German ancestor- does anyone know how to get a German passport?

[Greenhippos]

I have German ancestry as my great, great grandfather moved to the U.K. in the 1800s.
I don’t believe my Grandfather obtained a German passport. He fought in WW2 for Britain and i am pretty sure he didn’t have a German passport.

I believe there is a way for an ancestor to obtain a German passport. I was born after 1975. From my very limited research I think it is different if you are born after 1975.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

why do you want a german passport?

look up Moving to Germany on Facebook and join that group. You'll get lots of good info from groups like that

I would contact the German embassy in London and ask them.

You can check if you are eligible here: https://se-legal.de/services/immigration-lawyer-germany/german-citizenship-by-descent/?lang=en&etcc_cmp=Germany%20Visa&etcc_med=partnership&etcc_par=gv&etcc_ctv=getc&et_cmp_seg5=3#eligibility

That’s a very tenuous connection to Germany, op!
I’d be amazed if you were eligible for a passport.

You can claim citizenship if you can prove you have a direct line to your great grandfather. I don’t know further back than this. You want the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge online. They have a hotline to call. Probably the easiest.

Probably not due to the ten year rule your great grandfather was probably not a citizen but you can check with the embassy and/or animmigration lawyer.

Brexit!!

The easiest thing for you to do is find out if you have a local honorary consulate and email them to ask.

For me, it was a no. But it's the maternal line for me (although my mother was actually born in Germany to a German mother!).

Not this many years out, no.

Not sure if it is still the case, but Germany never used to allow you to be a dual citizen so it might not be as straight forward as just getting a passport. This was relaxed slightly due to brexit for German/UK citizens living in the opposite country so they could retain the citizenship of their home country but I doubt you would be eligible for that.

Thanks all

Would my parent be? And would that make me?

If your great grandfather lost his citizenship (probable due to the time period and the ten year rule at the time) unlikely, but you’d have to ask them, but seems like everyone for several generations at this point is not German. best thing to do is take what proof you have and consult with a lawyer

I had a friend in Australia who looked into getting a German passport as her father was German. Because she was born after he had moved to Australia and taken Aussie citizenship, she wasn't entitled to it.

Only if your parent was a German citizen at the time of your birth.

Wasn't that a fair few years ago?

Dual citizenship is possible in Germany since last year.
Its not related to or caused by Brexit though, it’s more about helping to integrate ancestors of Turkish and other Southern European immigrants.

I also don’t think OP would qualify though, as they lived in the UK for too long

You don't qualify, unfortunately.

You may have, if your parent had their German citizenship at the time of your birth, but as they didn't, that isn't open to you and your connection isn't close enough.

A European passport is still a useful addition.

There are a few links online which you may find interesting: 6 ways you can acquire German citizenship - Smith Stone Walters.

If your great, great grandfather moved to the UK it is very unlikely that your great grandfather was born in Germany (although who knows?) and it sounds correct to assume that your grandfather was born here and didn't have German citizenship. In that case, there is next to no chance.

If you are Jewish it might be a different story: German EU Passports for Jewish people | German Citizenship Restoration.

I have friends in South America that acquired citizenship through this route but there is a lot of documentation. And if your ancestor left in the 1800s I don't think it would work but I know his family left before the WWI so who knows?

@OVienna

The website linked also suggests Great Grandparents. And you also said about Great Grandparent. So my parent may be eligible?

Would that in turn make me eligible?

Thank you for the links I will read through later.

My mother’s great grandfather was definitely born in Germany. I know the town. I want to obtain the birth certificate for the family tree we are just finding out if a relative already has it.

It was this act that made me wonder if my parent was eligible - The Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act, which entered into force on 20 August 2021, has created a ten-year right of declaration (Section 5 of the Nationality Act).

I've researched gaining citizenship for a different EU country, and for that, if your ancestor joined a foreign army they automatically lost their citizenship. You have an ancestor who fought for Britain, so if that rule applied you wouldn't qualify.

Your parent may be eligible but they cannot pass that eligibility to you, as they were not a citizen before you were born.

If they had been, it would have passed to you.