• Is it possible to have another citizenship in addition to German citizenship?
• Can I become a naturalized citizen without giving up my previous citizenship?
• Do Special rules apply to EU citizens?
• Do multiple nationals have special rights?
• Information for persons subject to compulsory military service?

Is it possible to have another citizenship in addition to German citizenship?

In certain cases, German nationality law allows its citizens to have or acquire an additional citizenship. Multiple nationality may result from the following situations:

• As a rule, children born to a German and a non-German parent, or to parents with dual nationality, acquire the nationalities of both parents at birth, according to the principle of descent.

• Ethnic German repatriates and family members admitted with them acquire German citizenship when they are issued a repatriates certificate, in accordance with Section 7 of the Nationality Act; they do not have to give up their previous citizenship. If allowed by their countries of origin, their children born in Germany then acquire at birth both German citizenship and that of their parents.

• In certain cases, German citizens may apply for dual nationality, allowing them to acquire foreign citizenship while retaining their German citizenship.

Those who have multiple nationality for one of these reasons normally pass multiple nationality on to their children. In such cases, German law allows children to retain their multiple nationality permanently; i.e., they do not have choose between their German and foreign citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.Persons with multiple nationality may, however, choose to give up their German citizenship (Section 26 of the Nationality Act).
The number of German multiple nationals is unknown because in Germany they are treated exclusively as German nationals and cannot invoke their other nationality when dealing with the authorities. Multiple nationality is no longer a rarity and does not cause any special difficulties.

Can I become a naturalized citizen without giving up my previous citizenship?

Section 12 of the Nationality Act
As a rule, no. One aim of German nationality law is to avoid creating multiple nationality through naturalization as far as possible. However, there are exceptions for cases of special hardship, specifically:

• for victims of political persecution and recognized refugees, the requirement to obtain release from previous citizenships are generally waived;
• when applicants cannot reasonably be expected to meet the conditions for release from their nationality, including unreasonable fees or humiliating practices to obtain release;
• for elderly persons, if being released from their foreign nationality would cause unreasonable difficulties, and being denied naturalization would constitute a special hardship;
• or if being released from previous citizenship would cause significant disadvantages, particularly in terms of finances or property rights.
  
  

Do special rules apply to EU citizens?

Given the aim of increasing European integration, the law contains special rules for EU citizens: They are not required to give up their previous citizenship in order to become naturalized German citizens, if their country of origin does not require Germans to give up their citizenship to become naturalized citizens of that country. According to Section 25 para. 2 of the Nationality Act, Germans who become naturalized citizens of another EU country may receive permission to retain their German citizenship.
This rule currently applies to the following EU countries: Greece, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, France, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Malta and Cyprus. With regard to the Netherlands and Slovenia, it applies only to certain categories of persons.

Do multiple nationals have special rights?

In Germany, a person with foreign citizenship in addition to his/her German citizenship (a multiple national) has exactly the same rights as all other German citizens.
German multiple nationals cannot claim additional rights in Germany through recourse to their other nationality, nor can they avoid any obligations, such as compulsory military service.
Additional rights may result in relation to the other state whose nationality they have. Whether they may exercise these rights (such as the right to vote) depends on the laws of the other state and does not affect policy, society or the individual in Germany.
When German multiple nationals are in the other country of their citizenship, the German embassy or consulate there may be able to provide them only limited protection, as such persons are regarded by the other country primarily as their citizens and treated accordingly. For this reason, multiple nationals in the relevant age groups should inform themselves in advance of rules regarding compulsory military service.

Information for persons subject to compulsory military service?

As a rule, male German nationals are required to perform military service in Germany; the same applies to German multiple nationals. If a multiple national has fulfilled his German military obligations, this is normally recognized by his other country of citizenship, on the basis of numerous international treaties, bilateral agreements or the relevant national law.
If the person has already fulfilled his military obligations in his country of origin before becoming a naturalized German citizen, the actual length of service will be recognized in Germany. For example, a Turkish national who completed the one-month military service in Turkey may, after becoming a naturalized German citizen, have his compulsory military service in Germany reduced by one month; the remainder must still be served.
A German multiple national who voluntarily enters the armed forces of his other country of citizenship will lose his or her German citizenship (loss of citizenship by serving in the armed forces of a foreign state).

Obtaining Citizenship