Ask Me Help Desk - German Passport Eligibility

I am South African but my grandfather was born in Germany. Would I be eligiblie to get a German passport and if so how do I go about it?

Hi,
I have the same question (I am a US citizen with a german grandfather). I can't find any info on this. Did you find anything out?
Thanks!

Christie

Hi LeeSA & madigan,

I might me able to answer your question... it only dawned on me this morning that my ancestors were also german citizens and got excited by the idea of getting my hands on a german passport!! I googled "how to get a german passport" and found this:

My ancestors were German nationals. Can I get a German passport?

German passports are only issued to German citizens. Having German ancestors is unfortunately not enough to attain German citizenship. Rather, your father and/or mother have to have been German citizens at the time of your birth. If you were born before 1 January 1975 and your parents were married, you only attained German citizenship if your father was German at the time of your birth or if your parents submitted a declaration by 31 December 1977 stating they wanted German citizenship for their child.

Check out: www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Not sure if it's 100%, but it seems legit - so bad luck for us folks!! :(

Let me know if you find something else. I will be looking too...

Cheers

Hello. I am writing to let you know that my grandfather was German and my father, brother and myself have acquired the German nationality recently. Before 1973, German nationality was acquired only through the father. After that date the mother also transmits the nationality. To acquire the German nationality you need your grandfather's birth certificicate, marriage certificate, plus any evidence that he did not give up his German nationality. (eg. Enrolled in the army of another country, became a legal citizen of another country.) Although, having said that, what is important here -this being my dad's case- is that my grandfather was German when my father was born. Therefore when my grandad became a legal citizen of another country (eight years after my dad was born) this did not affect my father's right of acquiring the German nationality.
So, I think a good first step would be to get your grandfather's birth certificate. Then you have to prove the relationship between your grandfather and your father, and between your father and yourself. For that you will need your father's birth certificate, marriage certificate and your own birth certificate. Even if your great granddad was German, you could get the German passport. It is important to establish the links between the German grandfather and his descendants. I hope this helps.

Palitrompa,

Could you perhaps tell me your age? Because I would also like to apply via this process, but I've read that if you're older than 23 you can't apply any more.

Hi, I'm 32 years old. Age shouldn't be a problem. Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeSA

I am South African but my grandfather was born in Germany. Would I be eligiblie to get a German passport and if so how do I go about it?

Has anyone had any luck with this? Only my mother (& her parents) was german. The german foreign office seems definite that, if you were born before 1975, it had to have been your father...

I contacted the German embassy over here.

They have a few requirements.
The rule of 1975 applies. If you were born before 1975 and your mother is the German one then you can't get it.
In my case I can get it, but my sister was born before 1975 and she can't get it.

Also you have to prove that when your mother/ father was born your grandparent/s were still German citizens. Then you have to prove that you were born in your current country and that neither you nor your mother/ father gave up their German citizenship to become citizens of your current country. That shouldn't be a problem for most to prove.

My forms are at their offices at the moment.

HI I am from USA and I am in UK atm and I want to apply for my germany passport is this possible I was born in Germany in 1972 my dad was a service man for the army any suggestions?

My grandfather was a German citizen in the U.S until the day he died. He had many children, my mother was one of them. My mother is a U.S citizen as well and was born before 1975. I am male U.S citizen, would I be able to apply for citizenship? I hope that people still remember look at this topic since 2007 was the last post.

I was born in Germany to Ghanaian Parents in 1970, with my German birth certificate could I apply for a passport

Let's be frank here. Most people want a German passport for the convenience of traveling throughout the European Union nations like a citizen, & enjoying the benefits such as working, or purchasing property, or the health benefits & so on.
Here's my case. I was born in Germany in 1949 to parents who were slave laborers forcibly brought over (dragged I suspect) from Poland to work in factories, farms, railways etc. After the war they, like many, they didn't wish to go back home & live under a Russian-led communist regime. So we went off as refugees to Australia.
Around 2006, because of the value & convenience of having a European passport, I applied for one, thinking I had some entitlement being born there. But nope, I was informed, "You don't have ze German bloodline". Simple as that. I believe that they have since modified that rule, but only for people being born now, not retrospective.
The point here is that many thousands fall into the same category as myself. Born in a country their parents had no choice in being in, yet no rights.
Ironic part is, I rang the Polish consulate & was told I can get a Polish passport anytime I wish (after proving my identity of course), & I have never been to Poland, speak only a little, & don't really have any future plans to go there. Go figure.

So my point is this: If anyone reading this has any contacts at the European Court of Justice, the European Human Rights Court, or some group who feel like throwing a test case at the German government over this matter (based of racism/discrimination), please write a reply on this board.
Why bother with German citizenship? It's the point really. A point of justice that needs to be addressed.

