The formal verification of a person being in possession of German citizenship is enabled by a national ID card (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis). This form of ID is required for certain legal transactions or legal circumstances such as, for example, adoption or being admitted to the civil service.

Before a national ID card or a form of identification confirming a person’s legal status as a German national can be issued, the relevant authority must check:

• whether and by what means a person has acquired German citizenship / legal status as a German national,
• whether and by what means a person has had their German citizenship / legal status as a German national revoked.

In addition to the details about yourself, further information is also required about the people from whom you derive your citizenship. Please refer to the application form to find out who these people are. Should there be any ambiguity, please allow the relevant authority to advise you on completing the application.