German law on nationality and citizenship is rather complex. The following information is intended to provide a general guide and answer questions you might have.

Please read the sections that apply to you carefully. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with the Consulate General in Sydney, only.

Although the information on this website has been prepared with the utmost care, we cannot accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein. Please note that German missions abroad are not citizenship authorities and therefore not able to bindingly confirm your citizenship status. This confirmation can only be issued by the competent citizenship authority, the Federal Office of Administration

Please note: Since German language skills are a requirement for the following processes, only the German webpage has information on

Permit to retain the German citizenship when naturalizing in Australia (“Beibehaltungsgenehmigung”)

Re-Naturalization for former German citizens

Naturalization for children born in wedlock before 1975 to a German mother and a foreign father or children born out of wedlock before 1993 to a German father and foreign mother.