Germany: Information on whether a person whose paternal grandmother was an ethnic German born in pre-World War 1 Germany has a claim to German citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DEU18940.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Germany: Information on whether a person whose paternal grandmother was an ethnic German born in pre-World War 1 Germany has a claim to German citizenship, 1 November 1994, DEU18940.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab9f4.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a telephone interview on 17 November 1994, a representative of the German consulate general in Toronto provided the following information. In the determination of German citizenship, it is the citizenship of the parents that is crucial, not the citizenship of the grandparents. The representative stated that having a paternal grandmother who was an ethnic German in pre-World War I Germany would have little influence on the granting of German citizenship. Furthermore, if the citizenship of the grandparents were to be a consideration, in general, the citizenship of the grandfather would be given more importance. However, if the child is illegitimate, the citizenship of the grandmother may be of more importance. The representative emphasized the general nature of his remarks, and indicated that they were his interpretation of the citizenship determination process.
For information on the process of German citizenship acquisition, please refer to Response to Information Request DEU15404.E of 5 October 1993. For information on the naturalization process, please refer to the attachment. We have requested a copy of the current citizenship law of Germany, which will be forwarded to the Regional Documentation Centres upon receipt.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany. Toronto. 17 November 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Attachment
Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn. n.d. "Naturalization Policy in the Federal Republic of Germany." (Translation faxed to the DIRB by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ottawa).