"Why bother with German citizenship? It's the point really. A point of justice that needs to be addressed."

From what you've mentioned, you're not German. Your parents aren't German, neither are your grandparents.

Your Polish ancestors chose to emigrate to Australia. On what basis should you be entitled to German citizenship?

From what you've mentioned, you're not German. Your parents aren't German, neither are your grandparents.

Your Polish ancestors chose to emigrate to Australia. On what basis should you be entitled to German citizenship?

Hey Karloss, "Es mejor parecer IDIOTA y dejar la duda que abrir la boca y DEMOSTRARLO"

If he was born in Germany in any other normal, polite, correct countrry he will be German. Therefore you quote you're not German is the stupidest thing I've ever read... so just shut the %^$%& up and READ A LITTLE BIT.. YOU IDIOT

My son is born in Ghana and a ghanaian passport holder.Am his dad and a german citizen.
Now I want him to come and stay with me in Europe.What can I do to get him here and is there any chance for him to obtain the german citizenship?

What if this link is through your mothers side?

I can answer this question with a great deal of credibility. I just went through the passport process with the German Consulate in San Francisco. I also hired a private German Attorney to assist me. I too had circumstances that were very similar to some of those here. I had ancestors who were German. Did that make me a German citizen? Fortunately the ancestor that really matters in this case is a parent.

I was able to get a German passport, despite never having one and the process was very easy (minus all the prep work).

Here is my situation:

1) I was born after 1975
2) My mother was born in Germany.
3) I did not serve a foreign military service after January 1, 2000

The German Nationality law is very complex. Due to Germany being a sanguinis country, citizenship is based on parentage, not where you were born. It is different if you were born before or after 1975. Before 1975, citizenship is derived from your German Father (and not your mother unless she was unmarried at the time of your birth and she declared you before 1977). After 1975, citizenship is derived from your German Mother (or Father). The hardest thing to grasp being an American was even though my mother was born in Germany, it does not automatically make her a German citizen. Other proof is needed. Unfortunately for those of you who claim to possibly have German Citizenship based on a grandparent or great grandparent, most likely you don't. Citizenship must be derived from your immediate parent. Even if your grandparent was German, you parent (which parent depends on when you were born) would need to have been German when you were born. Chances are, unless your German parent went through the German Citizenship process (either by way of getting a certificate or a Passport) around the time you were born (or before), you most likely will not be able to produce the proof you need.

In the end, the most important document you will need is:

PROOF YOUR GERMAN PARENT (THE PERSON YOU DERIVE YOUR GERMAN CITIZENSHIP FROM) WAS A GERMAN CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF YOUR BIRTH. This can be either an old expired German Passport issued around the time of your birth, or a USA Green Card issued around the same time as your birth.

Keep in mind, the proof they need is that your parent (who you derive your citizenship from was a German at the time you were born). No, not at the time they were born. Not that they are German now. But a German at the TIME OF YOUR BIRTH. In my case, I needed to have either an expired passport issued around 1975 or a US Green Card issued around that time. Luckily I had my mother's Green card.

The documents I needed (can also be found on the German Consulate website) were:

1) My US Passport (serves as proof of ID as well as US Legal Status)
2) My Driver License
3) My birth certificate
4) My mother's GERMAN passport (showing she is currently a German Citizen)
5) My mother's US Green Card (showing she was a German Citizen when I was born). Note: US Green Cards have an ORIGINAL issue date, so even if you have a recently issued Green Card, it will still show an issue date of the original date (which in my mother's case was in 1968)
6) My mother's birth certificate (to order German Birth Records, check out www.germany-service.com. I got my mother's birth certificate in about 3 weeks).
7) 2 Biometric Photographs
8) A Passport Application Form

I made an appointment online for the consulate, traveled to San Francisco. I showed up about 15 minutes early to my appointment. When the Passport officer called me to the window, she inspected my documents and confirmed I had everything I needed. She reviewed my application, then got on the keyboard and started to enter my information in. They took copies of my original documents and then asked me to provide fingerprints. I also had applications for my two children. Those were accepted along with mine. I paid the $278 in processing fee's (1 adult and 2 child passports, plus shipping to my address since I wouldn't be available to take personal delivery at the consulate) and was advised to expect my passport in about a month.

Overall, the process was very easy. Gathering the documents was the most pain staking process. My mother was reluctant to give up some of her important documents, but in the end she trusted me. This whole experience has brought us closer too. Having German Citizenship opens new doors. Anyway.

My name is noraiz and I'm 16 and I live in germany for 3 months I heard when I am 18 years government of germany ask me what nationality you want. Of germany passport or Pakistan passport.and I'm confused by this law please explain.