Can you get German citizenship if your grandparents were German?

Many people whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Germany qualify for German citizenship through descent. In essence you can reclaim your German citizenship by descent if: You have ancestors who had their citizenship taken away under Nazi rule on political, racial or religious grounds in 1938.

Can I get German citizenship if my mother is German?

In general, German citizenship is not established through birth on German territory but by descent from a German legal mother and/or a German legal father.

How do you become a German citizen by descent?

Obtaining German Citizenship. In general, German citizenship is not established through birth on German territory but by descent from a German legal mother and/or a German legal father.

What is the law of citizenship in Germany?

German citizenship law is based on the principle of descent. This means that German citizenship is generally established by descent from a German parent and not through birth on German territory.

Can I claim German citizenship if my mother is German?

Those born before 1 January 1975 could normally only claim German citizenship from the father, not from the mother. Exceptions included cases where the parents were unmarried (in which case German mothers could pass on citizenship) or where the German mother applied to register the child as German on or before 31 December 1977.

Can a child born out of wedlock get citizenship in Germany?

Children born out of wedlock to a German father before July 1, 1993 may acquire German citizenship by declaration before their 23rd birthday, if paternity has been established and if they have resided in Germany for at least three years. The declaration can only be made in Germany at the child’s residence.