Diaspora & Religious Return in Germany

Germany's two diaspora routes do not reach you, and it has no general heritage route. If you have any German ancestor, check descent or restoration instead.

The Spätaussiedler route is for ethnic Germans in the former Soviet Union and the historic German settlement areas of Eastern Europe. The Jewish immigration procedure is for Jewish applicants from the former Soviet Union. There is no law of return.

Descent: if an ancestor held German citizenship, there is no generational limit, but each ancestor must still have held it when their child in your line was born. A line through a German woman who married a foreigner before 1975 can use a declaration route open until 19 August 2031. Take the Germany Citizenship by Descent quiz.

Restoration: if your family was persecuted in Germany between 1933 and 1945, descendants can have citizenship restored as of right, with no deadline. Take the Historical Displacement quiz.

Otherwise the ordinary routes apply: the EU Blue Card and skilled worker permit, the Opportunity Card, or the self-employment permit.

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