Claiming German citizenship via ancestry

I am a US Citizen, and I want to know if it is possible to obtain German citizenship through ancestry? My great-great grandparents emigrated from Germany to the US.

I have been reading/hearing conflicting reports regarding citizenship via ancestry (jus sanguinis). Information is readily availiable for those who's parents are German citizens; however, if your connection to Germany goes back further than your parents the information is very sketchy.

According to the German Consular Services Page:
Article 116 of the Basic Law reads:

Now this is interesting.. It would seem that Article 116(1) would apply to anyone of German descent who's anscestors were German citizens within the territory of the German Reich as defined on Dec 31. 1937. Even though my great-great grandparents came to America in the late 1880's, would that mean I am still entitled to German citizenship since they were citizens and lived in the Hessen area?

Any thoughts?

Gururise

Nope, don’t think so... They changed the laws again a few years ago, and made it much stricter to get DE Citizenship. It looks like some of the info you posted is out of date. I'd suggest looking up the info on the German Govt. website (More up to date) and you may also want to look at seeing a lawyer specializing in citizenship issues..

My Grandparents left in 1934 and I can't get it. You're definatey SOL.

If you read 116(1) a little closer, you'll discover that it only applies to you if you are the spouse or descendant of refugee or expellee of German ethnic origin.

No chance, Ami is correct. Great-great grandparents won't do.

If I remember, there are a few people on here, who's Mother is/was Germany and they can't even get it.. Use the search function and you'll learn more...

If you were a siebenburger whos ancestors left Germany for Romaina in the 12th century, and you xenophobically managed to never mix your pure german blood with any of the local slavs, and keep your language and culture for centurys then its fine, you can come here and get citizenship no worries, but if your ancestors left germany a mere couple of generations ago then you are probably out of luck as they made the terrible mistake of opening up and integrating in the local culture and adopting english or whatever.

Kind of puts the expectation of foreigners here to integrate into perspective doesnt it.

Does anyone know if Norway has a policy like Germany? My father's folks were both Norwegian and I am wondering if can become a Norwegian national?

Why not look on the Norwegian Govt. website instead of asking here where 99.9% of the people will not know, or have the correct answer.
Only the Norwegian Govt. can tell you fo sure..

Just thought someone may know (or went through it). But I will surf around...

What if you have the feeling that your family left Germany for England somewhere around 800 years ago. Can you become and Englander just to piss off the English? What if your family left England for Scotland and Ireland, could you become Scottish or Irish just to piss off the English and Schotte?
What if Lucy really was the first human, could we all become Ethiopian just to piss off the Pope? So many questions...

True/Perhaps, but laws change all the time. What might have worked for one person, might not work for you this time around..

There is not a country in the world that will give you citizenship on the basis of Great-great grandparents.

Otherwise most people in the US and almost everyone in Australia and New Zealand could claim another country's nationality.

Also, in order to become German, you need to demonstrate close ties with Germany (and Great great grandparents migrating from there will have you laughed at). Additionally, you will have to pass a German test. Normally you have to also live in the country for 8 years and you will probably have to renounce your US citizenship as well.

I got told that I am not able to get citizenship when I spoke to the authorities 2 weeks ago. This is despite the fact that:
1. My mother is German
2. I was born here
3. I have lived here for the past 5 years and over 10 years overall
4. I speak the language fluently
5. I used to be a German national as a child

I am going to see a lawyer who will probably help me find a way to get my citizenship.

You, however, are barking up the wrong tree and have not a hope in hell of getting citizenship based such tenuous links to Germany...

I think the general with ancestors is: if they went West (i.e. to America) they can't claim citizenship. If they went East (i.e. to Russia) they can. This is why millions of "Aussiedler", "ethnic-Germans" in the former USSR who could speak as much German as fish in the North Sea could come to Germany in the past.

