Acquiring German citizenship by declaration as a person living abroad

You live abroad and would like to acquire German citizenship by declaration.

After the Basic Law came into force, certain provisions of citizenship law that contained gender-discriminatory unequal treatment initially remained valid.

Were you born after May 23, 1949, and were you or your ancestors unable to acquire German citizenship or did you lose it due to these regulations? Then you can submit a declaration and acquire German citizenship.

If you meet the requirements, you acquire German citizenship upon submitting the declaration and its receipt by the competent citizenship authority. If you live abroad, the competent citizenship authority is the Federal Office of Administration (BVA). You can also submit the declaration to the German diplomatic mission abroad responsible for you.

Please check with the competent authorities of your country of origin well before submitting the declaration whether submitting the declaration for acquisition of citizenship will affect your current nationality. This depends solely on the law of the state whose nationality you currently hold.

You or your authorized representative can submit the declaration for the acquisition of German citizenship:

• online or by mail to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) or
• by mail or by appointment in person at your responsible German diplomatic mission abroad

If you would like to submit the declaration online:

• Go to the federal portal website. The portal will guide you step by step through the declaration and the necessary supporting documents.
• The BVA will review your statement and, if necessary, request certified copies of documents.
• If your declaration is accepted, the BVA will send your naturalization certificate to the competent foreign mission. They will inform you about the next steps for handing over the naturalization certificate.
• If the BVA does not follow your statement, you will be informed via the diplomatic mission abroad.

If you wish to submit the declaration by mail or in person:

• You can receive all necessary information in advance by email, telephone, or in a personal consultation on-site. Among other things, you will receive information on which documents you need to attach to your declaration.
• Download the declaration form from the BVA website. If necessary, the diplomatic or consular mission abroad can assist you in filling out the declaration.
• Fill out the form, sign it, and send it by mail together with the required documents to your competent German foreign mission. You can also submit it there in person by prior appointment.
• Alternatively, you can send your application and the documents by mail to the BVA.
• The BVA will review your declaration and inform you if further documents and information are required.
• The further steps correspond to the procedure for the online application.

You must submit the declaration by August 19, 2031, at the latest. The date of receipt of the declaration by the Federal Office of Administration is decisive for meeting the deadline. Declarations received by the Federal Office of Administration after August 19, 2031, will no longer lead to the acquisition of German citizenship.

The procurement of certificates, translations, and authentications may incur costs.

• Objection
• Further information on how to file an appeal can be found in your notice.