Can you keep your nationality when becoming German?

At a glance

German position

Multiple nationality accepted on naturalisation

Since

The 2024 reform of the Nationality Act

Still to check

Whether your country of origin withdraws its nationality

Children born here

Can acquire German nationality by birth under set conditions

Ask

Your naturalisation authority and your own consulate

What changed and what did not

The old rule expected most applicants to renounce their previous nationality, with exceptions for EU citizens and certain hardship cases. That requirement no longer applies, which removes one of the main reasons long-term residents avoided naturalisation.

Everything else still has to be met: the residence period, language level, the naturalisation test, self-sufficiency and the commitment to the constitutional order. Multiple nationality is permitted; it is not a shortcut through the other conditions.

Why your country of origin still matters

• Some states automatically withdraw nationality when a citizen naturalises elsewhere.
• Some require an application or a permission before you naturalise abroad.
• Some restrict rights — property, inheritance, military service — for citizens with a second nationality.
• Your consulate or your home authority is the only reliable source for your own case.

Common mistakes

• Assuming Germany's acceptance of dual nationality also protects your original citizenship.
• Renouncing a nationality that you were never required to give up.
• Relying on forum posts about your home country's rules rather than your consulate.

What happens next

• Confirm your own country's position in writing before you file.
• Keep both passports valid and note which one you use for travel to which country.
• After naturalisation, apply for a German passport and update your records.

Related questions

Do EU citizens need to do anything differently?

EU and Swiss citizens were already able to keep their nationality before the reform. For them the change mainly simplifies the paperwork rather than the outcome.

Does my child born in Germany get German nationality automatically?

Children born in Germany to foreign parents can acquire German nationality by birth when a parent meets set residence conditions. The registry office and the naturalisation authority confirm whether that applies to your family.

Can I lose German nationality later by taking a third one?

The rules on losing German nationality are separate from the rules on acquiring it, and they are strict. Ask the naturalisation authority before acquiring another nationality after you become German.

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