Citizenship Through Unmarried Father (Section 5 StAG)

Gather the following documents to support your declaration. All documents not in German must be translated into German by a certified translator and, where applicable, apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention.

Identity and Birth Documents

• Your long-form birth certificate (listing both parents)
• Your current passport or national identity card
• Any name change documents (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders for name changes)

Proof of Your Father's German Citizenship

• Your father's birth certificate (ideally showing German birthplace)
• Your father's German passport, identity card, or naturalization documents
• If your father was born abroad after December 31, 1999: proof that he was born to a German parent and acquired citizenship by descent
• If your father naturalized in another country: documentation showing the exact date of that naturalization (critical to establish it occurred after your birth)

Proof of Paternity Establishment

• Paternity acknowledgment document (Vaterschaftsanerkennung), notarized and dated
• Court order establishing paternity (Vaterschaftsfeststellung), with the final judgment date
• Evidence that paternity recognition or determination was initiated before your 23rd birthday (e.g., dated letters, court filings, official records)
• For foreign paternity recognition: documentation showing compliance with German law requirements at the time of your birth (particularly important for births before September 1, 1986)

Proof of Your Mother's Foreign Nationality

• Your mother's birth certificate
• Your mother's passport or naturalization documents
• Evidence that your mother was not a German citizen at your birth

Proof That Your Parents Were Not Married

• Official confirmation that your parents were not married at your birth (e.g., from a vital records office or registry)
• If your parents later married: marriage certificate with the date (must be after your birth)

Criminal Background Certificate

• Police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis) from your country of residence, national in scope and not older than six months at submission
• For US applicants: FBI background check
• Note: Some practitioners recommend submitting this only when requested by the Federal Office of Administration (BVA), as it expires after six months and applications can take 12–36 months to process

Official Declaration Form

• Completed official form: "Erklärung zum Erwerb der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit" (Declaration for Acquisition of German Citizenship)—available from the BVA and German diplomatic missions, must be completed in German

Translation and Certification

• All non-German documents must be translated into German by a certified or sworn translator
• Submit certified copies (beglaubigte Kopien), not originals
• Hague apostille required for documents from countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention