Citizenship by descent · Germany
German citizenship by descent
If you have a German ancestor, your family may be entitled to German citizenship recognition and an EU passport. German citizenship is not applied for as something new: you prove it has been passed down from your ancestor generation after generation, and the details of each link determine whether your case is viable.
There are three main paths today: direct descent from German emigrants, the maternal-line declaration (Section 5 StAG) for families where a German woman could not pass on her nationality, with a legal deadline in 2031, and restitution for descendants of people persecuted by the Nazi regime (Article 116 of the German Basic Law). Since each path has its own rules, we always start with a free viability assessment based on genealogy and consular records.
Who qualifies?
These are the profiles we review most often:
- Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of German emigrants with an unbroken family line, who can request a determination of nationality (Feststellung): Germany recognizes that you already are German, it does not naturalize you.
- Descendants of a German woman whose children, born between May 1949 and late 1974, did not receive her nationality due to the discriminatory rules of the time. The Section 5 StAG declaration repairs that break and is open until August 19, 2031.
- Descendants of people persecuted by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945 who were deprived of their nationality on political, racial or religious grounds: restitution under Article 116 of the German Basic Law covers them and all their descendants.
- Families where a relative already obtained German citizenship through the same ancestor: that prior recognition usually makes it easier to prove the rest of the family's case.
Not sure which group you belong to? That is normal: most families only know there is a German surname. In the assessment we reconstruct your line and tell you transparently whether your case is viable or not.
How we manage it
Step 01
We assess your case
We reconstruct your family line through genealogy, search for your ancestor in the consular registers kept by German consulates at the time, and review the historical causes of loss. We tell you clearly whether there is a path and which one.
Step 02
We build the file
We gather the birth, marriage and death certificates in Chile and Germany, manage apostilles (the international seal that validates your documents) and translations, and complete the official forms for each applicant on your behalf.
Step 03
We file and stay with you
We file the application with the German federal authority (BVA) through the German Consulate in Santiago and follow up until it is resolved. You only visit the consulate when the process requires it.
Timelines and key facts
- Maternal line (Section 5 StAG)
- A declaration that repairs cases where a German woman could not pass her nationality to children born before 1975. The legal deadline is August 19, 2031.
- Dual citizenship
- Since the June 2024 reform, Germany allows dual citizenship without restrictions: you can hold both German and Chilean passports, giving up nothing.
- Where it is processed
- Before the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA), the German federal authority, through the German Consulate in Santiago. The file is prepared and submitted from Chile.
- Processing times
- The German authority generally takes 20 to 38 months to decide, depending on the path. That is why it pays to submit a well-prepared file from the start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maternal-line path (Section 5 StAG)?
Until late 1974, German women married to foreigners generally did not pass their nationality to their children. Section 5 of the German Nationality Act (StAG) repairs that discrimination: children born between May 23, 1949 and January 1, 1975, and their descendants, can acquire citizenship through a declaration. The legal deadline is August 19, 2031, so it is best not to leave it for the last minute.
My ancestor became a naturalized Chilean. Was the citizenship lost?
It depends on when and how. Historically, voluntarily naturalizing in another country meant losing German nationality, which breaks the chain for descendants born afterwards. But there are exceptions and repair paths, and since June 2024 naturalizing no longer causes loss. This is exactly the kind of detail we review in the assessment: we tell you transparently whether the line was broken or is still alive.
My family arrived in Chile in the 19th century. Can I still qualify?
Possibly. For emigrations between 1871 and 1914 there was a rule of loss after living 10 years outside Germany, unless the ancestor was enrolled in the consular register kept by German consulates in Chile. Part of our triage is searching for your ancestor in those registers: if they appear enrolled, the line may still be intact.
How long does the process take?
Timelines are set by the German authority (BVA) and currently run between 20 and 38 months depending on the path, plus the time to prepare the file. It is a long process, which is why it pays to enter with a well-built file: an application with errors or observations takes even longer. In the free consultation we give you a realistic estimate for your case.
Do I have to travel to Germany?
No. The application is filed with the BVA through the German Consulate in Santiago and we prepare the entire file. At most, you may need to visit the consulate in Santiago if the process requires certifying signatures or documents.
What documents do I need?
The birth, marriage and death certificates connecting your line to your German ancestor, plus the ancestor's own documents if they exist: a passport, German birth record or citizenship certificate. After the assessment we give you a personalized checklist and can locate missing documents for you, in archives in Chile or Germany.
How much does it cost?
Every case is unique: the fee depends on the path, the number of applicants and the missing documents. After the free consultation we send you a clear, all-inclusive proposal with no surprises.
Does your surname come from Germany?
Answer a few questions about your ancestor and our team will review the real viability of your case. It takes 2 minutes and it is free.
Assess your case in 2 minutesPrefer to talk it through directly? Book your free consultation