Dual citizenship 2025 - Canada and Germany
Just under three million Canadians have German ancestors - according to the 2021 Canadian census. In the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, the proportion of people of German descent is even well over 20 percent in some cases. With this in mind, it is not surprising that Germany is one of the most popular destinations for expats from Canada.
Nevertheless, very few Canadians living in Germany also apply for German citizenship. On the entire American continent - North and South - there were only 7,000 naturalizations in 2022. While there are many benefits to obtaining German citizenship, German citizenship law requires naturalization applicants to renounce their old citizenship in order to obtain German citizenship. However, many Canadians understandably want to keep their Canadian passport.
In January 2024, however, the German Bundestag passed a law that allows people from Canada to keep their previous passport when naturalizing. This will enable them to obtain dual German-Canadian citizenship. We explain when these changes come into force, what exactly the new law says and how Canadians in Germany can benefit from it with the help of our lawyers.
Advantages of German-Canadian dual citizenship
Acquiring German citizenship brings with it many advantages. Among other things, citizenship allows you to obtain a German passport, which is generally regarded as one of the "strongest" passports in the world, and thus to enjoy freedom of travel and unrestricted access to the labor market throughout Europe. In addition, only German citizens can vote in elections in this country. Last but not least, the German constitution also contains some basic rights that only citizens are entitled to, the so-called German basic rights. In short: naturalization makes you officially German and you can therefore enjoy the same rights and freedoms and the same protection as all other Germans.
German-Canadian dual citizenship allows you to receive all these benefits without having to give up the privileges granted by your Canadian citizenship. In other words, you enjoy the benefits just mentioned - freedom to travel, the right to vote, state protection, access to the labor market - in two countries. Dual citizenship is therefore perfectly suited to meet the demands of an increasingly globalized world.
Naturalization requirements for Canadians
Canadian citizens must fulfill a number of requirements if they wish to obtain German citizenship and thus dual citizenship. First of all, you must be in possession of a permanent residence permit such as a settlement permit or a temporary residence permit for long-term residence. You can find out which residence permits allow naturalization here. In addition, your identity must be established, i.e. you must be able to present a valid passport or similar document. And you must be able to prove that you are able to support yourself and your immediate family independently. To do this, the naturalization authority will make a prognosis as to whether you will be dependent on state aid in the future.
Furthermore, Canadians seeking naturalization must have German language skills at level B1 or higher and knowledge of the German legal and social system. This can usually be proven by passing a naturalization test . Once the new citizenship law comes into force on June 27, 2024, you must generally have lived in Germany for five years without significant interruptions and you can retain your Canadian citizenship.
Dual citizenship and duration of residence - The new law
On 19 January 2024, the German Bundestag passed the Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law. It contains a number of far-reaching changes that particularly affect the requirements for naturalization. These changes will come into force three months after the law is officially promulgated, i.e. on 27.06.2024.
The first important point is that the new Naturalization Act lifts the previous ban on multiple nationality. There were already numerous exceptions to this ban, but none of them applied to people from Canada. In other words, they have always had to give up their Canadian citizenship in order to be naturalized in Germany. In future, this requirement will no longer apply. The path to German-Canadian dual citizenship will then be clear.
This is not only an advantage for Canadians in Germany. Germans who wish to naturalize in Canada will no longer have to go through a complicated procedure to retain their German citizenship.
The second key change brought about by the new Naturalization Act concerns the length of residence required for naturalization. Previously, the legal situation was that you had to live in Germany for eight years before you could be naturalized. The new law reduces this minimum period of residence from eight to five years. In addition, it will still be possible to shorten this period by up to two more years in the future, for example by providing proof of special integration achievements in work, training, school or voluntary work or through German language skills at C1 level. This means that in future it will be possible to become a naturalized citizen after just three years of residence at best.
However, the new law also introduces stricter rules in a few places. For example, in future there will be stricter checks to ensure that naturalization applicants can actually support themselves and their families independently. In addition, naturalization will in future also require applicants to acknowledge Germany's historical responsibility for the unjust rule of the National Socialists.
