Did you once hold German citizenship but lose it after acquiring another nationality?

You may be able to reacquire German citizenship—even if you have lived outside Germany for many years.

Under Section 13 of the German Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz – StAG), former German citizens living abroad may qualify for discretionary naturalization. This route can be particularly relevant to individuals who lost German citizenship after voluntarily acquiring U.S. citizenship without first obtaining a German retention permit (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung).

Jungkunz Law helps former German citizens assess their eligibility and navigate the reacquisition process.

Who May Qualify?

Reacquisition may be possible if:

• You previously held German citizenship.
• You lost German citizenship under the former nationality law.
• You currently live outside Germany.
• You can demonstrate the required connection to Germany and satisfy the applicable legal requirements.

The circumstances and date of the loss of citizenship are particularly important. Each case requires an individual legal assessment.

Changes to German Dual Citizenship Rules

Since June 27, 2024, German citizens can acquire another nationality without automatically losing their German citizenship. A retention permit is no longer required for future acquisitions.

However, this change does not automatically restore German citizenship to individuals who lost it under the previous law.

If you acquired U.S. citizenship before June 27, 2024, without the required retention permit, reacquisition under Section 13 StAG may be an option.

How Jungkunz Law Can Help

We assist former German citizens with:

• Reviewing the circumstances under which German citizenship was lost
• Assessing eligibility for reacquisition under Section 13 StAG
• Evaluating your continuing ties to Germany
• Preparing and supporting naturalization applications
• Assisting clients living in the United States and worldwide

With legal qualifications in both Germany and California, Jungkunz Law understands the cross-border issues that can arise in these cases.

Frequently asked questions: Reacquisition of German Citizenship →