Obtaining a German passport: A Guide

As you may know, for over two years now the German legislature has significantly broadened the criteria for obtaining German citizenship for descendants of Holocaust survivors, thereby easing the conditions for them in an unprecedented manner. In this article we will present the complete guide to obtaining a German passport for those eligible – ascertaining eligibility, obtaining the required documents, presenting them to the German authorities and obtaining the passport for the new German citizen and their immediate family members.

German passport attorney

Our office specializes in the process of obtaining German citizenship and German passports. Our experts have already helped many descendants of victims of Nazi persecution in the 1930s and 1940s in Germany and Austria to obtain the desired European citizenship, whether it is German or Austrian. If you also have a father, mother, grandmother or grandfather, great-grandfather or great-grandmother who lived in Germany during this period, it is highly likely that you too are eligible for a German passport.

The Law of Return in Germany – German citizenship for descendants of Holocaust survivors

Former German citizens can regain their previous citizenship if it was revoked or lost during the Nazi regime. This applies to their descendants as well, i.e. – children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren who are also entitled to submit an application. This is an unprecedented reform that was legislated over two years ago by the German parliament.

The reform was legislated based primarily on historical ethical considerations, particularly the ongoing desire of the German government to compensate for the terrible crimes that Nazi Germany inflicted on its Jewry. In addition, the German legislature is aware of the fact that Israeli immigration is considered to be of high quality and that it can contribute significantly to the German economy, certainly in the long run.

Who is the German passport actually intended for?

Anyone who can prove that they or their ancestors lived in Germany or entered the country as immigrants starting in the 1930s (and even before) is eligible for a German passport. It is important to state that over 100,000 Jewish refugees were expelled from Eastern European countries (especially Poland), or fled due to anti-Semitism that prevailed there, and came to Germany. As mentioned, today these people also meet the updated criteria, along with their descendants.

If you believe that you are eligible, you must first provide official documents proving that the persecution victim did indeed live/reside in Germany in the period between 31 January 1933 – 8 May 1945. The list of required documents is provided further down in the article. According to estimates, there are approximately 200,000 Israelis who are eligible to apply for the passport that is considered to be the most desirable one in Europe.

German citizenship for Nazi persecution victims

As part of the German Parliament’s reparations arrangement, two essential sections were established in the German Citizenship Law in 2021. The first is section 116 which allows those whose German citizenship was revoked between January 1933 and May 1945 to regain their citizenship. As mentioned, this also applies to their descendants, without a limit on the number of generations.

The next section that entered into force not long ago is Section 15 of the German Citizenship Law. This section refers to Jews who permanently resided in Germany in the years indicated above (and even before), but due to persecution by the authorities did not receive citizenship. In cases such as these, it is required to prove a connection to Germany through documents such as a birth certificate, passport, medical/bank certificates, or any official document that shows a connection to Germany in these years.

The process of obtaining citizenship applies to biological and adopted children. Also, under both sections it is not required that the grandchild or great-grandchild naturalize the parent first in order to receive the citizenship. In other words, “jumping generations” is absolutely possible. In addition, it is not necessary for the parents or grandparents on whom the application is based to be alive.

So what are the reforms?

Following the historic legislation and the significant expansion of the pool of eligible people, many will now be able to apply for citizenship. We have compiled for you the fundamental amendments that we considered important to present to you, from a wider assortment existing in the German Citizenship Law. The fundamental amendments were drafted in the last two years and aim to significantly simplify the eligibility criteria. Here are the essential instructions:

