A German passport is an EU travel document, and only a German citizen can hold one. If you have German roots, you may qualify for German citizenship by descent — and therefore for a German passport.
What is a German passport and why it’s valuable
The German passport is one of the strongest in the world: visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most countries, plus the right to live, work and study anywhere in the EU. It is issued on the basis of German citizenship — it is not a separate status.
Who is eligible for a German passport?
You must first be a German citizen. The most common routes for descendants living abroad are:
- German citizenship by descent — where a German parent or grandparent passed citizenship down an unbroken line.
- Article 116(2) — restoration for descendants of those persecuted in the Nazi era who lost their citizenship.
- StAG §15 and §5 routes for other cases of historic injustice.
How to get a German passport by descent — the process
- Check eligibility — confirm your family line actually qualifies.
- Obtain a certificate of nationality (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis) — the official proof you are a German citizen. See certificate of German nationality.
- Apply for the passport — once citizenship is confirmed, apply at the German consulate or embassy.
Start here
Not sure if you qualify? Check your eligibility free — a few short questions and you’ll know whether the path to a German passport is open to you.