BVA · Application Process

The BVA Application Process

This page is informational, not legal advice. Procedures described here reflect publicly available BVA guidance as of April 2026 and may change. Always verify current requirements on the official BVA website before submitting documents.

The Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA, Federal Office of Administration) in Cologne is the sole authority for every German citizenship by descent application — whether filed under §4 StAG Feststellung, §5 StAG declaration, or Art. 116(2) Basic Law restitution. Unlike Italian consular applications, there is no jurisdictional split by applicant residence. Every case is centralized in Cologne.

Applications are physically submitted through your nearest German diplomatic mission (consulate or embassy), which forwards the package to BVA. The mission itself does not adjudicate your eligibility — it handles intake, initial review for completeness, and document forwarding. No in-person appointment is required for most cases; submission is typically by mail or courier.

The three forms

Which form you use depends on which path you are pursuing.

Form F — §4 StAG Feststellung

Antrag auf Feststellung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit. The primary form for regular descent cases. Every ancestor in the chain requires a separate AV annex (Anlage V)documenting that person's birth, naturalization status, marriages, and citizenship history. A typical grandparent-level claim uses Form F plus AV annexes for parent and grandparent.

Form EER — §5 StAG Declaration

Erklärung zum Erwerb der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit nach §5 StAG. Used for the four §5 categories. Lower evidentiary burden than Form F because §5 does not require proving an unbroken chain.

Form E15 — Art. 116(2) Basic Law

Einbürgerungsantrag nach Artikel 116 Absatz 2 Grundgesetz. Used for Nazi-era restitution cases. Handled by a separate BVA department dedicated to Art. 116(2) adjudication.

Step-by-step process

1
Determine your path (§4, §5, or Art. 116(2))
Filing on the wrong track can result in rejection even when you are clearly eligible under another. Our free eligibility check walks you through all three paths.
2
Request Standesamt records for your German ancestors
Long-form birth, marriage, and death certificates (Geburtsurkunde, Eheurkunde, Sterbeurkunde) must come from the relevant Standesamt (German civil registry office). First copy typically costs €12; additional copies €6 each. Standesämter generally accept email or postal requests; some require a signed form. If the relevant Standesamt was in what is now Poland, the Czech Republic, or France, German successor Standesämter may hold records, or you may need to request from the current-state registry.
3
Gather US vital records and naturalization records
Long-form birth certificates for each US-born ancestor in your chain, marriage and divorce records where relevant, and naturalization records for any ancestor who became a US citizen. NARA and USCIS are the usual sources for naturalization documentation; both have online indexes.
4
Arrange sworn German translations (confirm first for US documents)
Every non-German document must be translated by a vereidigter or ermächtigter Übersetzer— a sworn translator formally recognized by a German court. This is a specific legal standard, not the same as a generic “certified translation.”
Common rejection reason:BVA routinely rejects translations by US-based “certified translators” who are not sworn translators recognized by a German court. Always confirm your translator's credentials before paying for a full translation package.
US-document ambiguity — confirm before ordering: Official BVA guidance states apostille + sworn German translation are required on all non-German documents. However, multiple practitioners and community guides report that English-language US vital records (birth certificates, naturalization documents) are routinely accepted by BVA without translation or apostille — BVA officers typically have working English. Sworn translations run $30–$150 per page; a full family package easily exceeds $1,000. Confirm with your consulate before commissioning any translations for US-issued documents — it is one of the most significant avoidable costs in the application.
5
Complete the form and AV annexes
Form F (with AV annex per ancestor), Form EER, or Form E15 — whichever applies to your path. Forms are available on the BVA website and from your nearest German consulate. Complete all fields, sign, and date.
6
Submit through your nearest German consulate
Most consulates accept submissions by mail or courier; no in-person appointment is typically required. The consulate performs an initial completeness check and forwards your package to BVA Cologne. Consulate forwarding adds roughly 4–8 weeks of transit time. Some consulates permit direct mail submission to BVA Cologne by registered mail — check with your local consulate before bypassing them.
7
Wait for the BVA Eingangsbestätigung
BVA issues an acknowledgment of receipt (Eingangsbestätigung) typically within 3 months of registering your case. This confirms your file has been opened and assigned a reference number. Save this letter — all subsequent correspondence references the case number.
8
Respond to any Nachforderung (additional-document request)
If BVA needs additional documents, they will send a Nachforderung — typically 12 or more months into processing. Respond promptly; delayed responses extend the timeline by months. Common requests include earlier-generation Standesamt records, more detailed naturalization documentation, or clarifying translations.
9
Pay the €51 fee (§4 only) after approval
For §4 StAG cases, BVA invoices the €51 fee after the decision is made to approve the Feststellung. §5 StAG and Art. 116(2) are FREE. Pay promptly to receive the Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis.
10
Receive your Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis and apply for a passport
The Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis is BVA's official certificate of German citizenship. With that document in hand, you can apply for a German passport at your nearest consulate. The passport is a separate application and fee.

Fee schedule

§4 StAG Feststellung

€51, invoiced after BVA approval (not paid upfront). Children included in an adult's application may be free or reduced — confirm at intake.

§5 StAG Declaration

Free under the §38(2) StAG fee waiver.

Art. 116(2) Restitution

Free under the §38(2) StAG fee waiver.

Standesamt records

€12 first copy, €6 each additional copy. Fees vary slightly by municipality.

Sworn translations

Typically $75–$150 per document, depending on length and translator. A full family package for a grandparent claim commonly runs $500–$1,500.

Timeline expectations

Current BVA averages are 2–3 years from submission to issuance of the Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis. Art. 116(2) cases often move faster (6–18 months). §5 StAG declarations typically track the §4 timeline but may resolve faster because the documentation is simpler.

See our detailed processing-times guide for what to expect at 3, 12, and 24 months.

Build your personalized BVA document checklist

The Next Passport generates a checklist tailored to your specific lineage and path (§4, §5, or Art. 116(2)). The eligibility check takes a few minutes and no account is required.

Build your BVA checklist →

Not legal advice. BVA procedures and fee schedules change. Verify current requirements on the official BVA website and consult a licensed German citizenship attorney for guidance on your specific application.