Dual citizenship 2025 - USA and Germany
Besides the neighboring states Mexico and Canada, Germany consistently ranks as one of the countries most popular with expats from the United States. There are many good reasons to choose living here – be it the stunning landscapes, the many excellent opportunities for education or work, the state-funded health care scheme or just Germany’s convenient location right at the heart of continental Europe. Additionally, considering the high number of military personnel stationed in Germany after World War II, a lot of American families still have significant ties to the country.
Acquiring the German citizenship, however, has always been a rather complicated endeavor. This is due to the long duration of stay required (8 years), but also due to the fact that Germany has long taken a stance against dual citizenship, which meant that expats willing to naturalize had to let go of their original citizenship.
However, this will finally change in the course of this year. The German Bundestag recently passed a law to modernize citizenship law. When it comes into force on June 27, 2024, this law will generally allow dual citizenship. Then, any American who wishes to acquire a German passport will be allowed to keep their US citizenship alongside their German passport.
In the following paragraphs, we will explain the coming changes in detail, set out how Americans living in Germany can benefit from them, and also take a look at some of the other highly relevant amendments Germany’s new citizenship law will bring.
Benefits of German-American dual citizenship
The right to vote on election day, to move freely throughout the European Union and to hold one of the most "powerful" passports in the world - having German citizenship brings with it many advantages and privileges. It also makes you officially German, which means you enjoy the same freedoms, rights and protections as all other Germans.
Dual citizenship lets you enjoy all these benefits while keeping all the additional rights and protections granted by your US passport. It lets you pick and choose where you want to work and live, it grants you voting rights in both states, and it makes life easy when entering or re-entering into either of the two countries. And finally, it allows you to reflect your identity without being limited to considering only one nation your home.
Naturalization requirements for Americans
To acquire a German-American dual citizenship, Americans need to apply for naturalization in Germany, which requires a list of criteria to be met. First of all, you need to be able to establish your identity by producing either your US passport or a suitable substitute. Additionally, you and your immediate family's livelihood needs to be secured. In order to determine whether this is the case, the German authorities look at factors like your income and the monthly amount of rent and support payments, and also check whether you have relied on social security payments in the past. Furthermore, you will only be eligible for naturalization if you are currently holding a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit which is aimed at a long-term stay. For a comprehensive list of the different residence permits allowing for naturalization click here. You will also have to show German language proficiency on level B1 or higher and pass the citizenship test.
Lastly, as it stands now, you need to have had a legal and more or less continuous residence in Germany for eight years. And, according to the current law on citizenship, you will also have to surrender your US citizenship in order to receive the German one. These two last points, however, are going to change when the new law on citizenship takes effect.
Dual Citizenship and more: The new law in detail
The Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law was passed by the German Bundestag on 19 January 2024 and came into force on 27 June 2024. It brings with it a number of far-reaching changes that have far-reaching consequences for people wishing to naturalize in Germany.
Firstly, the new law lifts the general ban on multiple citizenship enshrined in German nationality law. This means that any US citizen can acquire dual German-American citizenship. The general permission to have more than one citizenship will also be a relief for Germans living in the USA with a green card.
Secondly, the law provides for a significant reduction in the minimum period of residence required for naturalization - from the current eight years to just five years. In addition, even under the new legal situation, it will still be possible to shorten the minimum period of residence by up to two additional years by successfully completing an integration course, proving particularly good language skills or demonstrating special achievements in work, school or voluntary work. At best, naturalization will therefore be possible after just three years of residence in Germany.
There is also one area, however, where the new citizenship Act tightens the requirements for a naturalization: securing one’s livelihood. The new law puts a stronger emphasis on applicants needing to be able to support themselves, and – if applicable – their families. Find out how it achieves this by reading our overview of the entirety of the changes that are going to be introduced.
Applying for naturalization
If you believe that you are eligible for German citizenship (if you want to be sure, do our naturalization check), you can submit your application to your local naturalization authority or, if you are not currently resident in Germany, to the Federal Office of Administration.
If you do not want to give up your current US passport or do not yet meet the minimum period of residence, we advise you to wait until June 2024, when the new law comes into force. This will allow you to benefit from the general dual citizenship option and the other reduced requirements.
How lawyers can help you
Applying to the German authorities is rarely easy. But there are few areas where the situation is as bad as when applying for naturalization. The number of documents required for the application is high and the waiting times for this incredibly important decision can often be over a year. When the above changes come into force, there will also be a particularly high number of new applications, as many people will want to take advantage of the reduced requirements and the possibility of dual citizenship. All of this will only exacerbate the existing problems and backlog at the authorities. Processing times may well be extended by another year. To ensure that your application has the best possible chance of success and to avoid unnecessary waiting times, it is advisable to instruct lawyers with immigration experience. We will check that your application is complete. We take care of all communication with the relevant authorities. And we make sure that your case is processed quickly so that you can hold both of your passports in your hands as soon as possible.
FAQ on dual citizenship
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 be naturalized if I receive social assistance?
Anyone wishing to acquire German citizenship must be able to prove that they can support themselves and their dependents. to support themselves and their can support themselves. They must not be receiving benefits under the Second or Twelfth Book of the German Social Code (SGB II or SGB XII). be received. These include, for example, unemployment benefit II, basic income support in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity and social assistance.
However, according to the new law , there are exceptionsIf you have been in full-time employment for 20 months within the last 24 months within the last 24 months, receiving state benefits is not harmful. The same applies if your spouse or registered partnerwho lives with you and a child has been in full-time employment for 20 months within the last 24 months. And also for former guest workers and contract workers and their spouses who have joined them are also exempt from receiving state benefits such as social assistance if they are not responsible for this.
Can I be naturalized in Germany if I want to keep my previous citizenship?
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.
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.
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 | ❌ |
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.
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.
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.
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.
