German Citizenship Glossary
The key German citizenship and records terms in plain English — each with its German, Polish, French and Hebrew equivalent, so you recognise them on forms and in archives.
Applications and archives use precise terms, often in German. This glossary explains each one and gives the word you will see in German, Polish, French and Hebrew — useful when a record, office or form is not in your language.
Documents & records
The civil record of a birth — the backbone of a citizenship-by-descent claim.
The civil record of a marriage, often needed where a surname or line changes.
The civil record of a death, sometimes required to complete a chain of descent.
An official copy of a record, stamped as a true copy by the issuing office.
An international certificate confirming a public document is genuine (Hague Convention).
A translation by a sworn translator, often required for non-German documents.
Proof a person acquired citizenship; can evidence an ancestor’s status.
A travel document evidencing nationality; an old one can help prove an ancestor was German.
Offices & archives
The local office (Standesamt) keeping births, marriages and deaths from 1 Oct 1876.
The authority (BVA) that decides most descent and restoration cases.
Parish books (Kirchenbücher) recording births, marriages and deaths before 1876.
A repository of historical records; many German records sit in regional or specialist archives.
International centre on Nazi persecution; a key source for Article 116(2) evidence.
A German embassy or consulate, where applicants outside Germany often apply.
Law & status
Germany’s constitution (Grundgesetz); Article 116(2) is its restoration provision.
The statute (StAG) governing citizenship, including the §5 and §15 declaration routes.
Legal membership of a state; German nationality can be held alongside another.
Holding two nationalities at once; allowed in the descent and restoration routes.
A formal statement claiming citizenship under §5 or §15 (Erklärung).
Being stripped of citizenship — what Article 116(2) reverses for the persecuted.
Written authority for someone to act for you; a notarised form is a beglaubigte Vollmacht.
People & lineage
Acquiring citizenship through a parent or ancestor (Abstammung).
A person from whom you are descended; the German ancestor anchors a claim.
A person descended from an ancestor; restoration follows the line to all descendants.
The authority whose law and records govern a place at a given date.