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Dual Nationality

assets and drawbacks?

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > Germany-wide > Life in Germany

Janus

Jul 4 2005, 5:05 pm

Hello to everyone here!

If this is too much text, just skip to the last line!

QUOTE

I hope there's somebody in a similar situation, the whole subject seems to be rather complex. Until this day neither my lawyer, nor the British Embassy or the local bureau of citizenship seems to know the definite answer to this.

I was born in Darmstadt, Hesse and have lived here to this day with my German father and English mother. I aquired the British nationality by descent by being born out of wedlock in 1986. My parents then married in 1988.

Almost a year ago the German Bundeswehr (armed forces) sent me an invitation for the Musterung (physical examination) to do the compulsory military service.

For some reason the Kreiswehrersatzamt (district draft board) had me on their list. Never knowing when I should have obtained the German citizenship I started an enquiry which snowballed into an impressive red-tape display that lasted a few months and left me where I had started.

The draft office deems me German, as does my lawyer, whereas the bureau of citizenship won't let me apply for a Personalausweis (identity card) because they regard me as being solely British, referring to §5 StAG (nothing to do with the animal), where it says that in order to gain German citizenship you have to
a) hand in a filiation,
live 3 years in Germany and
c) submit an application until the age of 23 (which I have not yet).

Currently I see two possibilities: either I am British or British _and_ German for reasons unknown to me. I'd then like to know whether you think a German citizenship would have advantages. As far as I can see the only reason for keeping it would be to have the right to vote and having to serve for 9 glorios months in the army having lots of beer and nothing to do

So if there would be any reason for keeping my (dubious) German citizenship, please let me know!

maaph

Jul 5 2005, 8:48 am

I think the only advantage of being German is not having to pay 10 quid to get into Turkey.

Of course the right to vote is not to be sniffed at.

Seems like the classic red tape, arse / elbow Beamter-ing that we all love ...

A-3

Jul 5 2005, 11:54 am

QUOTE

9 glorios months

You are lucky a had to do 15 months at the German Air Force and I got a British and German passport

bbulldog

Jul 5 2005, 1:00 pm

So far as i know the british stopped Dual Nationality some time back. I have been here 30 years adn still have my british nationality something i will not give up. Although i dont think it will matter which you have. British if you want out of the bundeswehr

A-3

Jul 5 2005, 2:15 pm

QUOTE

So far as i know the british stopped Dual Nationality

The Brits don’t care but the German’s don't like it when you got Dual Nationality but tuff for them

luke

Jul 5 2005, 3:00 pm

that must be contravening some EU law.

A-3

Jul 5 2005, 9:24 pm

what is

QUOTE

contravening

Jean-Pierre

Jul 5 2005, 9:48 pm

QUOTE

what is

QUOTE

contravening

con·tra·vene ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kntr-vn)
tr.v. con·tra·vened, con·tra·ven·ing, con·tra·venes
To act or be counter to; violate: contravene a direct order.
To oppose in argument; gainsay: contravened the proposal. See Synonyms at deny.

Jean-Pierre

Egg Chaser

Jul 5 2005, 9:57 pm

Being German means they'll let you into university without you having to do the German test.

jg.

Jul 5 2005, 10:53 pm

One of my friends (British) asked the Home Office about the dual citizenship issue for his Filipina wife... The official said they didn't care how many other citizenships you have. Asked if they would mark her passport or otherwise tell the Philippine authorities when arranging her British passport, the official replied "We won't tell them if you won't!" :-)

I read somewhere (maybe on Auswertiges Amt website) that the German authorities may now allow dual citizenship in some situations. (Maybe because Joska Fischer wants to take up his Hungarian citizenship but doesn't want to lose his job) :-)

There are some situations where not being a citizen gives you more rights - i.e. where your rights are given as an EU citizen (things like free visas for non-EU family members). These rights don't apply in an EU country of which you are a national.

Manuel de Vol

Jul 6 2005, 3:26 pm

As far as the Brits are concerned, you can have as many nationalities as you like.

If you have to give up your British passport as a condition of getting an additional nationality, it's no big deal - you can always get another one if you want it. (German laws apply in Germany, but not in the UK - and vice-versa.)

Back to the original post, you could try writing to the Kreiswehrersatzamt telling them you'd be delighted to attend Musterung and are looking forward to military service, but you won't be able to swear a meaningful oath of allegiance, because the people in the bureau of citizenship are denying you your right to German citizenship, notwithstanding that you were born here, have a German father and have lived here all your life. Ask them to 'straighten out' the bureaucrats in the bureau of citizenship.

Then write to the Bureau of Citizenship and tell them that the Bundeswehr are trying to boost their recruiting by recruiting foreigners. Ask them to investigate the matter.

Those two letters should keep both sides busy for the forseeable future and you'll be able to sit back and drink beer at home while they sort it out.

Janus

Jul 7 2005, 6:30 pm

Thanks so far for all the replys. Some interesting ones there - especially the last. It reminds me of a certain Chinese take-away phone prank. I will take it into consideration. After the show is over, I would then renounce my German citizenship :evilgrin:

The German test and £10 fee I could cope with. And not being able to vote I could bear with, too, considering that the Eurocrats will sooner or later probably reform the latter anyway.

Tony-bb

Aug 4 2005, 2:26 pm

Having had uncomfortable times in shops and police checks because of having no personalausweis I started looking into dual nationality. the federal ministry of the interior berlin website in english and german is clear.
because of european integration EU citizens ca be german citizens and not give up their citizenship. applies to countries which allow same for germans. GB is one of them.
Then there will be the usual reuirements such as (I think) 8 years residency

that's clear. but where does one go to get this running? anyone know? I am in Hamburg. Also I believe there is some kind of test...anyone know what this entails...I might know the St Pauli scores for last 10 years but ask me which (and why) der die dem das etc has to be used is not going to be a wnner for me!
best rgds

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