In recent years, German citizenship law has gained increasing international attention as individuals around the world seek to reconnect with their German heritage. In 2024 alone, 291,955 foreigners acquired German citizenship—a record number since statistics began in 2000, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), marking an increase of 91,860 or nearly 46% compared to the previous year.

As part of Germany’s efforts to modernize its citizenship laws and address historic injustices, the Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act entered into force on August 20, 2021. Among other changes, it introduced § 15 of the German Nationality Act (StAG).

This provision allows individuals and their descendants to apply for German citizenship if, in connection with persecution for political, racial, or religious reasons, they:

  • lost or renounced German citizenship before February 26, 1955,
  • were excluded from acquiring German citizenship through marriage, legitimation, or mass naturalizations of ethnic Germans,
  • were denied naturalization despite having applied, or were generally excluded from it,
  • or lost their habitual residence in Germany, provided it was established before January 30, 1933, or in childhood thereafter.

Thus, § 15 StAG closes an important legal gap by enabling those affected by Nazi persecution—yet not eligible under Art. 116 (2) GG—to obtain citizenship even if their citizenship was not formally revoked. § 15 StAG thus supplements the constitutional claim of Art. 116 (2) GG with an expanded statutory claim to restitution. Whereas Art. 116 (2) GG specifically grants a constitutional right to restoration of citizenship to individuals who were deprived of their German nationality by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945 by revocations based on the Decree of July 14, 1933, or automatic losses under the 11th Regulation to the Reich Citizenship Law of November 25, 1941, § 15 StAG further expands the circle of those eligible for naturalization: Also individuals who lost their German citizenship in other ways—for instance, through marriage to a foreign national or acquiring another nationality after fleeing Germany— can be naturalized, provided that these losses occurred in the context of Nazi persecution.

Applications are reviewed by the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) and subject to general requirements. A claim under Section 15 StAG includes in particular the submission of a clean criminal record (no convictions of two or more years) and is excluded if German citizenship was reacquired after World War II and later lost again—for example, through renunciation or acquiring another nationality by application. The same applies to children born or adopted after this later loss of citizenship.

However, naturalization under § 15 StAG remains possible if citizenship acquired after May 8, 1945, was lost again before April 1, 1953, due to marriage or legitimation under German law.

Unlike the declaration procedure under § 5 StAG—intended to remedy past discrimination against women and children born out of wedlock—applications under § 15 StAG are not time-limited. Legal descendants also have their own claim. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren may apply even if their parents or grandparents did not. Children under 16 require the consent of their legal guardians.

If you or your family once held German citizenship or have a historical connection to Germany and wish to explore the possibility of naturalization under Art. 116 (2) GG or § 15 StAG, our team at SNP Canada Ltd. would be happy to assist you.