Will my children automatically become German citizens if I acquire citizenship?
March 15, 2024 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Adele Gerdes
Dear lawyer,
My name is Chloé Klett and I have a question regarding immigration law. I have moved from France to Germany and am currently applying for German citizenship. My children were born here in Germany and therefore have German citizenship. My question is, will my children automatically become German citizens once I obtain citizenship?
I am concerned that my children might potentially lose their German citizenship if I become a German citizen. I want to ensure that they continue to have all the rights and privileges associated with German citizenship.
Could you please explain to me how my naturalization will affect my children's citizenship? Are there any special provisions or conditions that I need to consider to ensure that my children retain their German citizenship? What steps do I need to take to ensure that my children are not affected by my naturalization?
Thank you in advance for your help and support. I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about my situation.
Best regards,
Chloé Klett
Dear Mrs. Klett,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding foreigner law in relation to the citizenship of your children. I understand your concerns and will do my best to provide you with a detailed answer to your questions.
First of all, I would like to reassure you: In Germany, there is the principle of descent, which states that children born in Germany and with at least one parent who holds German citizenship automatically acquire German citizenship. This means that your children, as they were born in Germany and you are seeking German citizenship, are already German citizens and will not lose their citizenship when you naturalize.
There are no specific conditions or steps that you need to take to ensure that your children retain their German citizenship. Through their birth in Germany and your naturalization, they are already German citizens and can retain this citizenship, regardless of your own naturalization process.
However, it is important to note that as a parent, you have the responsibility to ensure that your children have all necessary documents and papers to prove their citizenship. This may include birth certificates and possibly documents proving your own naturalization.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or require additional support, I am here to assist you.
Best regards,
Adele Gerdes
