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?

DH’s mother was German but gave up her citizenship when she married his father (as was required at the time). DH isn’t entitled a German passport, despite having had a full set of German grandparents, great grandparents etc.

Think this is a non starter, I’m afraid, op.

OP use one of the entitlement calculators (or whatever you call them) rather than taking a random MNers word for it that you’re not entitled.
If you are, then there are organisations than can do the work on your behalf (for a hefty fee, mind!). I recall the comedian Matt Lucas posting on social media a couple of years ago that he’d just obtained his German citizenship.
My adult DC are in the process of obtaining their Polish citizenship. I could, but it’s hardly worth it at my age. It’ll be hugely beneficial to be European again for them for work purposes.

se-legal.de/services/immigration-lawyer-germany/german-citizenship-by-descent/?lang=en#:~:text=German%20citizenship%20by%20descent%20hinges,grandparents%20were%20born%20in%20Germany.

Your grandparent must have a German passport in order for you to get one. Know this as I've just done my daughters Irish and I believe all EU passports are the same

Coincidentally I have been looking at this too!

In order to obtain citizenship the parent just have had citizenship at the time of the child's birth. I'm afraid I don't think you will get anywhere with this.

My children are UK born and we have passed on our citizenship to them. When they have children, assuming born in the UK, in order for grandchildren to have citizenship then our children must complete the steps required before our grandchildren turn age 1, otherwise they can't have German citizenship.

My gran's dad was German so that makes him my great grandfather. I am married to a German and have lived in Germany for 10 years. you've got me worried now, should I be getting a German passport? I have a resident permit to get me through passport control as I often travel to the UK.

It's not the same all over the EU.

The links i saw wouldn't help the OP 9j the face of things as the ancestor is too far back. Could be other circs ( ie Jewish ancestry). Otherwise it sounds like a clear no.

47% of the US would currently be on the next plane to the EU if a gg grandparent made them eligible btw

This. Of course it's not the same for all EU countries. The passports being visually similar has zero to do with nationality requirements, which are very much and very obviously a national matter.

Has he checked that recently? The law changed to allow for that exact situation so he may be able to apply now.

Erm , we are still living with the impact of it, in case you hadn't noticed.

I would snap up an EU passport in an instant if given half a chance! Sadly, I'm not eligible.

I looked into this, it's incredibly hard to prove if further back, great grandfather in my case. Birth records are patchy at best in Germany and we can't find our ancestors - the only record is the ship manifest from Bremerhaven to the U.K.

Yes, it’s still the case, unfortunately. The change in the law allowed citizenship to come down the maternal line (previously it had to be your dad who was German) but as she had given up her citizenship before he was born, no dice.

I was born in Gemany in 81 and not eligible, I can't imagine you have much of a chance, sorry.

Oh my word! I live in Ireland with my Irish husband for over 30 years. Since Brexit I've toyed with the idea of getting an Irish passport. Then I read this thread and realised...my grandmother was Italian! Duh!