1. IDF service – there is no obstacle for applicants who serve or have served mandatory service in the IDF, or in a foreign army, to submit an application. Those who have previously served in career army service are also eligible to submit an application. Please note, however, that current career army service will disqualify your application and if you already have German citizenship, expect it be to revoked.
2. Annulling the gender issue – applicants who are descendants of a woman who was a victim of Nazi persecution and lost her citizenship or was prevented from becoming a citizen, will be able to apply just the same as descendants of men who were victims. The aforementioned is also valid in the event that the person on whom the application is based has divorced or remarried. This is a progressive amendment compared to the previous version of the law.
3. Civil servants – anyone who holds a position in the public sector such as a government official, teacher, etc. will be able to apply without hindrance.
4. There is no requirement to give up Israeli citizenship – obtaining German citizenship does not oblige you to give up any other citizenship, whether it is Israeli, American or another one.
5. There is no requirement to live in Germany – applicants will not be asked to come to Germany during their naturalization procedure. In fact, they won’t even have to live in Germany or come to Germany to obtain the citizenship certificate. There is an alternative for this purpose – the German embassy.
6. Exemption from knowledge of German – language proficiency and language tests are no longer required among new citizens whose ancestors were connected to Nazi Germany. In fact, in the current format there are no tests regarding German history or culture as before.

Explanation regarding proof of persecution

A question that often arises among our firm’s clients is – how can it be proven that the relative considered the Nazi persecution victim was indeed persecuted? The answer is quite simple – the German Jews who left Germany between the aforementioned years are considered to have been persecuted simply because they were Jews. Therefore, there is no need to show official proof of persecution. Remaining documents or reparations paid to the persecuted will constitute clear evidence of a past German connection.

Documents required to obtain German citizenship

As in any naturalization procedure based on familial roots in any country, you will be asked to produce documents that prove a connection between the family member considered the persecution victim and Germany. As mentioned, this refers to a connection between the years 1933-1945. The second step is to fill out a questionnaire about the person who has the connection and your relationship to him or her. After filling out the questionnaire, you will be invited to the embassy in order to continue the process with the relevant authorities. It is recommended to fill out the questionnaire with the assistance of an experienced professional in order not to make mistakes that may disqualify your application.

Archival research in order to locate lost documents

Many customers contact us claiming that the documents they have are no longer legible due to the long time that has passed since they were printed or that they have simply been lost over the years. Here is the place to note that for centuries, Germany carefully preserved the documents of its citizens and residents in archives. Therefore, in such cases we can help locate old documents in the German archives.

• Step 1:

Sending an application form in German to the embassy in the applicant’s country. The application will include official documents of the persecution victim which prove that they previously had a civil connection to Germany. This refers to documents such as a marriage or divorce certificate, a birth certificate, a diploma from an academic institution, an old passport, etc. These documents form the basis of the application.

• Step 2:

As stated earlier, if you do not have any documents of the original German citizen or resident – because they fled Germany suddenly and did not take the documents with them or they have been lost over time – in common cases like this the documents can be located in the German archives. Thanks to the Germans’ well-developed preservation methods, in most cases we manage to find the documents for our clients.

• Step 3:

Several public certificates are required to be delivered with an apostille stamp, having undergone notarized translation into German.

• Step 4:

As soon as we have collected all the relevant documents and created an organized application, we will send it to the embassy. Shortly thereafter, the applicant will be invited to an interview at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. During the interview, the documents will be examined by the relevant authorities. Sometimes the applicant is asked general questions about Germany.

• Step 5:

At the end of the interview at the embassy, the documents will be sent to Germany for their inspection. Upon completion of the examination of the documents, you will receive a notification that the naturalization application has been accepted by the officials. The applicant will be asked to come once more to the embassy to collect the naturalization form. At this point it is possible to apply for the German passport.

How long does it take to obtain German citizenship?

The duration of the process of obtaining citizenship is not fixed and defined as in the past, due to the large number of applications and the large workload of the committees authorized to examine the cases. The average waiting time is two years, but it is important to remember that there are cases in which citizenship can be obtained even within a year. A skilled professional who is experienced in arranging the documents as required can play a significant role at this stage.

Obtaining German citizenship for children

The procedure for obtaining a German passport for minors is considered simple. If one of the parents already has a passport, the procedure will be consular, through registration at the embassy. You must make an appointment and arrive with the child’s birth certificate along with proof of German citizenship – a passport or German naturalization certificate. The child’s birth is officially recorded in the population registry in Germany and the minor is thereby naturalized.

