Germany Announces 4 Grounds Foreigners Could Automatically Lose German Citizenship
- Germany has outlined specific conditions under which a foreigner who already holds German citizenship could have it taken away
- One of the grounds involves a foreigner voluntarily seeking citizenship in another country, which automatically puts their German status at risk
- Joining the armed forces of a foreign nation is among the actions Germany considers serious enough to trigger a loss of citizenship
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Germany has outlined four distinct grounds under which a foreigner who has previously acquired German citizenship may have that citizenship revoked or withdrawn.
While the country has its own set of requirements that foreigners must satisfy before qualifying for citizenship, German authorities have equally made clear that holding a German passport does not automatically guarantee it will be kept. Certain actions or circumstances can put that status at serious risk.
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Grounds for losing German citizenship
Below are the four conditions under which a foreigner may lose German citizenship, as listed by Germany:
- A foreigner who voluntarily applies for citizenship in another country will lose their German citizenship
- A foreigner who enlists in or joins the armed forces of a foreign nation will lose their German citizenship
- A foreigner who holds dual citizenship will lose their German citizenship
- A foreigner who is adopted by a non-German parent may lose their German citizenship
German citizenship: What this means for foreigners
The list signals that Germany takes a firm stance on exclusive national allegiance, particularly where military service and voluntary naturalisation in other countries are concerned. Foreigners who have gone through the process of acquiring German citizenship are expected to remain committed to that status and avoid actions that could be interpreted as shifting their loyalty elsewhere.
The case of adoption is treated slightly differently, as the wording suggests this is a conditional rather than an automatic outcome, depending on the specific circumstances involved.
Germany attached conditions to citizenship
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that Germany requires foreigners seeking citizenship through naturalisation to answer at least 17 out of 33 questions correctly to pass the citizenship test.
The test lasts 60 minutes and assesses applicants’ knowledge of Germany’s legal system, society and living conditions.
Source: Legit.ng
