How Much Does German Citizenship by Descent Cost?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does German citizenship by descent cost in total?

For the standard Feststellung (§4 StAG) route, most applicants spend between $500 and $1,000 USD. The BVA application fee is €51 (about $60 USD). The main variable cost is sworn German translations on US vital records — sworn translation runs $30–$85 per page, and most vital records are 1–2 pages. US birth and marriage certificates also need apostilles ($5–$25 each depending on your state). German Standesamt records cost €6–€12 per certified copy and do not need apostilles or translation. The §5 StAG declaration and Art. 116(2) restitution applications are free to file — your only costs are document acquisition and translations.

What is the difference between a certified translation and a sworn translation?

Germany requires sworn translations (beglaubigte Übersetzungen) from a state-recognized, court-certified translator — not just any certified translator. Sworn translators in the US (sometimes called 'gerichtlich beeidigt' or 'staatlich geprüft') typically charge $30–$85 per page compared to $30–$75 per document for Italian-style certified translations. The key distinction is that the translator must be individually recognized by a German court or state authority. The BVA will not accept translations from general translation services that are not court-certified.

Does the BVA fee change based on my route?

Yes. The standard Feststellung application under §4 StAG carries a €51 BVA fee. The §5 StAG declaration (fixing gender-discrimination exclusions for descendants born on or after May 23, 1949) is free. Art. 116(2) GG restitution applications (for descendants of Nazi-era persecution victims) are also free. The free routes still require you to gather and translate the supporting documents — those document costs apply regardless of which route you take.

Do German Standesamt records need apostilles?

No. German civil registry records (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates from the Standesamt) are German government documents and do not need apostilles for use in a German BVA application. Only US-origin documents need apostilles. This is an important difference from Italian applications, where documents from both sides need apostilles and translations.

Where do I apply? Is there a local consulate process?

All German citizenship descent applications (Feststellung, §5 declaration, and Art. 116(2) restitution) go to the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in Cologne, Germany. Unlike Italian applications, which are handled locally by the consulate serving your US state of residence, the BVA is centralized — every applicant in every US state submits to the same office. You can submit through your nearest German consulate for assistance, but the consulate forwards everything to Cologne.

How long does the BVA process take?

The BVA currently processes Feststellung applications in approximately 2–3 years from submission. Processing times for §5 declarations and Art. 116(2) restitution applications are broadly similar, though complex restitution cases can run longer. The BVA has no priority queue system — cases are processed roughly in the order received. Current wait times are tracked by user communities and can fluctuate based on staffing and application volume.

What is the §5 StAG deadline and does it affect me?

§5 StAG allows descendants who lost German citizenship because of gender discrimination (specifically, children born out of wedlock to German fathers before July 1, 1993, or children born to German mothers who lost citizenship upon marrying a foreigner before April 1, 1953) to reclaim citizenship via a simple declaration rather than a full Feststellung proceeding. This route is free and has a statutory deadline of August 19, 2031. If you may qualify under §5, the 2031 deadline means you should act in the next few years — BVA processing alone takes 2–3 years.

What is not included in this estimate?

The calculator does not include: the German passport itself (applied for separately after citizenship is recognized; current fee approximately €70–€80), any courier fees for mailing your application package to Germany, document correction costs if old vital records contain errors, fees for obtaining US naturalization records from USCIS or NARA, or any legal or professional fees if you hire an attorney or citizenship consultant. Most applicants can file on their own for the standard Feststellung and §5 routes.