German Citizenship

Well, as discussed in a thread a few weeks ago, since January 2005 it's possible for people from certain EU countries to obtain German citizenship without giving up their original nationality, and I've decided this sounds like a fine thing and I'm going to go for it!

First step has now been achieved, completely painlessly
Went down to the local Ausländeramt and asked about it. Woman there new exactly what I wanted before I'd even finished my sentence, confirmed that the UK citizens were indeed allowed doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft and gave me the appropriate forms.
Took all of five minutes.

Filling in the form, however, took a good three quarters of an hour, and guess what - they want to know EVERYTHING.
I can understand wanting details about my husband (although as he's German it really should be enough to just say that), but does it really matter where and when my parents were born??? I'm the one living in Germany, I'm the one paying taxes here, I'm the one married to a German - what on earth have my parents got to do with it?

Anyway, lots of personal details needed, lots of job/earnings questions (as expected), and they need to know every place you've EVER LIVED, from when to when.
And they want all your education details (not so suprising).

And after you've filled all this in, you have to provide various documents to back it all up, including birth certificate, proof that you're working, proof of your social contributions (this I suspect will be tricky), marriage certificate and a full CV covering (obviously) your entire life.

So I guess the first step was definitely the easiest.

The nice lady at the Ausländeramt said to fill in the form, get together all the relevant documents and then give it in at my local Rathaus.
Off to do that next week, once I've got all the proof together.

Will let you all know how I get on
Wish me luck

Good on ya!

Any mention of a German exam?

Well good luck with the application.

Have to say though I have mixed feelings about the idea. Seems to me a bit like surrenduring to the old nationalistic system.

Being a pro-Euro renegade, I`d prefer it if I could have Euro-nationality - not german or british, with full rights to everywhere in the EU. Lets abolish german citizenship and british citizenship and all the others and have a EURO-citizenship! What`s your nationality? European!

Not possible? - Well maybe not now, because we still have the old 20th century mindset, but in the future, I bet you it will be. Same as the Deutschmark, the French Franc and all the others bit the dust and were replaced by the EURO - although they all said: kann nicht, geht nicht, darf nicht, wird nicht...

So I`ll hang on in there til Brussels intruduces Euro-citizenship and then apply for that!

By the way, just heard that the EU have created an Euro-wide limited company. It carries the designation SE Societe European, and is not registered with any particular country but with the EU itself and subject to EU regulations. We`re getting there!

not so easy to get dual citizenship here in Bavaria. They are still refusing to issue them to Brits.

I was considering doing the same thing, I alway said I'd never get German citizenship because I am not and never will be a German, however as my hubby went to vote yesterday, I relised that seeing as I have been living her for so long and have two children here, I should have some right to vote and help to decide on the our future, so I made my decision yesterday to become a German citizen. I'm not happy with the idea of having German citizenship, but I think it's a sensible thing to do.

Does anyone how long it takes and how much does it cost? (I heard you have to pay something like 225 €uros

I can understand you guys a little, but becoming a german is not my cup of tea...
I can't vote - well, thats the price you have to pay ...
But good luck to all you guys that want to take up the german "Bürokratie" and get dual citizenship !!

Stephen

Well of course we all have to live in the real world, not in some Alice-in-Euroland..

Dont quite understand why they need to see your CV though. Are they going to give you a job as well?!?

This is very much how I feel too. I live here and work here, and I'd like to feel I'm a true/valid/whatever part of the German society. It's really bothered me not being able to vote in this election.

However - I wouldn't have been prepared to give up my British passport under any circumstances.

Why not?

Because I distinguish between nationality and citizenship:

My nationality is British, because it's where I was brought up and where I spent my "formative years".
But I am a citizen of Germany, have been for the past 9 years and will be for the forseeable future.

The doppelte Staatsbügerschaft offers me a way of combining these two parts of who and what I am, which is why I am applying for it.

they still won't let me have doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft here in Bavaria

some excuse about not being given clear directives about the reciprocacy with Britain. They only have to give dual citizenship if the other country reciprocates and whilst it is well known that Britain does reciprocate dual nationality the Bavarian (Munich) authorities say they have had no official notification of such and cannot procede.

Sounds like they're either bulshitting you or cant be arsed to go out of their way, if you want it stay stubborn they will give in eventually.

You could try the old "I'd like to speak to your supervisor" tactic.

If you're serious about this, I'd notify the British Consulate that their Bavarian counterparts are derelict in their responsibilities.

The Consulate then leans on the Innenministerium in Berlin, which in turn tells the Bavarians to get their act together.

no, it has nothing to do with bullshitting or not being arsed. The Bavarian Freestate has declared that they are actually against dual citizenship and have put all applications on hold until the Bundesregierung gives them clear directives on the reciprocacy issue. It really is the case of the Bavarians being obstinate. There have been one or two cases (other nationalities) where the applicants have had to take the Freestate to the Bundesgerichtshof.

The British Consulate in Munich has been informed at length on this issue. They either can't be arsed to do anything, or more likely can't do anything.

ahhhh it's one of those occasions where the Bazis do what they want, ok forgot they have that Freestate status, but I'm sure they will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century again.

And what would happen if you moved to Bavaria from elsewhere in Germany with dual nationality? Would you be made to give one up?

I wouldn't have thought that Citizenship/Nationality was regulated by each Bundesland seperately - isn't it a country law?

Or move over the border into Baden-Würtemburg or Thüringen and apply again from there!