German settlers in Russia where very common prior to the Revolution, actually for centuries, especially as military advisers and doctors...half the Emperial family, particularly princesses and tsaritsas were German by blood, i.e the most famous Catherine the Great and the last tsaritsa Alexandra (born in Darmstadt), as well as the first ancestor of the Romanov dynasty- he was Prussian by birth...
anywho, I think the reason why so many people of German background have been allowed to come back after the dissolution of USSR is beacause many of their families suffered in Stalin's labor camps during WWII, where most of those with German lineage were sent - although they too often spoke as much German as fish in the North Sea...my good friend came here at 17 with her father and mother from Russia, on the grounds that her grandpa served time in such a camp. Ironically he chose to remain in Russia after completing all the paperwork for his kids!

I think it is more to do with the forced settlements in the East compared to the volitional movement to the US.

Yes, that's what I kind of meant as well. Although up untill the 20th century and the two big wars with Germany, most of these settlements where voluntary as well...after that the Bolshevik perception of the Germans (and their descendants who spoke zero German) changed all that.

It's a right of return for the descendents of people who were forced to leave Germany - either through the actions of the Nazi's or the communists, or became refugees for whatever other reason. Remember too that parts of Russia today used to be German territory, which confuses this even more.

The law does not apply to anyone who left Germany to go to the US voluntarily to start a new life in the 1880's.

Am I the only one who thinks this was a stupid question? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a whole can of worms gets opened if people could claim citizenship based on migrating ancestors from over 100 years ago.

PES - I don't know about Norway, but Sweden has a law where if one of your grandparents were Swedish, you're entitled, but there are more requirements too (I think like living there or speaking the language)..

But I have an Australian friend who now has British Citizenship because his Grandfather was British. Where do you draw the distinction? I personally believe, which makes no sense, but you should only have a citizenship if you were born in that country by natural citizens of that country, unless there were defined hardships which prevented you from being born and raised there. I had read, no idea of the veracity, that in Japan there are third or fourth generation people that have been born in Japan who are still not allowed to be citizens.

Doesn't work with grandparents.

Your friend's father must be British - or at least hold a British passport too.

In that case, it can be done - as long as everyone continues to hold onto their citizenship, it can be passed down

If anyone relinquishes it somewhere down then line, then it's not easily regained.

If someone's great great grandparents used to be German citizens, then what's the chance, realistically - using a bit of common sense?

From Britaus

"Applicants born outside the United Kingdom before 1.1.1983

Eligibility can only be claimed through the father's line. British nationality is transmitted one generation by descent to an applicant born overseas with a United Kingdom born father. A claim does not usually extend to a United Kingdom born grandfather.

However, you may have a claim through your United Kingdom born grandfather if your father was born in a British colony. Some examples of former British Colonies are Barbados, Bermuda, Cyprus, Fiji, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Malacca, Malta, Seychelles, Singapore, Trinidad, etc.

You are not eligible for British nationality through your United Kingdom born Grandfather if your father was born in Canada, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), New Zealand, Australia, Newfoundland, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia), British India or Pakistan.
"

His father may have been born in the UK, but does not have a UK passport; or his grandfather was in the service of the British Crown when his father was born.

Idly wondering if Queen Elizabeth II could claim German citizenship, seeing as most of her ancestors were German. Hmm

No - I don't think they were refugees or sent to any British labour camps...

Well, Prince Charles was sent to Gordonstoun...

Why do you want a German pass? isnt everyone trying to get a USA...Pass...Land of the free and all that-

Haha yeah theres an idea Hazza, become an American instead!

I've visited the US a few times. Am I eligible for citizenship?

Only if you are a born again Christian ,and love GEORGE THE JERK BUSH.

Well, I originally posted this thread for two reasons:

1) Several websites of immigration attorneys specifically mention Germany as a nation who grants citizenship based upon Ancestry. I believe Ireland is another.

2) The website of the German General Consulate indicates that decendants of Germans from as far back as the 18th century are granted citizenship:

Yes I know it sounds like it defies common sense. Yes, it sounds like a stupid question. But due to the fact that the German consulate's webpage states it is possible, I think this is a valid question. It seems quite obvious that some people are/were being granted German citizenship based upon ancestry claims alone. Can anyone shed more light on this subject? Are only decendants who moved to Russia/eastern europe eligible?

It would seem so (moved or forced to move, but only eastward...) - you should read post n° 13 and following.

