How to apply for Germany citizenship

A step-by-step guide to claiming Germany citizenship by descent through BVA Cologne. Your exact documents and route are confirmed by the free eligibility check.

1
Pick the right route
Determine whether §4 (ordinary descent), §5 (gender-discrimination declaration), or Art. 116(2) (Nazi-era restitution) applies — filing on the wrong track can get you rejected even when you're eligible under another.
2
Request German Standesamt records
Order long-form civil-registry records (birth, marriage) for each German ancestor from the relevant Standesamt.
3
Gather US records and naturalization proof
Collect US birth and marriage certificates and — critically — any naturalization certificates (via NARA or the USCIS Genealogy Program) that show whether and when an ancestor naturalized.
4
Commission sworn translations
Have every non-German document translated by a court-recognized sworn translator; rejected translations are the most common reason BVA asks for corrections.
5
Complete the right form
Use Form F for §4 (with an annex per ancestor), Form EER for §5, or Form E15 for Art. 116(2).
6
Submit through your German consulate
Most consulates accept your package by mail or courier, run a completeness check, and forward it to BVA Cologne (about 4–8 weeks in transit).
7
Track and respond
Wait for BVA's acknowledgement of receipt, then answer any document requests (Nachforderung) promptly — delays extend the queue.
8
Pay (if §4) and receive your certificate
§4 invoices a €51 fee after approval; §5 and Art. 116(2) are free. The Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis confirms your citizenship, after which you can apply for a passport.

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Not affiliated with BVA Cologne or any government. A document-organization tool, not legal advice — always verify with the relevant authority.