German mother · married parents
A child born May 24, 1949–December 31, 1974 who was excluded from acquiring citizenship through their German mother.
← German Citizenship & RecordsCITIZENSHIP PATHWAYS · A PRACTICAL GUIDEGerman Citizenship
German Citizenship
by Declaration.
Who qualifies for §5 StAG, what documents to gather, and how to apply—especially when several family members are involved.
19 AUG 2031BVA receipt deadline
FREEGovernment declaration fee
2–3 YEARSFederal portal estimate*
*Individual cases may take longer. Eligibility and required evidence depend on the specific family history.
01 / START HERE
Could §5 fit your family?
The law offers a declaration route for certain people affected by historical gender-discriminatory nationality rules, and their descendants. These are the common patterns—not an eligibility decision.
German father · unmarried parents
A child born May 24, 1949–June 30, 1993 who was excluded from acquiring citizenship through their German father. German-law parentage rules matter.
Mother lost citizenship through marriage
Certain children born after May 23, 1949, whose mother had lost German citizenship by marrying a foreigner before April 1, 1953.
Legitimation loss or descendants
Certain children whose citizenship was lost through qualifying pre-April 1953 legitimation, plus descendants of people in the covered categories.
Important distinction: If you were already German at birth, §5 may not be your procedure. Compare already German vs. §5 → Older nationality losses and other legal exclusions also matter.
02 / FAMILIES
Applying together?
Parents, adult children and grandchildren can organize their family applications together when eligible. But one approved declaration does not automatically cover the whole family.
German grandmotherOriginal family connection
Affected adult childOwn declaration if eligible
Grandchild AOwn declaration
Grandchild BOwn declaration
The family approach
- One declaration per applicant (EER or the applicable online process).
- Age 16 or older: applicants act for themselves; younger children need legal representatives.
- Parents do not always have to apply first: eligible descendants may apply independently.
- Shared ancestry records: label common evidence clearly and ask the mission/BVA how they want it submitted.
- Don't wait unnecessarily: relatives can proceed separately when their own materials are ready.
03 / THE PAPER TRAIL
Your document checklist.
Tick off what you've gathered and use the links to find what is missing. This is a starter planner—your actual BVA checklist may require different or additional evidence.
§5 Records PlannerProgress stays in this browser only; no names or documents are collected.
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01Individual applicant documents
02Shared family-line evidence
03Before you send
Unofficial research tool, not proof that a case is complete or eligible.
04 / DOCUMENT PREPARATION
How to get certified copies the BVA can accept.
This is a common paperwork mistake: having something notarized is not the same as having the document itself certified as a true copy. Here are the rules described in the BVA's §5 instructions and the German Missions' U.S. certified-copy guidance.
✓ THE RIGHT TYPE OF CERTIFICATION
The notary certifies the copy
“I certify that the attached copy of a [document] is a true, correct and complete copy of the original.”
It must be an authorized notary's own certification, made in a way allowed under that state's law, with the notary's original signature, seal and commission-expiration date. The entire document must be covered.
✕ NOT A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
You swear the copy is accurate
“I, the applicant, declare that this photocopy matches my original.”
If the notary only witnesses your signature on that statement, they have not certified that the photocopy matches the original. The German Missions explicitly say this is insufficient.
Illustrative wording based on the German Missions' official acceptable / not acceptable examples ↗. It is not a substitute for an authorized notarial certificate under local law.
Where can you get the right copies?
German mission or authorized honorary consul
Contact your responsible German embassy, consulate or honorary consul to confirm that copy certification is offered and how to book. Bring the original document (or the accepted original certified record) and follow that office's copying instructions.
U.S. notary, where legally permitted
Ask specifically for certification of a true copy, not acknowledgment of your signature. The notary must be authorized to certify this type of document under their state's rules and actually certify its conformity with the original.
Issuing registrar / records office
For a birth, marriage or death record, you can request a fresh officially issued certified record from the appropriate vital-records office. This is particularly useful where local notaries cannot certify vital records.
California and New York exception: The German Missions state that photocopy certifications by notaries from those states are not accepted by the BVA. Use an appropriate German mission or another authorized form of certified record instead. Read the official warning ↗
Before you mail the paperwork
- Copy the front and back and all pages, even if the reverse appears blank.
- Check for the original certification statement, signature, stamp/seal, and U.S. notary commission-expiration date.
- The BVA's §5 instructions say to send certified copies rather than irreplaceable originals for most civil and ancestry documents, unless specifically asked otherwise.
- For the required criminal-record certificate, follow the BVA's original-document requirement, not the general copy rule.
Three different things
- Certified true copy
- Confirms the reproduction matches the original document.
- Signature notarization
- Confirms who signed; it does not authenticate a photocopy's contents.
- Apostille
- Authenticates the origin of a public document's signature/seal for international use. It does not substitute for a certified copy. Whether your records need one depends on current instructions.
For the online declaration, follow the portal's upload directions and any later BVA request for original or certified evidence. Procedures and document requirements can vary by case. Confirm with the BVA or your German mission before paying for notarial work, translations or apostilles. German Missions' citizenship procedure notes ↗
PRACTICAL RECORDS TIP
Scan every document before you send it.
