Applying for German citizenship for a child born in Germany to parents of foreign nationality
In a significant move towards easing citizenship acquisition for foreigners living in Germany, the updated German nationality law, effective from June 27th, 2024, now offers a simplified path for children born in Germany to foreign parents.
Key requirements for a child born in Germany after the reform to secure German nationality include:
- At least one parent must have been legally residing in Germany for at least five years.
- At least one parent must have a permanent right of residence or a settlement permit at the time of the child’s birth.
- The child is born in Germany.
If these conditions are met, the child acquires German citizenship at birth automatically, regardless of their parents' nationality. This change also allows for dual and multiple citizenships, so the child does not need to renounce the parents' nationality to have German nationality as well.
This reform simplifies the naturalization process for children born in Germany to foreign parents, aligning with recent efforts to make citizenship more accessible for foreigners living in Germany.
It's important to note that if the parents of a child born in Germany are not married, the baby's residency and naturalization rights are generally dependent on the mother. However, if the father meets the residency requirements, he must go through an official paternity recognition process to secure German citizenship for the child.
Paternity can be recognized at various places, such as the Youth Welfare Office, local court, notary, or registry office, and there is no charge for this acknowledgement of paternity unless you use a notary.
If your child is born in a hospital or birthing centre, they will report this to the registry office and send over the birth certificate. To register the birth, you'll need the signed record of birth, IDs for both parents, residence permit (if applicable), marriage certificate (if married), acknowledge of paternity (if not married), and birth certificates for both parents (if not married).
It's crucial to register the birth of the child at the registry office within a week of its birth. If neither parent has a permanent residence permit or right of residence, the child will not automatically obtain German nationality. Additionally, children born in Germany before January 1st, 2000, are subject to the old law, and a retroactive application is not possible.
Since the current Citizenship Act, which introduced the right of birthplace for children born in Germany to foreign parents, was implemented on January 1st, 2000, this latest reform marks a significant step forward in promoting inclusivity and simplifying the citizenship process for foreigners in Germany.
References:
- German Citizenship Law
- Germany Allows Dual Nationality
- German Citizenship for Children Born in Germany
- The revised German nationality law, taking effect in June 2024, not only simplifies the path for children born in Germany to foreign parents to secure citizenship, but also opens opportunities for these children to participate in sports as German nationals.
- Beyond the various sports they might enjoy in Germany, children with dual or multiple citizenships, enabled by the new law, can thus represent their German team in international sports competitions, fostering a global perspective within the sports community.
