Can you hold German and American citizenship?

Can you hold German and American citizenship?

A child born to an American parent and a German parent acquires both American and German citizenship at birth, regardless of place of birth. Neither country requires a person born under these circumstances to choose between American and German citizenship. They may keep both for life.

Can you have dual American and German citizenship?

Dual Citizenship USA/Germany Based on US and German law, you can have citizenship of both countries. Dual German/US citizenship can happen only when the child is born to one American and one German parent. In this case, the child is not required to give up either nationality and can hold both.

Can German citizenship be revoked?

Loss of citizenship Revoking German citizenship is banned under the Constitution. It can thus only be lost based on specific law. According to the German Citizenship Act, German citizenship is lost in the following cases: Release upon request, if the other state has consented to granting citizenship.

How do I keep German citizenship when applying for US citizenship?

The USA allows for dual citizenship, and therefore, under US law, it is not a requirement to give up your German citizenship to become a US citizen. If you are looking to keep your German citizenship when applying for US citizenship it is necessary to apply for a “Beibehaltungsgenehmigung” or German Retention Permit.

What are the benefits of German citizenship?

Benefits of German Citizenship

• You can work, study, or open a business in Germany without restrictions.
• You can live, work, or study in any EU country without having to apply for a residence permit.
• You can travel visa-free to 145 world countries.
• You can vote and become involved in German politics.

Can a German join the US Army?

Yes. A non-citizen can enlist in the military. However, federal law prohibits non-citizens from becoming commission or warrant officers. In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, they must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permanently residing in the United States.

How do I cancel my German citizenship?

If you live in the United States, possess American (or another) citizenship in addition to German citizenship, and, for certain reasons, wish to renounce your German citizenship, you must file an application through the German Embassy or the responsible Consulate General.

How can an American become an EU citizen?

6 Ways to Get a European Passport

1. Citizenship by Descent. Citizenship by descent (aka ancestry) is by far the easiest and cheapest way to become a European citizen for those who are eligible.
2. Citizenship by Naturalisation.
3. Work.
4. Marriage.
5. Business.
6. Investment.

Does German citizenship expire?

Can I automatically lose my German citizenship? Yes. Any German citizen who applies for and acquires foreign citizenship, whether in Germany or abroad, automatically loses his or her German citizenship. This occurs automatically by law; you do not have to make a special declaration or notify the German authorities.

How powerful is the German passport?

Germany’s passport has been ranked in the second place in the list of the world’s most powerful passports, permitting its travellers to visit a total of 190 destinations without acquiring a visa in advance, the recent report of the Henley Passport Index has revealed.

Can I have dual citizenship in Germany if my parents are American?

A child born in Germany to two American parents may also become a dual national at birth. But under German law, such a person has to choose between American and German citizenship before turning 23. While Germany recognizes the concept of dual nationality, for most purposes it considers a dual national in Germany a German citizen only.

Can I Keep my German citizenship if I become a US citizen?

If you want to keep your German citizenship after becoming a US citizen, you will need to apply for the so-called “Beibehaltungsgenehmigung (BBG)”. This is an application to the German state in which you prove that you still have ties to Germany and that you currently experience disadvantages by not having US citizenship.

How can I renounce my German citizenship?

If you are holding dual citizenship (German and at least one other citizenship), you can renounce the German citizenship by declaration.

When did German citizenship end for non-German citizens?

Children born in wedlock between April 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1974 to a German mother and a non-German father did not become German citizens by birth. However, during the years 1975, 1976 and 1977, their parents could claim German citizenship for them. The deadline for this procedure irrevocably ended on Dec. 31, 1977.