OK - back in the early days of the 20th century there where quite a few pockets of Germans throughout Europe, particularly the east - mostly Czech and Russia. They all moved to these areas prior to the 20th century. They kept their language and their culture and as Kza hinted at earlier, did not really mix with the local populations. You must understand that at the time, a lot of borders where not defined nearly as well as they are today and border controls were non-existant - so people basically lived wherever they wanted to. Also, after World War 1, Germany lost a considerable amount of land. Many Germans who lived in these areas did not want to give up their homes and so lived there as they had always done.

Most of these people lived quite happily where they were until the end of the second world war. After that, they were no longer tolerated in their host countries and most were forcibly thrown out of their homes and sent to Germany - quite a few were also killed. They were an easy target of the understandable anger towards all Germans that existed at that time. Of course, the fact that Hitler used the 'liberation' of these people as part of the reason he invaded countries like Czechoslovakia made matters worse.

Despite the fact that most of these Germans were sent packing, a few managed to stay where they were. The advent of communism and closed borders ensured then that for over 30 years they weren't going anywhere and even if they wanted to go to Germany, they couldn't. Because there were now so few of them, and also because communism wasn't so tolerant of people identifying with their ethnic background, most of them ended up integrating more into the society they lived in than they had before. As a result many of the younger generation can no longer speak German.

It is these people who the law is aimed at. They were Germans in the eyes of the law while they lived in these German areas. Basically the law is saying that they were German then and they didn't move in the years following, whilst borders and German settlements changed around them. OK - most would have moved within their countries of residence in the interim, but you get the point. A lot of them were also persecuted and discriminated against for many years after the end of WW2, so the German government is now allowing them (or their descendents) to return if they want to. Of course the fact that they were prevented from leaving until the iron curtain fell is also a big factor to still allowing them into Germany now.

As for anyone who is descended from Germans who left voluntarily to go and live in the US. It doesn't apply. Germans migrated all over the world (along with a lot of Europeans) during the 18th and 19th centuries. What do you think would happen if all their descendents were eligible for a German passport? Also, you say that your great great grandparents moved to the US. Does that mean that all 8 sets of great great grandparents came from Germany? Because if it's only 1 set, then you are only 1/8th German - which doesn't make you particularly German. Also, does that mean you are going to to try to get the citizenships of the other 7 sets of great great grandparents? Would you be willing to renounce your US citizenship (as you would probably be required to do)? I don't think you've actually thought through the practical side of what you are asking and that is why I think it is a stupid question.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that there is no way they would interpret this law in the way that you are trying to.

If I remember correctly, up until the 1980s it was possible to get German citizenship if you had German ancestors no matter what country you came from. The increasing burden of elderly East Germans, Turks and a bad economy led to the change in the law. Then, the Wall fell and the right of return was only extended to ethnic Germans from eastern Europe.

There's no point in pursuing it further as the laws have changed.

I checked into it back in the 80s and could kick myself for not pursuing it then. My only hope is the fact that my mother who is all Finnish although she and her parents were born in the US. Finland grants residency to those with Finnish ancestors but work permits and citizenship aren't included so it would be quite a struggle especially since I know only a handful of Finnish words.

I am currently an American citizen my Grandmother migrated from Germany During WWII (1943) i still have family back in Germany and ive heard about claiming heritage to get citizenship does anyone know what steps you must take to gain German citizenship(I am willing to waive my American citizenship although i was told i would have until age 23 to decide that)

thank you for any help you can provide me

Topics merged by admin

Have you read Dual citizenship rules in Germany? The topic has been discussed quite a few times already, do a search (top right corner) and you'll find a lot of useful information.

Kay beat me to it. I would also contact the German consulate/embassy nearest to you for concrete information based on your specific circumstances. Thelaws have changed in recent years so they would be your best source of interpretation and procedural assistance.

Good luck

Edit: Oh it was a different link, heres another good one to review on claiming German citizenship.

thanks for the help ive heard of many people doing it and also many people being denied i just wanted to hear from someone who possibley has already achieved this and might be able to tell me and helpfull steps to get this started