German Citizenship Restoration (Art. 116 II GG & Section 15 StAG)

Applying for German citizenship restoration is a process of "reparative naturalization." It is designed for individuals (and their descendants) who were deprived of their citizenship or suffered citizenship-related losses due to Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945. You can apply from anywhere in the world, and there is currently no expiration date for these specific pathways.

Step 1: Determine Your Legal Basis

Before filling out forms, identify which pathway fits your family history:

• Article 116 (2) Basic Law: For those (and their descendants) who were formally deprived of citizenship by the Nazi regime on political, racial, or religious grounds.
• Section 15 StAG (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz / Nationality Act): A "catch-all" for those who lost or were denied citizenship due to persecution but weren't "formally" deprived (e.g., they fled and took another citizenship before the regime could strip theirs).

Step 2: Gather Ancestral Proof

The burden of proof is on you to show your ancestor was German and was persecuted. Collect:

• Former German passports, ID cards, or Heimatschein (citizenship certificates).
• Melderegister (resident registry) extracts showing their address in Germany.
• Evidence of persecution, such as Jewish community records or restitution files.
• Naturalization records from the country they fled to (e.g., US Petition for Naturalization).

Step 3: Gather Personal Documents

You must prove your unbroken line of descent from the persecuted ancestor:

• Your valid passport or ID.
• Birth and marriage certificates for every generation in the chain between you and the ancestor.
• Name change certificates, if applicable.

Step 4: Prepare Documents for Submission

• Translations: Any document not in German must be translated by a sworn translator.
• Certifications: Do not send original ancestral documents. Send officially certified copies authenticated by a German Embassy, Consulate, or a notary public.
• Apostilles: Most non-EU public documents require a Hague Apostille (an international certification of authenticity).

Step 5: Complete the Application Forms

Download the forms from the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) website.

• Form A: For applicants aged 16 and older.
• Form AK: For minor children.
• Annex VA: You must complete one of these for each generation of ancestors in your claim.

Step 6: Submit Your Application

• If you live outside Germany: Submit your package to your local German Embassy or Consulate. They will review your documents and forward them to the BVA in Cologne.
• If you live in Germany: Submit directly to your local Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde (Citizenship Office).

Step 7: The Waiting Period

The BVA will issue an Aktenzeichen (reference number). If a relative has already naturalized through this path, provide their reference number to significantly speed up your case. The BVA may conduct its own research in German archives during this time.

Step 8: Receive Your Certificate

If approved, you will be issued an Einbürgerungsurkunde (Naturalization Certificate). Once you have this, you are officially a German citizen and can apply for a German passport at your local consulate or city hall.

The German government does not charge a fee for the restoration of citizenship under these specific laws. However, you are responsible for the third-party costs associated with the paperwork.

Item	Cost
BVA Application Fee	0 EUR
Naturalization Certificate	0 EUR
Document Procurement (Archives)	Varies (approx. 20–50 EUR per doc)
Sworn Translations	Varies by length and language
Notary/Certification Fees	Varies by location
German Passport (Adult)	Approx. 60–100 EUR

Total Estimate: While the application is free, expect to spend 300–800 EUR on translations, certifications, and document retrieval depending on the complexity of your family tree.

Due to high demand and the complexity of historical research, processing is a long-term commitment.

• Standard Processing: 18 to 30 months from the date the BVA receives your application.
• Expedited Cases: Applications that include a relative's existing Aktenzeichen (reference number) are typically processed faster as the ancestral history is already verified.
• Complex Cases: If the BVA must conduct extensive archival research or if the "persecution" status is legally unclear, processing can exceed 3 years.

Document Validity: Most birth and marriage certificates do not "expire" for this process, but the BVA prefers "recent" certified copies (issued within the last few years) if possible. Your current passport must remain valid throughout the application period; if you renew it, send a certified copy of the new one to the BVA referencing your case number.