# German citizenship by descent: routes and how long the BVA takes > Which routes exist from abroad (Feststellung, § 5 StAG, Art. 116 GG, § 14 StAG), how the Aktenzeichen works and why the BVA takes so long. - URL: https://aktenzeit.de/en/guides/staatsangehoerigkeit-abstammung (with live waiting times) - Published: 2026-10-23 - Reviewed: 2026-10-23 **If you live abroad, citizenship matters are usually handled by the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in Köln, either directly or through a German embassy or consulate. Which procedure fits depends on your family history, and all of them take a long time. Aktenzeit counts the wait from the Aktenzeichen, the file number the BVA gives you.** The figures below come from reports by applicants. They show medians per procedure, counted from the Aktenzeichen, and are not a promise from the BVA. ## The routes at a glance Which route fits depends on your family history. This overview explains what the law says. Whether it applies to you is for the BVA to decide, and its pages and checklists help you place your case. ### Feststellung: determination that you are German (§ 30 StAG) You may already be German without knowing it or being able to prove it. In a Feststellung procedure the BVA determines, with binding effect, whether you hold German citizenship. It checks when and how it was acquired and whether it was lost later, which can involve your ancestors. If successful, you get a Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis (citizenship certificate). The law sets a fee of 51 euros for this (§ 38 Abs. 2 StAG). ### Declaration (§ 5 StAG) People born after the Grundgesetz came into force can acquire citizenship by declaration in certain cases. This covers children of a German parent who did not acquire citizenship at birth, children of a mother who lost it before the birth by marrying a foreigner, children who lost it through legitimation by a foreigner, and their descendants. The BVA describes this as a correction of older rules that discriminated by sex. The law sets a deadline: the right to declare can only be exercised within ten years of the law entering into force. The BVA gives 20 August 2021 as the start of this option, so do not wait until the last moment. The procedure is free of charge (§ 38 Abs. 3 StAG). ### Redress naturalisation (Art. 116 Abs. 2 GG, § 15 StAG) Former German citizens who were stripped of their citizenship between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945 for political, racial or religious reasons, and their descendants, are to be naturalised again on application (Art. 116 Abs. 2 GG). § 15 StAG covers further cases of Nazi persecution, for example people who later lost citizenship in another way. The BVA explains the difference between the two on its pages. Both procedures are free of charge, and the BVA requires no citizenship test for them. Important: on 19 October 2026 the BVA announced that it is reviewing its Art. 116 GG procedures after reports of forgery and fraud. As a result there will be temporary delays in the review and in the handing over of certificates by missions abroad. Procedures under § 15 StAG are not affected. ### Naturalisation from abroad (§ 14 StAG) This is at the BVA's discretion and, according to the BVA, an exception. There must be ties to Germany that justify naturalisation, and there is no entitlement. It is usually not the right route in descent cases. ### Not sure which route applies? The BVA's pages on Feststellung, declaration and redress explain the requirements and include checklists. For complicated family histories, a lawyer specialising in nationality law is worth it ([law firms](/en/law-firms)). ## The Aktenzeichen After your application arrives, the BVA sends a confirmation of receipt with its Aktenzeichen. It asks you to quote it in all correspondence. It is the number your procedure is filed under. Aktenzeit counts from it because it is the common reference point for every applicant. Time before it (postage, the consulate) is not counted. ## Why it takes so long On its page about the declaration route (undated), the BVA gives several reasons: every case has a different life story behind it, documents often have to be requested after the first review, the BVA makes enquiries with German authorities and has no influence on how fast they respond, and involving the domestic intelligence service (Verfassungsschutz) is required by law. Applications are processed in order of receipt. Time at the mission abroad and in the post comes on top. The official figures we hold for the BVA are on the [Bundesverwaltungsamt page](/en/office/bundesverwaltungsamt), shown next to the reported waits. ## Documents you usually need Depending on the procedure and your family history: - birth, marriage and descent records for you and the ancestors in your line - proof that an ancestor held German citizenship, such as old German passports or naturalisation certificates - for redress: evidence of persecution, for example religion entered in civil records or compensation payments - for a declaration: a current police certificate from your country of residence The BVA asks for officially or notarially certified copies. The exact list is in the information sheets and forms for your procedure. For redress you can apply even if you no longer have all documents, and the BVA researches on its own. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I have to apply through the consulate? No. For Feststellung, declaration and redress the BVA accepts applications either through the competent German mission abroad or directly. It also offers online services through the Bundesportal; the page for each procedure has the details. If you live in Germany, you apply to the local citizenship authority instead. ### How long does the BVA procedure take? The BVA does not state a fixed time. The medians from applicants' reports are in the block at the top of this page, counted from the Aktenzeichen. They vary by procedure, and how long your case takes depends on your family history and on documents you may need to add. ### Can I keep my other citizenship? Under German law, generally yes. Since 27 June 2024, acquiring another citizenship no longer causes you to lose German citizenship, and according to the BVA neither the declaration nor redress naturalisation requires you to give up your current citizenship. Whether you keep the other one is decided solely by that country's law. Ask its authorities before you apply. ### Do I need to speak German for § 5 or Art. 116? The text of § 5 StAG, § 15 StAG and Art. 116 Abs. 2 GG names no language level, and the BVA requires no citizenship test for redress naturalisation. The procedure itself runs in German, though: forms must be filled in in German, and for Art. 116 the BVA exceptionally offers them in English as well. For naturalisation under § 14 StAG, the BVA generally expects German at B1. ## Sources - [§ 5 StAG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__5.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [§ 14 StAG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__14.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [§ 15 StAG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__15.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [§ 30 StAG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__30.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [§ 38 StAG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__38.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [Art. 116 GG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_116.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: applying for a Feststellung](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Feststellung_Start/Feststellung/01_Informationen_Feststellung/01_02_F_wie_geht_es/01_02_F_wie_geht_es_node.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: acquisition by declaration](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/EER/Einbuergerung_EER_node.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: redress naturalisation](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Anspruch/EinbuergerungA_node.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: Art. 116 GG, temporary procedural delays (19 Oct 2026)](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/_documents/Meldung/20261019_citizenship.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: modernisation of nationality law in force](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/_documents/Meldung/Meldung_Gesetzesaenderung_2024.html), checked 23 Oct 2026 - [BVA: naturalisation from abroad (§ 14 StAG)](https://www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Ermessen14/01-Informationen_E14/01_01_Erm14_was_ist/01_02_Erm14_was_ist_node.html), checked 23 Oct 2026