GERMANY ALLOWS DUAL CITIZENSHIP

On January 19, 2024, the Bundestag (German parliament) passed the “Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law”. The parliament launched a reform that includes changes to German citizenship law which, among others, eliminates the retention permit for German nationals; (no more Beibehaltungsgenehmigung). This law came into force on June 27, 2024. Since then,  a retention permit (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung) is  no longer required to avoid automatic loss of German citizenship when applying for U.S. or some other citizenships.

Therefore, if you were sworn in to become a US citizen before June 27th, 2024 (including on June 26th, 2024 !) you would have still lost your German citizenship if you did so without holding a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung.

Ellen von Geyso PA ©