Regarding adult descendants – the phase of proving the connection between the applicant and the former German citizen is simpler, since the latter has already been recognized as having roots in Nazi Germany. However, the applicant must go through the same process and for a similar period of time.

The cost of obtaining German citizenship

The cost of obtaining German citizenship is determined based on the evidence that the client brings with them and the work required in cases where genealogical research is needed. Accordingly, obtaining citizenship for a number of family members at one time can significantly reduce the overall price for the family. This step will also significantly reduce the waiting time for citizenship.

In addition, new regulations are often added over time that make it difficult for future candidates to obtain citizenship. Although for now the eligibility conditions are favorable and inviting, it is possible that in the near future new restrictions will be implemented which may complicate matters – such as a requirement to live in Germany, a language test and others.

The German naturalization process

The procedure for obtaining European citizenship requires careful attention, a high level of professionalism and adherence to the deadlines set by law. The applications must also be filled out in an accurate and high-quality manner in order to comply with the high European standard for filling out documents and submitting them. With the help of an expert professional who is proficient in the various laws and the German language, you can increase your chances significantly.

Advantages of German citizenship

Germany is the leading economy in Europe, so its future citizens will enjoy a variety of unique advantages. This applies to anyone who chooses to live inside or outside of Germany, as long as they hold a passport. Here are some of the benefits of a German passport which will serve you if you decide to obtain it:

1. Entry to the United States without need for a visa – the possibility of traveling freely to countries which the Israeli passport does not allow – for example, Australia, Qatar, Venezuela, Malaysia and of course the United States.
2. Residence permit and work permit in the European Union – the wonderful possibility to live and work without a time limit in attractive countries such as Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands and in fact in all EU countries + countries on other continents.
3. Advanced social benefits at work – Germany is known for its efficient social system, which offers more advanced welfare services, as well as higher pension provisions, long annual vacations and exclusive health insurance.
4. Academic studies free of charge or with scholarships – in Germany universities offer their services free of charge. In other institutions, you can obtain enhanced scholarships at world-renowned universities. The same is true for other EU countries.
5. Starting a business – citizens of the EU are allowed to open a business in developed countries. If you are interested in opening a business in Germany, you will receive significant tax benefits.
6. Subsidized medical services – medical services at the cost of a local resident in all EU countries including the Scandinavian ones.

A few words about Germany

Germany is a highly developed country in central Europe and has been the strongest economy in Europe for decades. With spectacular green nature, noticeable weather differences between the temperate south and the cold north, clean streets, developed infrastructure and high-quality food, there is no doubt that this is one of the most attractive countries in the world. This is of course, in addition to the fact that a German passport is considered the highest quality one in Europe and the third in the world ranking.

With an impressive history, perhaps the richest in Europe after the Greek and Roman cultures, Germany has a lot to offer. History is engraved along the streets and on the magnificent and ancient buildings. Extensive ancient boulevards from the days of the duchies that ruled across the country in the Middle Ages, and of course the breathtaking castles, lakes and forests that are especially prominent in the south of the country.

In recent years there has been quite a wave of Israelis, especially young people, who find the country of great interest and immigrate to it. Unlike before, the country accepts immigrants on a daily basis, so the attitude is positive and welcoming. Germany is an opportunity to open up and get to know new qualities that are unknown to the Israeli population. The German character is relaxed and easy-going, the transportation is efficient and the streets are incredibly organized.

Obtaining German citizenship

Thank you for reading this guide to obtaining a German passport. Our office has an extensive German-speaking department that operates every day around the clock due to the high demand. The department handles German and Austrian citizenships and also deals with translating documents, establishing contact with the government agencies and handling naturalization procedures for our clients. For more information, please contact us at the phone numbers or e-mail address below.

Our thanks to Mr. Jonathan Gabrielov who helped in writing this article.

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03-3724722

055-9781688

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