German Citizenship FAQs
If your parents or grandparents are from Germany, you probably already know that German citizenship makes it possible for you to reside, study, own property and gain employment in the European Union countries. To help you navigate the bureaucratic maze that acquiring citizenship is, we’ve put together answers to commonly asked questions about German citizenship and EU passports.
Europe’s new digital border system in Germany
The Entry Exit System, known as EES, is an EU wide digital border system that records the entry and exit of non EU nationals travelling to the Schengen Area for short stays. It replaces the traditional reliance on passport stamps as the primary record of travel history.
EES legally launched in October 2025 with a phased rollout across the Schengen Area. From April 2026, border authorities are required to use the system for all eligible travellers.
Yes. Germany participates fully in EES and applies it at its external Schengen borders, including international airports.
EES applies to non EU nationals travelling to the Schengen Area for short stays of up to ninety days in any one hundred and eighty day period.
Holders of residence permits and long stay visas issued by a Schengen state are exempt from EES registration. EU citizens and individuals with equivalent free movement rights are also outside the scope of the system.
Border authorities collect passport data as well as biometric data. This includes fingerprints and a facial image.
Passport stamps may still appear in passports, but they are no longer the authoritative record for short stays. The digital record held in EES is now decisive.
The calculation is performed automatically by the EES system based on recorded entries and exits.
Overstays are identified digitally through EES rather than by manual inspection of passport stamps.
Fully mandatory use means that border authorities are legally required to register all eligible travellers in EES. It does not mean that all border lanes are automated or that assisted or manual processing no longer exists.
Processing times vary. First time biometric registration can take several minutes depending on the airport, staffing levels, system performance and traveller profile. Subsequent crossings are generally faster.
EU law allows for enforcement measures such as refusals of entry, fines or entry bans. These measures are not applied automatically. Their use depends on national practice and individual circumstances.
No. EES is a border registration system. ETIAS is a separate travel authorisation system that is not yet operational.
No. EES operates within its own legal framework. It is not accurate to say that all data is instantly shared with all current or future EU systems.
Travellers should assume that short stay travel to Germany and the Schengen Area is now recorded digitally and calculated automatically. Careful planning and compliance with stay limits are more important than ever.
Polaron advises clients on EU mobility, residence options and Schengen compliance, including how EES affects travel planning, risk management and long term strategies.
Citizenship Process
If applying for Confirmation of Citizenship or Restitution of Citizenship, you will not need to renounce your current citizenship as both are considered your birth right. This is assuming that your country allows for dual citizenship.
If you are applying for Confirmation of Citizenship and Restitution of Citizenship, you do not need to speak German and there is no language or cultural test.
Originals or duplicates are required of all foreign documents i.e. Australian/ US/ British/ South African etc., in order for them to be apostilled. Originals or duplicates of all German documents are also required to be submitted with a citizenship application. If required, we can order duplicates for you.
Polaron is unable to apply for a passport on your behalf, as you need to apply for it in-person. Once you are a confirmed citizen of Germany you can go to your local consulate and apply for it yourself. This is a simple process and we provide you with all of the necessary documentation. You do not need to speak German to apply for it.
All new enquirers must fill out a family tree so that our Eligibility and Compliance team has a clearer picture of your family history when assessing your case. The Polaron family tree template also includes important details such as immigration dates, marriage dates, naturalisation dates and times of army service. These are all important factors that impact eligibility.
You can submit a request to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to find out this information. The USCIS will issue you with either a naturalization certificate or a non-naturalization certificate / certificate of non-existence. Our team can also check if your German ancestor naturalized for you.
It is unlikely that we would be able to tell you whether you are eligible, without this information. These are considered crucial details to determine eligibility. In some cases we can offer research to determine eligibility, if you are unable to find this out independently.
German Citizenship by Descent
Your parent does not need to be a German citizen before you apply for citizenship. However you will need to provide proof that you are a direct descendent of your grandparent by including your parent’s birth and marriage certificates, if they’re married. You can apply for citizenship, without your parent having to apply too.
No, however you can apply to re-naturalise as a German citizen. Similar to the discretionary naturalisation process, there are a number of requirements you must fulfill and you may need to renounce your current citizenship.
For Confirmation or Restitution of Citizenship, we have a 100 % success rate, because we take evaluating your case very seriously and we only advise you to proceed with the application if we are certain of your eligibility. The success rate for Research Only cases is 90%. We guarantee the majority of our citizenship cases and can offer a money back guarantee.
Other Ways of Gaining German Citizenship
Yes, discretionary German naturalization is open to anyone who can prove significant ties to Germany, this does not need to be through ancestry.
You would need to prove a close relationship to Germany by providing proof of a number of the following things:
• German language knowledge, minimum B1 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
• Close relatives with German citizenship
• Regular visits to Germany
• Contact to friends or family living in Germany
• Knowledge about Germany (assessed in a naturalization test)
• Being a member of German associations or clubs
• Working or have worked for German authorities, companies or organizations
About Polaron
We have a 99% success rate, because we are very serious when evaluating your case and we only advise you to proceed with the application if we are certain of your eligibility.
Polaron was established in 2000 and is headed by Eva Hussain who is herself Polish and of Jewish heritage. As a certified translator and interpreter, Eva saw a niche to fill by helping people get European citizenship. The company has since supported over 15,000 people to get EU citizenship.
Our head office is located in Melbourne, Australia. We also have offices in Sydney, Europe and the US.
Yes, absolutely. Many of our clients live overseas or in remote areas.
Polaron has strict policies and procedure in place to guarantee that personal details, documents and information are treated in the strictest of confidence. We never share any information with anyone unless authorized by you.
Duration
If you have all the required documentation, the process of confirmation of citizenship is relatively simple. However, citizenship timelines are dependent on your citizenship pathway. Based on our experience, the majority of our cases take between 6 to 24 months.
It can become complicated if the events that you need to demonstrate have happened a long time ago, if you do not have the required documents or if other events have occurred that make it difficult to prove the blood ties with your ancestors.
After your citizenship application is approved, the usual processing time for a standard passport is 1-3 months. In an emergency, a passport can be issued within 24 hours by the consulate.
Cost
Every application is different because it is based on specific circumstances. We are able to provide an obligation-free quote soon after you have a FREE discovery call with our team, as they will be able to give further details.
Yes, we do. Payment plans can be spread across several months.
Yes, we offer a competitive family discount. See under family members for more details.
Family Members
If your children are under the age of 18, they can be included in your application, but will need to have their own case file. If they are 18 or older and qualify, they will need to apply separately. Your grandchildren can also apply with you.
Certainly! In fact, all living ancestors in the direct line between you and your German ancestor are eligible. The research only needs to be done once and everybody can benefit. Applying with siblings or cousins requires little additional research and is a great way to divide up costs. Another benefit of applying with other family members is that you only need one set of documents.
Yes, as long as they follow the same ancestral line. Many people share the cost of research, which only needs to be done once per family.