How to Apply for German Citizenship by Descent [2026 English Guide]

Key Takeaways

• The Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in Cologne is Germany’s only authority for confirming citizenship by descent. This applies even if you have never lived in Germany.
• Applicants living abroad apply through their nearest German mission or send documents directly to BVA.
• Applicants already living in Germany apply through their local city or county administration instead.
• You should complete two types of forms for the application. The first form is called the Antrag F for applicants 16 and older, or Antrag FK for applicants under 16. The other form is an Anlage V for each generation of German ancestry claimed.
• You must submit certified copies of your documents, not plain photocopies. BVA also rejects certification from some foreign police departments.
• Average processing time runs two to three years. BVA can request additional documents at any point during that window.
• BVA issues a Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis if it confirms your citizenship. If it does not, a Negativbescheinigung is issued.

Table of Contents

Germany recognizes six main paths to citizenship

• Naturalization
• Descent
• Adoption
• Birth
• Marriage
• Citizenship by declaration

This guide covers the standard descent-confirmation route. BVA uses this route to confirm that you already hold citizenship through a parent.

Other routes exist for citizenship claims based on historical gender-discrimination rules under Sections 5, 14, or 15 of the Nationality Act, or for restitution claims under Article 116(2) of the Basic Law. These routes use different forms and a different legal basis.

For eligibility rules, see our guide on German Citizenship by Descent.

What Does “Establishing” German Citizenship by Descent Mean?

German citizenship by descent does not require an application for a new status. A person with a German parent who held German citizenship at the time of birth is already a German citizen.

You go through Germany’s establishment procedure (Feststellungsverfahren) to prove this. The procedure follows Section 30 of the Nationality Act.

This procedure asks BVA to confirm that you are already a German citizen. Once BVA confirms it, BVA issues an official certificate proving your citizenship (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis).

What Forms Do You Need for a German Citizenship by Descent Application?

Establishing citizenship by descent requires a written application to BVA:

• Antrag F for applicants aged 16 or older, or Antrag FK for applicants under 16. Both forms must be completed legibly, in German, and signed.
• Anlage V for anyone claiming citizenship through an ancestor. BVA requires a separate Anlage V for each generation. For example, one for a grandparent and another for a great-grandparent.

BVA publishes an official instruction sheet (Merkblatt) alongside both forms. Applicants assigning a third party to handle correspondence also need the power-of-attorney form from the same download package.

What Documents Do You Need for German Citizenship by Descent?

BVA organizes required documents into two categories. Most applications need evidence from both categories.

The first category proves your descent and identity:

• Birth certificates
• Certificates of descent
• Marriage certificates
• Family record books
• Foreign identity documents (e.g., passports, national ID cards)

The second category proves your German citizenship or legal status as a German:

• German identity documents (e.g., passports, ID cards)
• Naturalization certificates
• Acquisition certificates (by declaration or option)
• Resettler or displaced-person certificates
• Citizenship certificates or Heimatscheine
• Extract from the German residence register

NOTE: BVA accepts only certified copies, not plain photocopies. A notary, government office, or German diplomatic mission can issue the certification.

BVA rejects certification from some foreign police departments. Confirm accepted certifiers with your nearest mission before paying.

Keep additional supporting documents on hand too:

• Proof that you have not acquired other citizenships
• Proof of the citizenships you currently hold
• Proof of your residence permit in your country of residence, such as a Permanent Resident Card
• Any name-change certificates

Documents from multiple countries and generations often have name-spelling differences from transliteration or marriage. BVA expects the chain of descent to be documented without gaps.

Resolve or explain any name mismatch before submission, not after.

Where Do You Submit a German Citizenship by Descent Application?

Applicants living outside Germany submit the signed application either through their nearest German mission or directly to BVA. Two mailing addresses apply, depending on where the application originates:

• From within Germany: Bundesverwaltungsamt, 50728 Köln
• From outside Germany: Bundesverwaltungsamt, Barbarastr. 1, 50735 Köln, Germany

BVA advises against submitting by email or fax. The office requires original documents or certified copies, not scans.

Applicants who already live in Germany apply through their local city or county administration (Stadt- or Kreisverwaltung) instead of BVA directly.

How Long Does German Citizenship by Descent Take?

The average processing time for the establishment procedure runs two to three years. BVA can request additional documents at any point during that window.

Each request can extend the total processing time.

BVA sends a receipt confirmation with a case file number. That is called an Aktenzeichen.

Cite this number in every future communication with BVA. If you move while your case is pending, notify BVA of your new address and include your Aktenzeichen in that notification.

You can also consult an immigration lawyer if your case stalls or if you are unsure how to respond to a BVA request. You can book the services of an immigration lawyer we recommend here.

Once BVA confirms your citizenship, it sends the Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis to your responsible German mission abroad. BVA also sends a fee notice.

The mission then contacts you about payment and collection.

If BVA determines you are not a German citizen, it issues a negative certificate instead. That is called a Negativbescheinigung.

FAQ

References:

• https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Feststellung_Start/Feststellung/01_Informationen_Feststellung/01_02_F_wie_geht_es/01_02_F_wie_geht_es_node.html
• https://www.bva.bund.de/EN/Services/Citizens/ID-Documents-Law/Citizenship/citizenship_node.html
• https://windhuk.diplo.de/na-en/service-en/2125310-2125310
• https://www.bva.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Feststellung/MerkblattF.html