Published: 17.09.2026
When parents have different levels of residence security, paternity acknowledgement requires approval from the German immigration authority. The authority checks whether the acknowledgement is being used to create a basis for entry or residence; the review period is four months, after which consent is deemed granted if it has not been refused.
This procedure is particularly relevant to families where one parent has a secure status—such as German citizenship or permanent residence—while the other has an insecure status or is abroad. Without the required consent, the paternity acknowledgement is legally ineffective, which can affect residence-related procedures for the child, mother or father. The source lists exceptions, including proven biological paternity and certain long-standing family circumstances. Families planning relocation or family reunification should account for this additional document and timing requirement.