If you would like to find out more about the new Naturalization Act, you can find our detailed overview of all the upcoming changes here.
Application by Canadian citizens
If you meet all the requirements for obtaining German citizenship (if in doubt, we recommend our naturalization check), you can apply for naturalization. Your local naturalization authority is responsible for this. If you do not currently reside in Germany, you can alternatively apply directly from Canada. The best way to do this is to contact the German Consulate General in Toronto, which will then forward your application to the Federal Office of Administration.
How lawyers can help you
Anyone who has ever had to deal with the German authorities knows that the process is rarely simple and often requires a huge number of documents and forms. This is particularly true when it comes to naturalization. In addition, naturalization applicants already have to wait many months, sometimes up to a whole year, for their application to be processed. When the above-mentioned legal changes come into force, it can be assumed that a large number of new naturalization applications will be submitted - after all, many people want to benefit from the newly created option of dual citizenship. However, this means that it is quite possible that processing times will be extended by another year.
So that you do not have to wait unnecessarily long for a decision as important as that on your citizenship, we recommend that you instruct our experienced lawyers. We will check your application for completeness and ensure that it has the best possible chance of success. We also take care of all communication with the authorities and ensure that your application is processed quickly. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of your new German-Canadian dual citizenship as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions on dual citizenship (FAQ):
When and for whom is dual citizenship permitted under the new law?
According to the new Citizenship Act, since June 27, 2024, anyone who wants to be naturalized in Germany can now retain their previous citizenship under German law.
However, the country of origin must also allow dual citizenship. In some countries, such as Austria, China, India and South Korea, citizenship is automatically lost if you naturalize in another country.
A detailed list of countries with which dual citizenship is not possible can be found here.
Tip: Before starting the naturalization process, always check whether the previous citizenship may be retained under foreign law. You can inquire about this at foreign missions, for example. German lawyers are generally unable to provide information on foreign legal issues.
Do you still have to take a naturalization test under the new Citizenship Act?
YesThe new law does not change the rules for the naturalization test. However, as before, you do not have to take the test if you are at least a German school-leaving qualification (qualificationRealschule, Abitur etc.)a completed vocational training with a grade in the subject of social studies or a degree in the fields of law and social sciences, social sciences or politics naor politics.
When will the new Naturalization Act come into force?
The new Naturalization Act (Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law) comes into force on June 27, 2024 in force, three months after its promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette. From then on dual citizenship in principle under German law possible for all, and will in particular the minimum period of residence to five years to five years. You can read more about the details of the new law here.
I have already applied for naturalization. Can I still get dual citizenship?
The question of dual citizenship depends on the legal situation at the time you receive your naturalization certificate. If you meet all the requirements, you will initially only receive an assurance of naturalization from the authorities, in which you will be asked to renounce your previous citizenship.
This assurance of naturalization is usually valid for two years. As the new law comes into force on June 27, 2024, you can then be naturalized without having to give up your previous citizenship.
When does a child of parents with foreign citizenship automatically receive German citizenship at birth?
Since June 27, 2024, when the new Citizenship Act came into force, children born in Germany to foreign parents automatically receive German citizenship if one parent has been living legally in Germany for more than five years and has an unlimited right of residence. For children born before June 27, 2024, this period is still eight years according to the old legal situation.
Can I keep my citizenship if I have already submitted an application or have already been granted naturalization?
The modernized Citizenship Act (StAG) came into force on 27 June 2024. Since this date, the new legal situation has applied, according to which renunciation of current citizenship is no longer required for naturalization in Germany. In principle, the new legal situation applies to you if you are issued a naturalization certificate after 27 June 2024.
Before the naturalization certificate is issued, you will first receive an assurance of naturalization, which is usually valid for 2 years. Before 27 June, when the assurance of naturalization was issued, you were asked to submit proof that you had renounced your current citizenship so that the naturalization certificate could then be issued. You had time to do this as long as the assurance of naturalization was valid.
If you have received an assurance of naturalization before 27 June 2024, you should ask for a date to be set after this date to receive your naturalization certificate without renouncing your current citizenship. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on this.
