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What does citizenship by descent cost?
A transparent, government-fee-based estimate. Adjust your generations and circumstances, compare countries, and share the link.
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A transparent, government-fee-based estimate. Adjust your generations and circumstances, compare countries, and share the link.
Estimated Germany citizenship cost
$231 – $537
Most applicants pay around $430 · ~3 documents
Government & filing
Source: bva.bund.de fee schedule. Declaration (§5) and restitution (Art. 116(2)) applications are free.
documents
First certified copy €12, subsequent copies €6; no apostille or translation required
Varies by state and county
processing
Only required on US-origin documents; German records do not need apostilles
Per US vital record; sworn (beglaubigte Übersetzung) is required — more expensive than standard certified translation
What's not included
Estimates are based on public government fees and typical vendor costs, last verified 2026-06-22. This is not legal or financial advice — confirm current fees with the relevant authority.