Apply for a negative certificate (for citizenship)

• You must apply to the competent citizenship authority for a declaration of non-existence of German citizenship and the issue of a negative certificate.
• To submit your application, use the application form provided by the citizenship authority for download or sent to you on request.
• Submit the completed application form with all documents (see "Required documents") in clearly legible copies (on white paper, DIN A4) to the citizenship authority.
• Once the application documents have been received, the citizenship authority will contact you. You do not need to do anything else before then
• In the course of the procedure, the citizenship authority will ask you to submit the original documents for verification; you will then receive the documents back

Please contact your district administration or independent city.

Responsibility lies with the district administrations and independent cities.

• You do not have German citizenship.
• You usually reside in Germany.
• You must credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest in a negative determination and certificate. Such an interest is credible if you state certain facts which make it appear predominantly probable to the citizenship authority that the negative determination is relevant for a purpose worthy of protection.

• Fully completed application form
• Proof of identity (foreign passport, recognized foreign passport replacement document or another official foreign identity document with photograph, for example an identity card or ID card)
• Proof that German citizenship was not acquired or was previously held but has since been lost, e.g. through
  • German visas, residence permits, other residence titles and certificates of residence rights in Germany,
  • if German citizenship was previously held: old German identity documents (e.g. German passport, identity card; children's identity card),
  • Documents on the acquisition of another nationality (e.g. foreign naturalization certificate),
  • documents relating to voluntary enlistment in the armed forces of a foreign country,
  • adoption documents,
  • documents and certificates concerning a change of name.

(for the declaratory decision) EUR 51

A fee reduction or fee exemption may be granted for reasons of equity or public interest.

There are no additional costs for issuing a negative certificate.

For special shipping options (e.g. registered mail or cash on delivery), additional expenses will be charged to cover the costs.

A negative certificate will only be sent if the determination fee and any expenses have been paid in advance or if cash on delivery is requested.

Additional costs may be incurred for the procurement of documents, translations and certifications.

• § Section 38 (2) sentence 1 number 4 Nationality Act

The negative certificate is issued for an unlimited period.

The duration of the application processing depends, among other things, on the factual accuracy of your information and the completeness of your application documents. It also depends on which, if any, difficult facts need to be determined in order to be able to make the requested determination. Depending on this, it may take a few weeks or even longer than a year to reach a final decision on your application.

• § Section 30 (1) sentence 1 and (3) sentence 2 of the Citizenship Act (StAG)

Personal appearance required: Yes

• Negative certificates are only issued if this is necessary to prove the non-existence of German citizenship to foreign public authorities or is at least specifically useful in individual cases. Applications to establish non-existence of German citizenship will not be granted without good reason.
• The negative certificate is not a certificate of citizenship, but an informal certificate bearing an official seal. Experience has shown that these certificates are recognized in other countries.
• The negative certificate certifies that you do not have German citizenship on the day it is issued.

10.05.2022