What are the requirements to become a naturalized citizen?
We have explained this in detail in our article on naturalization.
Alternatively, you can complete our Naturalization Check.
What will be the minimum period of residence for naturalization in the future?
Since the new law on citizenship came into force on June 27, 2024, the minimum period of residence in Germany is now only five years. It can be shortened to up to three years in cases of particularly good integration.
Can I check if I meet all the requirements for naturalization?
If you want to check whether your naturalization application would be successful, you can do our naturalization check. However, this check only gives you a first overview. If you still have detailed questions or are unsure, then it is best to contact our lawyers.
Can I get my foreign citizenship back if I have already given it up due to naturalization in Germany?
Whether you can get back your old citizenship, which you gave up for naturalization, depends on on the Rright of your originstaates from. According to German law, from June 27, 2024, when the the new Citizenship Act comes into force, there will be nothing to stop it.
How long will it take for a decision to be made on my naturalization application?
Even now, it usually takes up to 12 monthsuntil a decision is made on an application for naturalization. When the new law comes into force on 26 June 2024, the number of naturalization applications is expected to increase significantly will increase significantly. This will probably also increase the processing times by several months. If the authorities do not make a decision on your application for too long, it may be advisable to file an action for failure to act action for failure to act. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on this.
From when is dual citizenship possible?
The Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law was passed by the Bundestag at the end of January 2024 and has also passed the Bundesrat. It came into force on June 27, 2024, three months after it was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette. Since this date, everyone has had the option of dual citizenship under German law.
Is it possible to have more than two citizenships?
Strictly speaking, the forthcoming law on citizenship will not allow dual citizenship, but will lift the general ban on multiple citizenship. If this ban is lifted, it will also be possible under German law to have more than two nationalities. Multiple citizenship will then be possible without further ado.
As a German citizen, do I still have to apply for a retention permit if I want to take on a foreign nationality?
According to the legal situation before June 27, 2024, you generally lost your German citizenship if you naturalized in another country. This could only be prevented by obtaining a retention permit. Since the new Citizenship Act came into force on June 27, 2024, this is no longer the case. Germany now generally allows multiple nationalities. You can find more information on this on the website of the Federal Office of Administration.
Can I apply for naturalization now if I want the provisions of the new law (dual citizenship, shorter period of residence, etc.) to apply to me?
The new law on citizenship comes into force on 27 June 2024, but the processing time for an application for naturalization is usually around 12 months. The decisive factor for your application is the legal situation at the time when the authorities make a decision. It is very likely that this will not be until after June 27. This means that you can, in principle, submit an application for naturalization now, which will then be decided according to the new legal situation. If a decision is made on your application before June 27, 2024, you will first be asked to provide proof that you have been released from your existing citizenship. If you do not do this by June 27, you will be able to benefit from the new law after this date and retain your citizenship.
However, this varies from authority to authority and also depends on how long you have been in Germany. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on your personal situation.
Can I be naturalized in Germany if I want to keep my previous citizenship?
Dual citizenship - Which countries are included?
Good news for foreigners who would like to be naturalized in Germany: Since the summer of 2024, Germany has offered the possibility of dual citizenship. Anyone who wants to be naturalized in Germany no longer has to give up their previous citizenship - at least under German law.
However, the law of the country of origin must also allow dual citizenship. This is the case in most countries in the world, but not in all. Some countries have laws that allow the voluntary acquisition of citizenshipcitizenship of another country to automatic loss of the original nationalitynationality leads to. Although people from these countries can acquire German citizenship through naturalization, they cannot acquire dual citizenship.
To give you an overview, we have compiled the following list of all countries in the world countries. For each country, we have researched which regulations the national citizenship law makes regarding dual citizenship. So you can see at a glance the countries with which dual citizenship is possible in Germany in 2025.
Please note, however, that as lawyers admitted to practice in Germany, we can only advise on German law. German law. We can therefore assume no liability for the timeliness or accuracy of the following information. In addition, many countries have exceptions for certain persons (e.g. minors) or for certain situations (e.g. naturalization due to marriage to a German or dual citizenship by birth in Germany). dual citizenship by birth in Germany). Furthermore, dual citizenship is only possible with some countries if certain obligations are met. We therefore advise you to always consult a lawyer in your a lawyer in your country of origin for comprehensive information.
