apply for naturalisation under the reparation scheme - for persons expatriated during National Socialism and their descendants - abroad

If you or your ancestors were deprived of German citizenship during the National Socialist era, you can apply for re-naturalisation under certain conditions.

Antrag auf Einbürgerung im Rahmen der Wiedergutmachung (Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach Entzug) auf der Internetseite des Bundesverwaltungsamtes

This form has to be signed and submitted to the responsible authority in person.

Street address

Barbarastr. 1
50735 Köln

Postal address

50728 Köln

Mehr zur Behörde

The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) is a German higher federal authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs (BMI). Among other things, it is responsible as the citizenship authority for persons abroad for issues relating to citizenship.

You can be re-naturalised if you were deprived of your German citizenship during the National Socialist era. If you are a descendant of such a person, you are also entitled to naturalisation.

If you meet the requirements for (re-)naturalisation, you will be issued with a naturalisation certificate. You will then have German citizenship.

You can also appoint an authorised person, for example a lawyer, to represent you in your application. To do this, you must enclose a power of attorney.

If you live abroad, you can submit your application for (re)naturalisation within the framework of the redress process in writing or in person (appointment) at your locally competent foreign representation or in writing and online at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

Notice:

If you already live in Germany, please contact the municipal citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence for a procedure to determine your German citizenship.

Applications for (re-)naturalisation can be made by:

former Germans who were deprived of their German citizenship between 30.01.1933 and 08.05.1945 due to political, religious or racial persecution

Descendants of persons who were deprived of German citizenship between 30.01.1933 and 08.05.1945 due to political, religious or racial persecution.

Further requirements:

the deprivation was effected by automatic loss in accordance with the 11th Ordinance to the Reich Citizenship Law of 25.11.1941 (concerns all Jewish German citizens who had their habitual residence abroad at the time of entry into force or later)

by loss in individual cases according to the Law on the Revocation and Deprivation of German Nationality of 14 July 1933 (published in the Reichsanzeiger)

and

Their permanent place of residence is abroad.

Notice:
If the German nationality has not been withdrawn by denaturalization, but the ancestor lost it in connection with National Socialist persecution measures, a naturalization according to § 15 StAG (Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach Verfolgung) may come into question.

Required Documents
When applying, you must submit:
- as persons of the immediate generation of victims:
  - Birth certificate,
  - current identity document, for example:
    - identity card or passport
  - Proof of previous possession of German citizenship, such as:
    - old German identity documents, including a passport,
    - deregistration certificates from before 1945,
    - old certificate of origin
  - Evidence of the fate of persecution, such as.
    - Entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates of:
      you or
      your parents or, if applicable
      your grandparents or
      your great-grandparents
  - notations in your passport or on other official documents
  - references to receipt of compensation benefits under the Federal Compensation Act
  - if applicable, proof of name changes
  - if applicable, proof of the acquisition of a foreign nationality
- as descendants of affected persons:
  - Birth certificate,
  - current identity document, for example:
    - identity card or passport,
  - other civil status documents, for example:
    - birth certificates or marriage certificates,
  - Proof of previous possession of German nationality of your ancestors, for example:
    - old German identity papers (up to 1945),
    - deregistration certificates (from before 1945),
    - old certificate of origin,
  - Proof of the persecution fate of your ancestors, for example:
    - entry of religious affiliation in birth or marriage certificates (ancestors up to 1945),
    - notations in old passports or on other official documents (up to 1945),
    - references to receipt of compensation benefits under the Federal Indemnification Law
  - if applicable, proof of name changes,
  - if applicable, proof of the acquisition of a foreign nationality by the ancestors

You or your authorised person can apply for naturalisation under the reparation scheme in writing or by appointment in person at your competent German mission abroad or in writing or online at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).
Written application

You can obtain all the necessary information in advance by e-mail, telephone or in a personal meeting on site (appointment). Among other things, you will receive information about which documents you should enclose with your application.
You can download the application form directly from the website of the Federal Office of Administration.
If necessary, the diplomatic mission or consular post abroad can assist you in completing the application form.
Complete the application form in full and sign it.
Submit the signed application by post or in person together with the required supporting documents to your local German mission abroad (appointment).
However, contacting the German mission abroad is not obligatory. You can also send the application directly to the BVA by post.
The BVA will check your application and inform you if further documents and information are required for the processing of the application.

Online application

Go to the Federal Portal website and fill out the application form for naturalization under the reparations program electronically.
Note: You will need an eIDAS-compliant form of authentication to use the online function.
Attach the other requested documents as a file.
Submit your application.
The BVA will check your application and, if necessary, request a certified copy of the required documents.

Complete the process (in writing and online):

If your application is approved, the BVA will send your naturalization certificate to the responsible foreign mission. They will inform you about the further procedure for the delivery of the naturalisation certificate.
Should the BVA not be able to approve your application, you will be informed by the mission abroad.