Germany · For your nationality or ancestry
Germany German restorative naturalisation
Restorative naturalisation for victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants (StAG § 15)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
German restorative naturalisation is a for your nationality or ancestry route for Germany. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
Time and long term
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Federal Office of Administration, by post or online through the federal portal.
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Your ancestor gave up or lost German citizenship before 26 February 1955 in connection with persecution between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945.
- Ancestors excluded from acquiring citizenship, refused naturalisation, or who lost their habitual residence in Germany through that persecution also count.
- Descendants of such persons have the same right to naturalisation.
- Excluded: people sentenced to two years or more for intentional offences, and people who acquired German citizenship after 8 May 1945 and gave it up again.
What you must show1
- No fee is charged for the § 15 procedure.
Steps1
- Apply to the Federal Office of Administration, including online through the federal portal.
After you arrive1
- The generation stop for births abroad does not apply to descendants of people entitled under § 15.
When you become tax resident
How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
All tax rules for Germany Tax records checked
Full official text
People who gave up or lost German citizenship, were excluded from acquiring it, or lost their habitual residence in Germany because of Nazi persecution between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945, and all their descendants, have a right to be naturalised. The procedure is free and requires no residence in Germany. 1 2 3 4
Requirements
- Your ancestor gave up or lost German citizenship before 26 February 1955 in connection with persecution between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945. 1
- Ancestors excluded from acquiring citizenship, refused naturalisation, or who lost their habitual residence in Germany through that persecution also count. 1
- Descendants of such persons have the same right to naturalisation. 1 2
- Excluded: people sentenced to two years or more for intentional offences, and people who acquired German citizenship after 8 May 1945 and gave it up again. 1
- No fee is charged for the § 15 procedure. 3
- Apply to the Federal Office of Administration, including online through the federal portal. 2
- The generation stop for births abroad does not apply to descendants of people entitled under § 15. 4
Stay
- Citizenship is permanent once acquired; it is not a time-limited permit.
Nationality
Open to anyone of any nationality descending from a person persecuted by the Nazi regime who lost or was denied German citizenship.
Work
A German citizen may live and work in Germany and, as an EU citizen, across the EU and EEA.
Family
All descendants qualify in their own right; forms exist for adults and children.
Official sources
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) § 15 Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung · Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach Verfolgung (§ 15 StAG) · Bundesverwaltungsamt · checked 2026-10-11
- Gebühren nach § 15 StAG · Bundesverwaltungsamt · checked 2026-10-11
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) § 4 Erwerb durch Geburt · Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
German restorative naturalisation and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| German restorative naturalisation | – | – | – |
| German citizenship by declaration | – | – | – |
| German citizenship by descent | – | – | – |
| CPLP residence Portugal | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Spanish nationality by descent and option Spain | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the German restorative naturalisation?
Citizenship is permanent once acquired; it is not a time-limited permit.
Can I work on the German restorative naturalisation?
A German citizen may live and work in Germany and, as an EU citizen, across the EU and EEA.
Can I bring my family on the German restorative naturalisation?
All descendants qualify in their own right; forms exist for adults and children.
How are German restorative naturalisation holders taxed in Germany?
No special regime in our records is tied to the German restorative naturalisation. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).
More in Germany
Nationality or ancestry visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) § 15 Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung · Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach Verfolgung (§ 15 StAG) · Bundesverwaltungsamt · checked 2026-10-11
- Gebühren nach § 15 StAG · Bundesverwaltungsamt · checked 2026-10-11
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) § 4 Erwerb durch Geburt · Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.