Applying for naturalization as part of restitution - for persons who were expatriated during National Socialism and their descendants - abroad

You or your authorized representative can apply for naturalization as part of the restitution process in writing or by appointment in person at your competent German diplomatic mission abroad or in writing or online at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).
Written application

• You can obtain all the necessary information in advance by e-mail, telephone or in a personal meeting on site (appointment). Among other things, you will receive information on which documents you should enclose with your application.
• You can download the application form directly from the website of the Federal Office of Administration.
• If necessary, the diplomatic mission abroad can assist you in completing the application form.
• Complete the application form in full and sign it.
• Submit the signed application by post or in person together with the required supporting documents to your local German diplomatic mission abroad (appointment).
• However, contacting the diplomatic mission abroad is not mandatory. You can also send the application directly to the BVA by post.
• The BVA will check your application and inform you if further documents and information are required to process the application.

Online application

• Go to the website of the federal portal and fill out the application form for naturalization as part of the restitution process electronically.
• Note: You will need an eIDAS-compliant form of authentication for the online function.
• Attach the other required documents as a file.
• Send your application.
• The BVA will check your application and request certified copies of any required documents.

Complete the procedure (in writing and online):

• If your application is approved, the BVA will send your naturalization certificate to the relevant diplomatic mission abroad. They will inform you about the further procedure for issuing the naturalization certificate.
• If the BVA is unable to approve your application, you will be informed by the diplomatic mission abroad.

• You can find the German diplomatic mission responsible for you on the website of the Federal Foreign Office:

Applications for (re-)naturalization can be made by

• former Germans who were deprived of their German citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 due to political, religious or racial persecution

or

• Descendants of persons who were deprived of their German citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 due to political, religious or racial persecution

Further requirements:

• deprivation was effected by automatic loss in accordance with the 11th Ordinance to the Reich Citizenship Act of 25.11.1941 (applies to all Jewish German citizens who had their habitual residence abroad at the time of entry into force or later)

or

• by loss in individual cases in accordance with the Law on the Revocation and Deprivation of German Citizenship of 14.7.1933 (published in the Reichsanzeiger)

and

• Your permanent residence is abroad

Note:
If the German citizenship was not revoked by expatriation, but the ancestor lost it in connection with National Socialist persecution, naturalization according to § 15 StAG (Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach Verfolgung) may be possible.

You must submit your application:

• as a person of the immediate affected generation:
  • Birth certificate,
  • current identity document, for example:
    • ID card or passport
  • Proof of previous possession of German citizenship, such as
    • old German identity documents, including a passport,
    • de-registration certificates from before 1945,
    • old certificate of origin
  • Proof of the fate of persecution, for example
    • Entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates of:
      • You or
      • your parents or, if applicable
      • your grandparents or
      • your great-grandparents
  • Endorsements in your passport or on other official documents
  • Information on receipt of compensation benefits in accordance with the Federal Compensation Act
  • where applicable, proof of name changes
  • if applicable, proof of the acquisition of a foreign nationality
• as descendants of the persons concerned:
  • Birth certificate,
  • current identity document, for example:
    • ID card or passport,
  • other civil status documents, for example:
    • Birth certificates or marriage certificates,
  • Proof of previous possession of German citizenship by your ancestors, for example:
    • old German identity papers (until 1945),
    • de-registration certificates (from before 1945),
    • old certificate of origin,
  • Proof of the persecution fate of the ancestors, for example:
    • Entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates (ancestors up to 1945),
    • Notes in old passports or on other official documents (up to 1945),
    • Information on receipt of compensation benefits under the Federal Compensation Act
  • if applicable, proof of name changes,
  • where applicable, proof of the acquisition of a foreign nationality by ancestors

none

Note:
Please bear in mind that you may incur costs for the procurement of documents, translations and notarizations.

none

• For processing the application: usually 18 - 24 months

• Article 116 (2) of the Basic Law (GG)

• Contradiction

• Forms: yes
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: yes

• Application for naturalization in the context of restitution (restitution naturalization after withdrawal) on the website of the Federal Office of Administration

29.09.2021