Reclaim the citizenship your family lost.
If you have German ancestry — a parent, grandparent, or an ancestor persecuted between 1933 and 1945 — you may be able to claim or restore German citizenship, and keep your current passport. This free guide shows you the routes, the evidence you need, and how to find the records across a century of shifting borders.
Start here
The routes
The process & evidence
Getting help & reference
Do I qualify for German citizenship?
Possibly — it depends on your ancestor, the dates, and the law in force at the time. Start with the eligibility guide to find your route.
Is this guide free?
Yes. It is a free research aid to help you build your own case — not legal advice, and nothing to buy.
What is the hardest part?
Finding the records across borders that moved and eras that changed — which is exactly what this guide is built to help with.
Can I claim through a grandparent or great-grandparent?
Often yes. Citizenship by descent can pass down several generations — what matters is that the line was never broken, with each ancestor still German when the next was born. A grandparent or great-grandparent is a common starting point.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship?
No. Since Germany’s June 2024 reform, dual citizenship is generally allowed, so most people can become German while keeping the nationality they already hold.
How long does it take, and does it cost anything?
This guide is free. Official application fees are modest — the real cost is time, usually many months, most of it spent locating the historical records. That record-finding is exactly what this guide is built to help with.
Start with your route
The fastest way in is to see which path fits your family. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.