Eligibility Quiz
Did you or an ancestor live in Germany between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945?
Documents Required
You must provide evidence of your ancestor’s German status, their persecution, and your direct line of descent.
Ancestor Documents
- Proof of German Status: Former German passports, ID cards, Heimatschein (citizenship certificates), or old residency records (Melderegister).
- Proof of Persecution: Records from Jewish communities, restitution files, or evidence of their name in the Reichsanzeiger.
- Naturalization Records: Documents showing when and how they acquired citizenship in the country they fled to (e.g., US Petition for Naturalization).
Applicant Documents
- Identity: A certified copy of your current valid passport or national ID.
- Vital Records: Birth certificates and marriage certificates for every generation connecting you to the persecuted ancestor.
- Name Changes: Official certificates for any legal name changes.
Formal Standards
- Translations: Any document not in German must be translated by a sworn translator.
- Certifications: Copies must be officially certified by a German Embassy, Consulate, or a notary public.
- Apostilles: Most foreign public documents require a Hague Apostille to be recognized by German authorities, except for most documents issued within the EU.