By Christine Stenner, Attorney (Germany) at Stenner Law| Foreign Legal Consultant (PA) | June 19, 2025
A client contacts my office and says, “My mother was German. She married a U.S. soldier she met in Germany after WWII, moved to the United States, and raised us there. But unfortunately, she could not pass her citizenship on to me.”
What many Americans with German mothers don’t know yet is that German citizenship law changed in 2021. There is now an incredible opportunity to apply for German citizenship and have a passport that allows travelling and working in all European Union countries — BUT only until August 19, 2031.
A History of Legal Discrimination
For decades, German citizenship law treated women unequally. Until April 1, 1953, German women automatically lost their citizenship when they married a non-German man. Even after that, the law continued to restrict how and when mothers could transmit citizenship to their children when they married a non-German citizen.
If you were born after May 23, 1949 and before January 1, 1975 to a German mother and a non-German father in a legal marriage, you were likely excluded from German citizenship solely because of your mother’s gender.
Today, that injustice is being addressed through § 5 of the German Nationality Act (StAG).
Who Qualifies Under § 5 StAG?
You may now be eligible for German citizenship if:
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Your German mother lost her citizenship upon marrying a non-German man before April 1, 1953
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You were born after May 23, 1949 and before January 1, 1975 to a German mother in a lawful marriage and were excluded from her citizenship
What You Need to Know
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No German language requirement
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No requirement to live in Germany
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No need to give up your current citizenship
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This is not naturalization — it is legal restoration
Why You Should Start Now
Sure, you have time until August 19, 2031. But gathering the necessary documents can take time — especially older birth or marriage certificates, or records from Germany. Starting early means you can move forward with confidence, without the pressure of a last-minute application.
How Stenner Law Can Help
At Stenner Law, we guide clients through the legal and historical details of reclaiming citizenship under § 5 StAG. We help you:
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Assess your eligibility
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Collect and review necessary documents
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Draft and file your application professionally
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Communicate with the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in Germany
Every case starts with a document review with a paid consultation. This allows us to give you a realistic and well-informed legal opinion from the beginning.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward restoring your German citizenship.
