The Next Passport
German Citizenship · Legal UpdatesGerman Citizenship Legal Updates
Dated summaries of German citizenship law changes that may affect descent applicants. Every factual claim links to a primary German government source or a reputable secondary source.
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Two recent developments reshape German citizenship by descent: the June 2024 StARModG reform that legalized dual citizenship, and the October 2025 removal of the generational rollback for Art. 116(2) descendants. One deadline still looms: §5 StAG declarations must be filed by August 19, 2031.
Pending deadline · §5 StAG
August 19, 2031
§5 StAG declarations under the 2021 gender-discrimination fix must be filed on or before August 19, 2031 — approximately 5 years remain. The four statutory categories close after that date. See our §5 StAG declaration guide.
This page is informational, not legal advice. The Next Passport is an independent document organization tool — not a law firm and not a German government agency. Every factual claim links to a primary German government source or a reputable secondary source. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed German citizenship attorney.
Dated source cards
June 27, 2024
StARModG — Germany legalizes dual citizenship
The Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts-Modernisierungsgesetz (StARModG) entered into force on June 27, 2024. The central change for descent applicants: §25 StAG no longer automatically strips German citizenship on voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship. German citizens may naturalize in foreign countries without losing German citizenship — and US-based descent applicants can now keep both passports.
What it does NOT do: the reform is not retroactive. Ancestors who naturalized abroad before June 27, 2024 without a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung lost German citizenship under the rules then in force. The 2024 reform does not un-break historical chains.
Source: Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl. I Nr. 2024/225) · Full explainer
August 20, 2021
BVerfG 2 BvR 557/19 — §5 StAG expanded to post-1949 births
On August 20, 2021, the Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act entered into force, codifying the Federal Constitutional Court's (Bundesverfassungsgericht) ruling in 2 BvR 557/19 that pre-1975 gender discrimination in German citizenship transmission was unconstitutional. The amendment added four new declaration paths to §5 StAG, restoring eligibility for descendants of German mothers who lost citizenship by marriage before 1953, descendants blocked by pre-1975 wedlock rules, and descendants affected by the pre-1993 paternity-recognition rule.
Deadline: August 19, 2031 — a 10-year filing window set by the 2021 amendment.
Source: Bundesverfassungsgericht — 2 BvR 557/19 · §5 StAG guide
October 2025
Art. 116(2) — 5-generation rollback removed
In October 2025, the German government removed a prior generational rollback that had limited Art. 116(2) descendant claims to within 5 generations of the original victim. The rollback was removed after sustained community advocacy from descendants of Nazi-era victims. Great-great-grandchildren and more distant descendants of those stripped of citizenship 1933–1945 on political, racial, religious, or ideological grounds may now apply under Art. 116(2) without a generational cap.
No deadline. No fee. Art. 116(2) applications remain free under the §38(2) StAG fee waiver and have no filing deadline.
Source: Bundesverwaltungsamt Art. 116(2) guidance · Art. 116(2) guide
Deadline set August 19, 2021
§5 StAG — filing window closes August 19, 2031
The 2021 Fourth Act Amending the Nationality Act set a 10-year filing window for §5 StAG declarations — the four gender-fix categories expire on August 19, 2031. As of 2026, more than five years remain, but the deadline is firm. Families who may qualify under §5 but defer filing risk losing eligibility entirely. Pending applications on file at the deadline continue to be processed, but new filings will not be accepted after August 19, 2031.
Source: Bundesgesetzblatt — Viertes Gesetz zur Änderung des Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetzes (2021) · §5 StAG guide
See which path applies to your family
Our free eligibility check walks through §4 StAG, §5 StAG, and Art. 116(2) simultaneously — and tells you which path (if any) may apply to your family history.
The Next Passport is a document organization and research tool, not a legal authority. This page aggregates publicly reported information from primary German government sources and reputable secondary sources. Always verify with official sources before taking action, and consult a licensed German citizenship attorney for guidance on your specific situation.