Dual citizenship explained

Germany no longer generally requires you to give up your previous citizenship when you naturalise. Multiple citizenship (Mehrstaatigkeit) is now generally allowed. This applies to all nationalities, not only EU and Swiss citizens, who could already keep their nationality before.

German law only decides German citizenship. Whether you keep your current nationality depends on that country's law. Some countries automatically withdraw citizenship when a citizen voluntarily takes another one, some require permission, and some restrict the rights of dual nationals. Check with your country's embassy or consulate before you apply, especially if property, inheritance or military service rules are tied to your nationality.

The old rule that Germans automatically lost German citizenship when they acquired a foreign one on application (former § 25 StAG) has been repealed. Germans living abroad no longer need a 'retention permit' (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung) to keep German citizenship when they naturalise elsewhere.

A child born in Germany to foreign parents becomes German at birth if at least one parent has lived lawfully and habitually in Germany for more than five years and has a permanent right of residence. These children can keep their parents' citizenship as well. The former 'option obligation', which required some of them to choose one nationality as young adults, no longer applies.

• In Germany you are treated as a German citizen, and you should enter and leave Germany with your German passport or ID card
• In your other country of citizenship, German consular help may be limited
• Voting rights, taxes and military-service obligations each follow the law of the country concerned
• Keep both passports valid and report changes of name or civil status to both countries