Germany gives its citizens a choice. If they want their foreign-born/foreign-resident children to be German like their parents they can register them with the German government within their first year. They do not have to register them. If being German is not important then they will not register them. Anyone with strong ties to Germany is going to want to register their children right away. I can't say that's how I would do it or how it should be done, but the policy seems quite straightforward and well thought out. The registration burden is not onerous, and the time limit is reasonably long.

Hey guys, been reading this thread with interest, never realised how tough the German nationality laws can be!

Not sure if anyone can help me, but not really sure where else to post!

Anyway, I was born in Perth, Australia, my dad is German and my mum is English [naturalised Australian]. I believe my dad lost German citizenship around 1970ish as he became an Australian citizen, I'm not sure if this was because he married his first wife or that he gave up his German citizenship to get Australian citizenship.

When I was born I believe that both my parents had become naturalised Australians.

So what I'm asking is, am I eligible? My Dad obviously was born in Germany, and lived there for about 25 years.

I'm just wondering, does anything have to do with that I'm now 18 years old + and I'm looking to acquire citizenship have anything to do with it? As surely it shouldn't be down to if your parents wanted you registered as a German citizen etc.

But yeah, I'll answer any more questions that people might need to get a grasp of it.

Cheers

Best advice is to speak with a consular officer. Generally, if you were born after your father had acquired Australian (or most other) citizenship, he immediately relinquished his German citizenship in the eyes of the German government at that time. If you were born after this event, you would be SoL.

As far as prior registration goes, it generally effects (IIRC) those born to German citizens who were not born in Germany. Again, consult the German consul.

The other route is through your mother. If your mother was a British citizen at birth, she is still British unless she actually relinquished British citizenship. However, whether she can pass that on to you depends on when you were born (the British Home office has a whole page on that). Early '80s is some magic date (before that and you are SoL).

Cheers for the quick response!

Yeah think my best bet is to go to the Consulate here, so many hoops I have to jump through haha.

Just one more question what does SoL mean?

Few other updates since I met some German friends since this thread was last active.

Friend in Argentina (now Mexico) is 3rd generation German born in Argentina (as is his wife) so dual Argentinean and German citizens. Very strong connection to Germany maintained so not only are the children registered as German but sent to German school certified by Berlin (or Bonn) of which there are around 80 in Argentina.

Friend in Germany was born there and emigrated as a child. Acquired Canadian citizenship as a minor because her parents did it for her and lost her German citizenship then. However since she was a minor at that time, she could and did reapply for German citizenship, and got to retain her Canadian one (so some hope for one of the previous posters). Her husband is also a German citizen but born in Italy of German emigrant parents. So their German-born children are German, Italian and Canadian citizens.

Are you aware that you would have to give up your Australian citizenship in order to get the German one? Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship in most cases!

Think of that before you get the process going!

I thought I'd throw this out there, but from what I've read I wouldn't be eligible for anything:

Grandfather born in the US in 1920. His father was German citizen who immigrated to the US. He grew up speaking German. (My understanding is that he could apply for citizenship, but neither my father nor me could, correct?)

Generally only if he/she naturalises as a German. Those who obtain it by descent are generally o.k.

See this:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germa...-passport.html

I think it's correct to assume what you have. Only way you (and your father) would be eligible is if your grandfather actively sought German citizenship through descent and registered as a citizen. He would then have had to ask to confer it on your father, and your father on you.