Published: 26.04.2026
People previously denied or deprived of German citizenship because of discriminatory rules can reclaim it by declaration until 19 August 2031. This route does not require a language test, residence in Germany or a fee; since 27 June 2024, Germany has also allowed applicants to retain their existing citizenship.
According to the source, several categories of people—including descendants of those affected by former discriminatory rules—can reclaim German citizenship by declaration. The key practical issue is the 19 August 2031 deadline, because obtaining birth, marriage and naturalization records from archives can take 12–18 months. This primarily affects Germans living abroad and their descendants who may qualify without relocating to Germany or taking a language test. Anyone who may fall within the eligible categories should pay attention now because document preparation can be lengthy.