Interactive country table
Search the list for a country.
| Countries | Status |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan (officially, dual citizenship is not recognized under the Law on Citizenship; in practice, however, it is; only certain offices are incompatible with dual citizenship) | ✅ |
| Albania | ✅ |
| Algeria | ✅ |
| Angola | ✅ |
| Antigua & Barbuda | ✅ |
| Argentina (basically allows double SBS; unlike with other countries, there is no special agreement with Germany; the possibility of double SBS therefore depends entirely on German law) | ✅ |
| Armenia | ✅ |
| Australia | ✅ |
| Bangladesh (application for Dual Nationality Certificate required) | ✅ |
| Barbados | ✅ |
| Belgium (permitted since 2008, citizenship previously lost can be regained by application) | ✅ |
| Belize | ✅ |
| Benin | ✅ |
| Bolivia | ✅ |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | ✅ |
| Brazil | ✅ |
| Bulgaria | ✅ |
| Burkina Faso | ✅ |
| Burundi | ✅ |
| Chad (neither legally recognized nor prohibited) | ✅ |
| Chile | ✅ |
| Costa Rica | ✅ |
| Denmark | ✅ |
| Dominica | ✅ |
| Dominican Republic | ✅ |
| Djibouti | ✅ |
| Ecuador | ✅ |
| El Salvador (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Eswatini (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Fiji | ✅ |
| Finland | ✅ |
| France | ✅ |
| Gabon | ✅ |
| Gambia (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Ghana | ✅ |
| Grenada | ✅ |
| Greece | ✅ |
| Guatemala | ✅ |
| Guinea-Bissau | ✅ |
| Haiti | ✅ |
| Honduras (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Iraq | ✅ |
| Ireland | ✅ |
| Iceland | ✅ |
| Israel | ✅ |
| Italy | ✅ |
| Jamaica | ✅ |
| Yemen | ✅ |
| Jordan | ✅ |
| Cambodia | ✅ |
| Canada | ✅ |
| Cape Verde | ✅ |
| Kenya | ✅ |
| Kyrgyzstan | ✅ |
| Kiribati (only for citizens of I-Kiribati descent) | ✅ |
| Colombia | ✅ |
| Kosovo | ✅ |
| Croatia | ✅ |
| Cuba | ✅ |
| Lesotho | ✅ |
| Latvia | ✅ |
| Lebanon | ✅ |
| Liechtenstein | ✅ |
| Luxembourg | ✅ |
| Malawi (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Maldives | ✅ |
| Mali | ✅ |
| Malta | ✅ |
| Morocco | ✅ |
| Mauritius (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Mexico (only for native-born citizens or children of Mexican parents born in Germany) | ✅ |
| Micronesia | ✅ |
| Moldova | ✅ |
| Mongolia | ✅ |
| Mozambique | ✅ |
| Namibia (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Nauru | ✅ |
| New Zealand | ✅ |
| Nicaragua (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Niger | ✅ |
| Nigeria (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| North Macedonia | ✅ |
| Norway | ✅ |
| East Timor (Timor-Leste) | ✅ |
| Pakistan | ✅ |
| Palestine | ✅ |
| Palau | ✅ |
| Panama (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Papua New Guinea | ✅ |
| Peru | ✅ |
| Philippines (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Poland | ✅ |
| Portugal | ✅ |
| Republic of Congo | ✅ |
| Rwanda | ✅ |
| Romania | ✅ |
| Russia | ✅ |
| Solomon Islands | ✅ |
| Samoa | ✅ |
| São Tomé & Príncipe (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Sweden | ✅ |
| Switzerland | ✅ |
| Senegal (tolerates dual citizenship in practice, but officially only recognizes Senegalese citizenship) | ✅ |
| Serbia | ✅ |
| Seychelles | ✅ |
| Sierra Leone | ✅ |
| Zimbabwe (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Slovenia | ✅ |
| Somalia | ✅ |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | ✅ |
| St. Lucia | ✅ |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | ✅ |
