Claiming German citizenship via deceased ancestor

Hello.
My grandmother was born in Lobsens, Germany and my grandfather in Berdyansk (Ukraine) but later took German citizenship.
They both came to Canada.
My parents were born in Canada.
At 41 years old I want to have German citizenship based on my grandparents (father's side)

I have their passports and traveling papers to Canada.

Is it possible for me to apply/receive German citizenship?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

Don't thinks so.. They changed the Rules/Laws a few years back to make it much harder to get citizenship from Grandparents.
You Parents must have German citizenship for you to get it, but I could be mistaken.

I'm not sure either. Why don't you ask the German embassy?

(Incidentally, Canada refused to grant citizenship to both myself and my father, even though my father was born in Canada and lived there for several years, on the grounds that Germany was an "enemy nation" when his German parents left Canada...or so I am told, at least)

No. They don't care about parent's citizenship after you turn 18. Then you're on your own and need to fulfill the residency requirements, just like everyone else.

As for grandparents - you can forget it...

Sorry to hear that the Canadian Govt is such a mess.
With Canada you have to show up on a boat or cry "refugee".
Why do you think I want to live in Germany...Canada and the rulers are a mess.
Good luck and keep pushing.
The secret to dealing with the Canadian govt is called "kind pushing".
Keep on them and keep calling and sending fax/letters but be "kind".
Good luck!

If you think the Canadian Government is a mess you're in for a big surprise when you get to Germany.

You will not be granted German citizenship based on that of your grandparents. Parents citizenship works in most cases (provided they did not give it up upon leaving Germany and provided you did not willingly apply for another citizenship) although less so if you are born before 1976 but afaik never because of the citizenship of your grandparents.

I didn't say they are a mess, I wouldn't know. In any case, I was referring to something that happened more than 30 years ago. I'm perfectly happy with my German passport, no reason to get a Canadian one...

Must defend Canada-No it is not true that you have to be a refugee to be granted grounds for immigration. In fact, Canada has the most comprehensive immigration policy in the world. However, I can see Tom's point. I had a german teacher who was discriminated against in the 50s and 60s on the official level , but he even says that things are different now...

I don't want to change the idea of this post but I was a civil servant for Canada External Affairs. Trust me when I say things are not easier and the logical, well planned deserving immigrants get pushed to the back of the line or declined for those with "emergency needs".

External Affairs is a mess and very unsure of many of their actions.

Hope we can return this forum to Canadians/Americans who want to be German citizens.

I will try and find some loophole with all my grandparents' papers.

Lord knows that Canada is has more holes than Swiss cheese!

how long do u need to stay (and work) in Germany, before u can apply for a citizenship?

8-10 years, then you must take a German test, pass it, pay lots of $, wait forever and a day and if your lucky you get accepted..

8 years in total of which the last 3 years were consecutive.

And yeah - DK is correct, lots of paperwork and lots of money. Germans don't really appear to want immigrants gaining citizenship

I believe the "German test" usually consists of a small-talk conversation with the guy processing your application.
Or did they change that procedure recently?

It's like anything here - depends who the Beamter is doing the processing. His word is law.

If so, how come my Turkish compatriots coming from the smallest village in Eastern Turkey, not ever saw a big city even in Turkey, could not speak a word of German, not skilled in anything can get it in 2 years ?

Because Germany and Turkey have special rules/laws regarding Citizenship. Unless your Turkish you can forget about using those rules.
As for the "German test", it depends on the Amt'er, but offically its a Highschool equiv. test that is administered by the local Amt. or
a German language school.

Wow, i did not know that. I am Turkish but i am not thinking about getting a citizenship. I will probably stay around 2 years in Germany and then depart for some other country.

I went through all this crap before I got here and the German people<---Gov. somewhere, can't remember...Anyhow, I tried the my mom was a German 'angle' and despite that I am the first generation born outside of Germany and I still have relatives here, I am not allowed to get German citizenship becuase my mom was already a Canadian citizen when she gave birth to me...

Also, I was told that 3 years after I have my residency here, I can write a test for citizenship...