Save clear PDFs of both sides where there are notes or stamps, your completed EER forms, emails, postage receipts, and the complete package you submitted. Keep the unaltered original scan and a backup in a separate location. A PDF is useful for your records, but does not substitute for a required original or officially certified copy.
For storage, we use external hard drives as one part of a backup system; one drive alone is not sufficient for irreplaceable records.
Our scanning, PDF and WD Elements backup workflow ↗Before filing✓ Scan and check every page✓ Keep the original master PDF✓ Save all submissions and replies✓ Back up independently and securelyRead our Epson scanner/printer review →
05 / SUBMIT
How to apply, without the maze.
1Identify the qualifying history. Pin down German citizenship, marriage, birth and other relevant dates.
2Prepare documents and declarations. Use the BVA's EER instructions or the federal portal's online process as appropriate.
3Check the document rules. Originals, certifications, FBI records, translations and apostilles depend on the current instructions and your case.
4Choose one submission route. Apply online through the official federal portal, mail directly to the BVA, or use your responsible German embassy or consulate. See the three options just below.
5Keep confirmation and follow up if asked. The BVA may request evidence. If eligible, citizenship dates from receipt of a valid declaration.
Deadline: August 19, 2031. For residents abroad, the BVA receipt date is decisive, including for declarations forwarded through a consulate. Don't leave submission until the final day.
Germany's §5 declaration is free; obtaining records and certifications may cost money. German-language proficiency is not tested for this route. English-language documents generally do not need translation for citizenship matters through German Missions in the U.S.; confirm your mission's instructions.
06 / QUICK ANSWERS
Questions families ask most.
Short answers to common situations. Open the question that applies to you.
Can a U.S. notary certify my photocopies?
Sometimes. The notary must be legally allowed to certify that particular type of document and must certify the copy itself as complete and true to the original, with their original signature, seal and commission-expiration date. An acknowledgment of your own statement is not enough. The BVA does not accept U.S. notary photocopy certifications from California or New York. See the practical certified-copy guide ↑
Should I send my original birth and marriage certificates?
The BVA's general §5 paper instructions recommend certified copies for civil and family-history records, because originals are normally returned only on special request after the process finishes. If the authority specifically requests an original, follow that instruction. For the criminal-record certificate, the BVA explicitly requires the original. See what to certify ↑
Should we apply as a family?
If several relatives qualify, you may prepare their declarations together and organize shared ancestral evidence. Each person still needs their own declaration. Ask the BVA or your mission how they want shared original or certified records presented.
Does my parent or grandparent have to apply first?
Generally no. Eligible descendants can declare in their own right, supported by documents establishing the original qualifying circumstances and the family line.
Can my children apply?
Yes, if each child meets the requirements. Applicants aged 16 or older sign for themselves; under 16, legal representatives act and sign as required. A parent’s declaration does not automatically include the children.
What about my husband or wife?
Marriage to an eligible applicant does not by itself create §5 entitlement. A spouse would need an independent qualifying route.
What if the affected ancestor has died?
A qualifying descendant may still apply. You will need records establishing the original historical situation and your connection to that ancestor.
What if an ancestor naturalized in the United States?
The dates and circumstances matter. The naturalization paperwork may help establish whether the German parent held citizenship at the legally relevant time. Start with our U.S. A-File guide and check NARA or other applicable record sources.
Do I need an FBI background check?
The BVA generally requires a current, nationwide criminal-record certificate from the country of residence for relevant applicants. For U.S. residents, it identifies the FBI; a state-only record is not equivalent. Follow the current instructions on age, original document and six-month validity.
Do I need apostilles and translations?
Requirements vary by document and receiving authority. The German Missions in the U.S. say English-language document translations are generally unnecessary for citizenship applications. Check current instructions before ordering apostilles or translations.
What if I cannot find every German record?
Gather what is available and keep a dated search log. The BVA can request more evidence; it may not accept substitute records. Do not assume that a missing document automatically prevents filing or that an incomplete packet will be sufficient.
Is a German birth certificate enough proof?
Not necessarily. It proves civil-register facts, but the BVA may need separate evidence of German nationality at the relevant date. A historical Meldekarte can offer useful clues without being conclusive by itself.
Do I need to speak German or give up U.S. citizenship?
A §5 declaration does not require a German-language test, and Germany does not require you to renounce an existing nationality. The official paper forms themselves must be completed in German.
Is this the right route if I already acquired citizenship at birth?
Usually not. If you were German at birth, the issue is documenting your status. The mission may be able to assess a passport application or advise formal citizenship determination if needed.
What happens once the BVA approves it?
The BVA documents acquisition by issuing a certificate. If you met the conditions, German citizenship takes effect when your valid declaration reached the competent nationality authority, not when the certificate arrived. Passport applications are a separate next step.
BEYOND THE APPLICATION
Pass the family story on.
Official forms & sources
Always check the current instructions before submitting; this guide is general research information, not a determination of your eligibility.
BVA EER form package & English aids ↗German Missions U.S. — §5 guide ↗Federal Portal — processing & online route ↗Actual law — Section 5 StAG ↗German Missions — certified-copy examples (PDF) ↗German Missions — certification rules / NY-CA warning ↗
Researched October 31, 2026. Gear Arena is independent of German authorities. Rules and documentary requirements may change; the competent authority decides individual cases.