| Sudan | ✅ |
| South Sudan | ✅ |
| Syria | ✅ |
| Taiwan (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Thailand | ✅ |
| Togo (only for native citizens) | ✅ |
| Tonga | ✅ |
| Trinidad & Tobago (only for citizens by birth or descent) | ✅ |
| Czech Republic | ✅ |
| Tunisia | ✅ |
| Turkey | ✅ |
| Tuvalu | ✅ |
| Uganda | ✅ |
| Hungary | ✅ |
| Uruguay | ✅ |
| Vanuatu | ✅ |
| Venezuela | ✅ |
| United States of America (USA) | ✅ |
| United Kingdom (UK) | ✅ |
| Vietnam | ✅ |
| Cyprus | ✅ |
| Egypt (dual citizenship is only permitted with the permission of the Ministry of the Interior; in practice, however, the lack of permission often has no consequences) | ❌ |
| Andorra | ❌ |
| Equatorial Guinea | ❌ |
| Azerbaijan | ❌ |
| Ethiopia | ❌ |
| Bahamas | ❌ |
| Bahrain | ❌ |
| Bhutan | ❌ |
| Botswana | ❌ |
| Brunei | ❌ |
| China | ❌ |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD) | ❌ |
| Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) | ❌ |
| Eritrea | ❌ |
| Estonia (not legally permitted, but native Estonians are not deprived of their citizenship in practice) | ❌ |
| Georgia (unless Georgian citizenship has been granted by presidential decree) | ❌ |
| Guinea | ❌ |
| Guyana | ❌ |
| India | ❌ |
| Indonesia | ❌ |
| Iran (does not recognize dual citizenship, but does not automatically forfeit Iranian citizenship) | ❌ |
| Japan | ❌ |
| Cameroon | ❌ |
| Kazakhstan | ❌ |
| Qatar | ❌ |
| Comoros (loss of native citizenship prohibited by the constitution; however, loss of citizenship in case of voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship simply regulated by law) | ✅ |
| Kuwait | ❌ |
| Laos | ❌ |
| Liberia | ✅ |
| Libya | ❌ |
| Lithuania | ❌ |
| Madagascar | ❌ |
| Malaysia | ❌ |
| Marshall Islands (only with the permission of the Cabinet) | ❌ |
| Mauritania | ❌ |
| Monaco | ❌ |
| Montenegro | ❌ |
| Myanmar | ❌ |
| Nepal | ❌ |
| Netherlands | ❌ |
| North Korea | ❌ |
| Oman (except with permission by royal decree of the Sultan) | ❌ |
| Austria | ❌ |
| Zambia | ✅ |
| San Marino | ❌ |
| Saudi Arabia (except with the permission of the Prime Minister) | ❌ |
| Singapore | ❌ |
| Slovakia | ❌ |
| Spain | ❌ |
| Sri Lanka (application for retention required) | ❌ |
| South Africa (except with a permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs) | ❌ |
| South Korea (Republic of Korea) | ❌ |
| Suriname | ❌ |
| Tajikistan | ❌ |
| Tanzania | ❌ |
| Turkmenistan | ✅ |
| Ukraine (Ukrainian citizenship can be revoked ex officio upon naturalization in Germany, but this rarely happens in practice) | ❌ |
| Uzbekistan | ❌ |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | ❌ |
| Central African Republic | ❌ |
In the course of naturalization in Germany, the old citizenship was given up. Is it now possible to get it back in addition to the German citizenship?
Is naturalization possible without giving up the previous citizenship in any case?
Yes, at least as far as German citizenship law is concerned. In principle, dual citizenship has been open to all foreigners, regardless of their country of origin, since June 27, 2024. However, there may be laws in the country of origin that stipulate the loss of citizenship in the event that a citizen is granted citizenship of another country. Such laws exist in countries such as China, Austria, Lithuania, Estonia and the Netherlands. In any case, we advise you to obtain information in the country of your previous citizenship.
