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Applying for restitution naturalization for persons directly affected during the Nazi era and their descendants abroad

If you or your ancestors were deprived of German citizenship during the National Socialist era and you live abroad, you can apply for re-naturalization under certain conditions as part of the restitution process.

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Procedure details

You can be naturalized again if you were deprived of your German citizenship during the National Socialist era. If you are a descendant of such a person, you are also entitled to naturalization.

If you meet the requirements, your naturalization will take effect when you receive your naturalization certificate. This gives you German citizenship.

The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) is a German higher federal authority within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). Among other things, it is responsible for citizenship issues for people abroad.

  • Your habitual residence (domicile) is abroad.
  • Your identity and nationality have been clarified.
  • Your German citizenship was withdrawn between 30.01.1933 and 08.05.1945 due to
    • political,
    • religious or
    • racial persecution or
  • You are descended from persons who were deprived of their German citizenship between 30.01.1933 and 08.05.1945 due to
    • political,
    • religious or
    • racial persecution.
  • The withdrawal of German citizenship was effected by
    • automatic loss in accordance with the 11th Ordinance to the Reich Citizenship Act of 25.11.1941, affecting all Jewish German citizens who had their habitual residence abroad at the time of entry into force or later, or
    • loss in individual cases in accordance with the law on the revocation and withdrawal of German citizenship of 14.7.1933 by publication in the Reichsanzeiger.

  • Required Documents

    As a person of the immediate affected generation or as their descendant:

    • Application for naturalization in the context of restitution
    • Current identity document, for example:
      • Passport
      • identity card
    • birth certificate
    • Documents relating to civil status:
      • Marriage certificate, if applicable
      • Divorce decree or death certificate, with translation, legalization or apostille, if applicable
        • of the previous spouse or the previous registered partner or
        • of the previous registered civil partner
    • If a third person is authorized: power of attorney

    Additionally as a person of the immediate affected generation:

    • Proof of previous possession of German citizenship, for example:
      • old German identity documents, including a passport
      • de-registration certificates from before 1945
      • old certificate of origin
    • Proof of your history of persecution, for example
      • Entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates of
        • you or
        • your parents or, if applicable
        • your grandparents or
        • your great-grandparents
    • Endorsements in your passport or on other official documents
    • Information on receipt of compensation benefits under the Federal Compensation Act
    • if applicable:
      • proof of change of name
      • proof of the acquisition of a foreign nationality

    Additionally, as a descendant of affected persons:

    • Proof of previous possession of German citizenship by your ancestors, for example
      • old German identity documents up to 1945,
      • de-registration certificates from before 1945,
      • old certificate of origin,
    • Proof of the persecution fate of your ancestors, for example:
      • Entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates for ancestors up to 1945,
      • Notes in old passports or on other official documents up to 1945,
      • Information on the receipt of compensation benefits in accordance with the Federal Compensation Act
    • where applicable:
      • Proof of name changes, both for you and your ancestors
      • proof of the acquisition of foreign citizenship by your ancestors

You or your authorized representative can apply for naturalization as part of the restitution process in writing or in person by appointment at your responsible German diplomatic mission or online at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

Written or personal application:

  • You can obtain all the necessary information about the application and required documents in advance by email, telephone or in a personal meeting on site with an appointment.
  • You can download the application form directly from the website of the Federal Office of Administration.
  • If necessary, the diplomatic mission abroad can assist you in completing the application form.
  • Complete the application form in full and sign it.
  • Submit the signed application by post or in person together with the required supporting documents to your local German diplomatic mission abroad by appointment.
  • However, it is not compulsory to contact the diplomatic mission abroad. You can also send the application directly to the BVA by post.
  • The BVA will check your application and inform you if further documents and information are required to process the application.

Online application:

  • Go to the website of the federal portal and fill out the application form for naturalization within the framework of restitution electronically.
  • You will need an ID document with an online function to identify yourself (eIDAS-compliant authentication). Attach the other required documents as a file.
  • Submit your application.
  • The BVA will check your application and request certified copies of any required documents.

Complete the procedure (in writing and online):

  • If your application is approved, the BVA will send your naturalization certificate to the relevant diplomatic mission abroad. They will inform you about the further procedure for issuing the naturalization certificate.
  • If the BVA rejects your application, you will be informed by the diplomatic mission abroad.

Please bear in mind that you may incur costs for the procurement of documents, translations and notarizations.

There is no deadline

  • You can also nominate an authorized person, such as a lawyer, for your application. You must enclose a power of attorney for this purpose.
  • If you already live in Germany, please contact the local citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence for a procedure to determine your German citizenship.
  • If your German citizenship was not revoked by expatriation, but your ancestor lost it in connection with National Socialist persecution, you may be eligible for restitution naturalization after persecution.

  • Contradiction

Status: 08.04.2026
Editorially responsible for procedure description: Bundesministerium des Innern
Source: Federal Portal