Diaspora & Religious Return in Germany

Outside the former Soviet Union you must prove you personally suffered disadvantage for being German, which is rarely possible now. Look first for documents showing German citizenship in your family, as a descent claim is often far stronger.

For the former Soviet republics, the law presumes ethnic Germans suffered for their origin. For Poland, Romania and the other historic settlement areas it does not, and you must show disadvantage you personally suffered or still suffer because of your German ethnicity. That is why recognitions from these countries are now rare.

The other requirements are the same: German descent, a commitment to German identity, a simple conversation in German, and leaving through the admission procedure with the decision issued first.

Families from German settlements in Eastern Europe often held documented German citizenship in the twentieth century. If yours did, take the Germany Citizenship by Descent quiz: that route has no generational limit.

If you can evidence disadvantage, put it to the Bundesverwaltungsamt rather than judging it yourself.

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