country guide, document checklists, comparisons, glossary terms, cost estimates, and eligibility assessment — in one place.
The key thing to know: Article 116 is restitution, not naturalization — applicants are deemed German since birth. The 2021 reform (StAG §15) closed gender-equal treatment gaps that previously denied claims from descendants of German mothers married to foreign fathers.
Transmission rule: Both parents equally since 1975. Before 1975, maternal transmission only if the child would otherwise be stateless. Article 116 covers ALL descendants of Nazi-era persecutees.
Generational limit: No generational limit for Article 116 restitution (Nazi-era persecutees). For standard descent: unlimited, but pre-1975 maternal transmission and pre-1953 gender gaps create breaks.
Dual citizenship: Permitted for Article 116 restitution and StAG §15 cases. For standard descent: generally requires renunciation, but 2024 dual citizenship reform now permits it.
Language requirement: B1 German for naturalization. Not required for Article 116 or StAG §15.
Filing authority: Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA, Federal Office of Administration) in Cologne, or German consulate abroad.
FAQ
Is there a generational limit for Germany citizenship by descent?
Germany: No generational limit for Article 116 restitution (Nazi-era persecutees). For standard descent: unlimited, but pre-1975 maternal transmission and pre-1953 gender gaps create breaks.
Does Germany allow dual citizenship?
Germany: Permitted for Article 116 restitution and StAG §15 cases. For standard descent: generally requires renunciation, but 2024 dual citizenship reform now permits it.
Related resources
Germany country guide
Article 116 GG · StAG §15 restitution
Germany checklist (grandparent)
Complete document checklist for claiming through a grandparent
Germany checklist (parent)
Complete document checklist for claiming through a parent
Germany cost calculator
Estimate your all-in cost
Glossary: Article 116
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Glossary: Grundgesetz
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Glossary: StAG
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Glossary: BVA
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