Added
created a separate § 15 record after the former Article 116 record was found to combine two distinct legal routes; corrected the deadline attribution and recorded statutory fee-free status Source
Minimum cost
—
application fee
Timeline
—
Visa-free access
185
passport rank #4
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Overview
- Country
- Germany
- Program
- German Citizenship Restoration under Section 15 StAG
- Local name
- Wiedergutmachungseinbürgerung nach § 15 StAG
- Type
- Citizenship Restoration
- Status
- Active
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 185 destinations
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
Naturalization for people who, because of Nazi persecution on political, racial, or religious grounds from January 30, 1933 to May 8, 1945, lost or were denied German citizenship or were unable to acquire it, and their descendants. Section 15 StAG covers restitution cases outside Article 116(2) of the Basic Law and has no statutory filing deadline.
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $0
- Passport fee
- $275
Eligibility and requirements
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Oath required
Ancestry requirements
- Generational limit
- No limit
- Ancestor citizenship
- Not required
Family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Spouse
- Not included
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 185 countries
- Passport validity
- 10 years
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
How to apply
- Method
- Consulate, mail
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
- Application type
- Open
- Official website
- www.germany.info
- Legal basis
- Section 15 Nationality Act (StAG), enacted by the Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act (August 20, 2021)
Notes and caveats
The law lists four eligible circumstances, including citizenship lost before February 26, 1955, exclusion from acquisition through marriage, legitimation or collective naturalization, denial or exclusion from naturalization, and loss of habitual residence in Germany in the specified period. Naturalization under § 15 is fee-free under § 38(3) StAG. The Federal Office of Administration requests a criminal-record certificate in applications from abroad. Applicants do not need German residence or language qualifications. Section 15 is separate from the Article 116(2) constitutional route and is not subject to the § 5 StAG declaration deadline.
Also in Germany
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source