Obtaining dual Canadian German citizenship

Dear All, I've been living in Germany now for almost 2 years with my German spouse. If we continue to reside here it might not be a bad idea to apply for German citizenship. What are the procedures and requirements? And is there a way to obtain German citizenship without having to surrender my Canadian passport? Or do you think it's a waste of time and effort since I can legally work here anyways? Thanks for the advice.

check this out: Dual citizenship - Australian / German

impossible to answer this without knowing your entitlement. Simply living here for 2 years does not entitle you to citizenship. You'll need a parent or a spouse with German citizenship. It is possible to have both (my better half has German/Canadian citizenship) but you have to check carefully to see if you are entitled.

"Is there a way to obtain German citizenship without having to surrender my Canadian passport?"

Basically, no. It's a case of either or, if you don't have both from birth. You'd have to wait until you've lived in Germany 5 or 8 years before applying for German citizenship anyways.

Thanks people. I guess I still have a few years before the issue comes up eh. Thanks again!

I'm Canadian, been here 10 years, see no reason why it might be a good idea to apply for German citizenship, even if I could keep the Canadian. What, to be able to vote once in a while? With an open-ended right abode, that should be enough, shouldn't it?

Silty1, if you leave Germany for more than 6 months, you could lose your right to abode. Do a search on TT, there's a couple of topics about it.

you don't necessarily need to have the passport from birth but you do need to have the entitlement from birth to have both, ie having a German parent who was still a German citizen at the time of your birth should entitle you to a German passport without necessarily having to give up your Canadian.

Actually Owain Glyndwr, we were told a bit different. When our son was born 14months ago we checked with the rathause. Eventhough he has dual citizenships now, by the time he's 16/18 (can't remember) he'll have to choose between the two. But then again things might change in 18 years. Maybe the Germans will be more open-minded in regards to their immigration/citizenship policies. Wait, what immigration? I must be 'sleep-typing'...

From my understanding the Canadian won't make him choose! He should be able carry dou cititzenship his life. You best bet is to call the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, and ask them.
Then go the KVR in your area, and get the prints outs (they have info sheets for everything) about carryin German citizenship.
I have friend here in Munich that the mom has dou - American /Canadian, dad is Brit and baby born in Germany, she has a Canadian and a British pass, but is still intitled to a German, she was told by the American Cons. since the baby was born in Germany and not the US, she is not intitled to an American pass to.
You need to call the right offices to get the proper information in writting!

ok, does your son have a German parent? If not, then a it is a different case. Yes, children born here of non-German parents have to chose. Children of at least one German parent don't necessarily.

The case I referred to above was of someone who was born here in Munich to a German mother and Canadian father but raised was from the age of 6 months in Canada. At the age of 24-ish (i think) she applied for a German passport (for the first time, although she had the entitlement since birth). She was not required to give up her Canadian passport.

Hmmm.. interesting.. perhaps the passport issuing offices outside of Germany have different policies? Because my wife is German and she did the inquiring herself. Perhaps we'll just have to wait and find out when the boy is old enough. Maybe he'd even decide to go with the HKSAR passport... Thanks for your info though.

oh and yes you're both right. It's not the Canadians who have probblems with dual or multi citizenships. It's the German government that require the applicants to choose.

apparently there are always exceptions. If you are German and wish to apply, for example, for a Canadian passport, you *might* be able to keep German citizenship if you can prove strong enough ties with Germany (ie close family still living there). These things tend to be a case of "it depends who you talk to".

This is of interest to me too. I've been here almost a decade, but never wanted to trade my Canadian citizenship for the German (I'm also British, so always thought I'd be exchanging 2 for 1). Has anyone actually bitten the bullet and done it? If so, why? There don't seem to be too many advantages ...

However, following the link Sharpe posted (thanks - v.useful) I found this

http://www.bmi.bund.de/cln_012/nn_122688/I...taatigkeit.html

This at least opens the door for those of us with British or other EU citizenships in that list.
I have no idea what the Germans would say about my Canadian citizenship though. Perhaps they might turn a blind eye in this case ...

The person in question was me. I applied fo my German passport for the first time at 23 at the German Consulate in Canada. I had no problems at all and the question of choosing by the time I was 18 didn't come up at all. As far as I know that didn't apply to me because my mother had retained her German citizenship.

The citizenship requirements were relaxed in 1976 so people born before that time have encountered more problems but that won't effect your child.

There are several good reasons for obtaining German citizenship, the right to vote being one of the lesser important ones (for me anyway). For example, you get to travel visa-free to a greater number of countries compared to traveling with a Canadian passport (e.g. to Brazil which requires Canadian passport holders to obtain a visa) and you get unlimited living/traveling/working/studying privileges across the EU and you also get to pass on these benefits to the next generation.

I have permanent German residency, been here for 10 years and married a German and really love living here, but I do not see the benefit of giving up my Canadian citizenship. My preference would have been to have dual citizenship, but Germany does not recognize it. Giving up a citizenship is a choice really, I wouldn't consider it for 2 reasons, first, I am proud being a Canadian and so is my husband, second, who knows what life will bring us in the future? perhaps we would need to urgently move to Canada, and being a Canadian the process will go much smoother.

Hello

I was going to get married, before I realized that german girls are difficult! <grin>

but seriously, from what I read, Germany would want a Canadian to give up their passport, for reasons of sovereignty - to guarantee you are theirs! meaning, if you are still young, you'd be expected to do your mandatory social service, and in the event germany seriously goes to war (! doubt that), you would be on their side. (and not Canada's - should these two fine countries once again meet on the field of battle)

On the flip side, you can just go back to Canada with a german passport and a canadian birth certificate and say "Hey, like I was born here, eh?", and they say "Oh silly bureaucratic Germans, how dare they take your god-given right away from you?! Here's a new passport and a hockey puck, now please don't forget where you come from."

I believe it's that straightforward. And now you have two passports, Jason Bourne.

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On the flip side, you can just go back to Canada with a german passport and a canadian birth certificate and say "Hey, like I was born here, eh?", and they say "Oh silly bureaucratic Germans, how dare they take your god-given right away from you?! Here's a new passport and a hockey puck, now please don't forget where you come from."

I believe it's that straightforward. And now you have two passports, Jason Bourne.
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I'm afraid that it is not that straightforward. I asked the Canadian embassy in Berlin and if you actually renounce your Canadian Citizenship which is a formal process you can only return to Canada as an immigrant which means applying to immigrate, permanent resident and then getting your passport back. I will wait until Germany recognizes dual citizenship in my case or until I am old enough as they allow dual citizenship for those seriously over the hill.

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