Apply for citizenship card

The competent citizenship authority in the applicant's place of habitual residence is responsible for processing the application. In Lower Saxony, these are the rural districts, independent cities and large independent cities.

• You have German citizenship or at least suspect this (for example because you have German ancestors).
• You usually stay in Germany.
• You must credibly demonstrate a justified interest in the determination. Such an interest is credible if you state certain facts which make it appear predominantly probable for the citizenship authority that the determination of the existence of German citizenship is relevant for a purpose worthy of protection (for example, because a German public authority has doubts about your German citizenship and expressly requires the presentation of a citizenship certificate).

Personal appearance required: Yes

• Completed application form
• Proof of identity (foreign passport, recognised foreign passport substitute document or other official foreign identity document with photograph, such as an identity card or identity card)
• Proof that the German citizenship was in any case once possessed and, if applicable, is still possessed at present:
  • German identity documents (e.g. passport, children's ID card, identity card),
  • naturalization certificates,
  • Certificates or documents attesting to the acquisition of German citizenship by declaration or option,
  • Certificates of ethnic German repatriates,
  • ID cards for displaced persons,
  • Registration forms,
  • Refugee ID cards,
  • Certificates of citizenship,
  • Certificates of origin,
  • Certificates or identity cards stating legal status as a German or German or
  • Documents proving membership of the group of persons to whom a collective naturalisation extended (e.g. proof of - former - right of origin, citizenship or residence in the territories concerned, certificates of waiver of the right to waive).

The fee for the declaratory decision is 51 EUR

Remark:

For reasons of equity or public interest, fee reduction or fee exemption may be granted if necessary.

There are no additional costs for the issuance of the citizenship certificate.

Special shipping options (e.g., registered mail or cash on delivery) will incur additional expenses to cover costs.

A citizenship certificate will only be sent if the assessment fee and any expenses have been paid in advance or if cash on delivery is requested.

• (§ 38 Absatz 2 Satz 1 Nummer 4 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz
  

  Remark: URL zur Gebührenbildung

• You must apply for the determination of the existence of German citizenship and the issuance of a citizenship certificate at the responsible citizenship authority.
• If necessary, a personal consultation at the citizenship authority may be required.
• For your application, use the application form provided for this purpose by the citizenship authority for download or sent to you on request.
• Submit the completed application form with all documents (see "Required documents") in clearly legible copies (on white paper, DIN A4) to the citizenship authority.
• After receipt of the application documents, the citizenship authority will contact you. You do not need to do anything else before that.
• In the course of the procedure, the citizenship authority will ask you to submit the original documents to them for verification; you will then receive the documents back immediately.

The citizenship card is issued for an unlimited period of time.

The duration of the application processing depends, among other things, on the factual correctness of your information and the completeness of your application documents. In addition, it depends on which, if any, difficult facts have to be determined in order to be able to make the requested determination. Depending on the circumstances, it may take a few weeks or even more than a year to reach a final decision on your application.

• Citizenship certificates are only issued if this is necessary to prove German citizenship to German or foreign public authorities or is at least specifically useful in individual cases (for example, for a civil service appointment or adoption). If the existence of German citizenship is not in doubt, applications for determination are generally not granted.
• The citizenship certificate is not proof of identity. It cannot be used for travel or as a substitute for an identity card.
• As a rule, you do not need a citizenship certificate to prove that you have German citizenship. In principle, it is sufficient to present a valid German passport or a valid German identity card. You should therefore only apply for a citizenship certificate if you have been requested to do so in text form by an official body.

• Information provided by the Federal Office of Administration
  

  Remark: The website provides more detailed information on the procedure for determining German citizenship and an application form (PDF file) that can be filled out electronically for download. Although the information is intended for persons living abroad, it also applies to persons habitually resident in Germany

• § 30 Absatz 1 Satz 1 und Absatz 3 Satz 1 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG)