Last updated: November 12, 2026
The certificate of German citizenship (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis) is what people born abroad with German ancestors apply for most often. Many do not know for sure whether they are German at all, because parents or grandparents emigrated and never applied for a German passport. The certificate settles that question with binding effect.
TL;DR
- The certificate of citizenship is the official proof that you are a German citizen.
- It is issued in the confirmation procedure under Section 30 of the Nationality Act (StAG).
- For applicants abroad, the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) in Cologne decides.
- The fee is 51 euros.
- What counts is uninterrupted proof of German citizenship through every generation.
What is a certificate of German citizenship?
A German passport or ID card only creates a presumption that the holder is German. Binding proof is only the certificate of citizenship. It is issued after the authority has confirmed, on application, that German citizenship exists (Section 30 StAG).
The confirmation does not only work for you. It is binding on all authorities and makes later applications of your children easier.
When should I apply?
German citizenship law follows the principle of descent. If you have a German parent, you may have acquired German citizenship at birth, even if you have never lived in Germany. Whether that applies to you depends on the rules in force at the time of your birth.
Typical reasons for the application:
- You want to apply for a German passport for the first time, and the mission has doubts about your citizenship.
- Your parents or grandparents emigrated and acquired another citizenship.
- You want lasting legal certainty for yourself and your children, for example before a move to the EU.
Descent over generations: what matters
Citizenship must have been passed on in every generation. A single gap can end the claim, for example if an ancestor voluntarily acquired a foreign citizenship before the birth of their child and thereby lost German citizenship.
For every generation, check:
- Was the German parent still German at the time of the child’s birth?
- Could citizenship be passed on through this parent under the law in force at the time? Before 1975, children born in wedlock generally acquired it only through the father.
- Were there naturalizations, marriages or adoptions that led to a loss?
Detailed explanations: German citizenship through grandparents, through great-grandparents and through a German mother or father.
Rules by year of birth
| Born | Parents married | Parents not married |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 to 1974 | Through a German father. From 1964 through a German mother only if the child would otherwise be stateless | Through a German mother |
| 1975 to June 30, 1993 | Through either German parent | Through a German mother |
| From July 1, 1993 | Through either German parent | Through either German parent, through the father once paternity is legally established |
| From 2000, born abroad | If the German parent was also born abroad after 1999 and lives abroad: register the birth within one year | Same |
If the check shows that citizenship was lost, other routes remain: the declaration under Section 5 StAG, restoration for descendants of people persecuted by the Nazi regime, or re-naturalization.
Documents you need
Applicants abroad use the forms of the Federal Office of Administration: application form F and, for each ancestor you derive citizenship from, one Annex V. Add evidence such as:
- your birth certificate and the birth certificates of your ancestors in the line,
- marriage certificates of parents and grandparents,
- proof of the ancestors’ German citizenship, such as old passports, certificates of citizenship or registry extracts,
- naturalization certificates, if an ancestor acquired another citizenship,
- certified German translations where required, in particular for divorce decrees and custody orders.
Copies usually have to be certified. German missions certify copies and signatures for citizenship matters free of charge. The full checklist: Documents for German citizenship by descent.
The procedure from Canada
You submit the application to the responsible German mission in Canada, the Embassy in Ottawa or one of the Consulates General. The mission checks whether the documents are complete. The application then goes to the BVA in Cologne. If the result is positive, you receive the certificate of citizenship and can use it to apply for a German passport. Practical tips on Canadian records and apostilles: Applying for German citizenship from Canada.
Example from practice: Mr. T. from Vancouver was born in Canada in 1979. His father came from Stuttgart and became a Canadian citizen in 1985. Mr. T. wanted a German passport, and the Consulate General first asked for a certificate of citizenship. We checked whether the father was still German at the birth and whether his later naturalization affected the son, then compiled the documents. The father’s naturalization six years after the birth did not change the son’s citizenship. (Fictitious example based on typical cases from our practice.)
Every family history is different. Book a consultation now or call us at +1 587 349 3535.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a certificate of German citizenship?
Anyone who holds German citizenship or believes they do and wants it officially confirmed. Typical applicants are descendants of German emigrants born abroad whose parents or grandparents never held a German passport.
How much does a certificate of German citizenship cost?
The fee for the confirmation procedure is 51 euros. Costs for certificates, translations and certified copies may be added. German missions certify copies for citizenship matters free of charge.
Where do I apply if I live in Canada?
Through the responsible German mission, the Embassy in Ottawa or one of the Consulates General. It checks that the application is complete and forwards it to the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne, which decides.
Do I need a certificate of citizenship to get a German passport?
Not always. But if there are doubts about your citizenship, for example because the family has lived abroad for generations, missions often require a certificate of citizenship before issuing a first passport.
What happens if the confirmation shows that I am not German?
Then other routes need to be checked, such as the declaration under Section 5 of the Nationality Act for descendants of German mothers, or re-naturalization. The negative result at least clarifies which route is open.
Can I apply for my children at the same time?
Yes. Each family member files their own application. Submitting them together makes sense because the evidence on common ancestors overlaps.
Sources
- Section 30 Nationality Act (StAG)
- Section 4 Nationality Act (StAG)
- Federal Office of Administration: Feststellung
- German Missions in Canada: Establishing German citizenship
This article is for general information only and does not replace individual legal advice. Rocky Mountain German Law Ltd., Suite 201, 8989 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB.
