Loss/retention of German citizenship
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzA German citizen loses their citizenship when they voluntarily acquire a foreign citizenship (Section 25 (1) sentence 1 of the Citizenship Act - StAG). In addition to an application for naturalization, voluntary acquisition also includes acquisition on the basis of an option, registration or declaration.
The loss of German citizenship does not occur if the German acquires the citizenship of another member state of the European Union, Switzerland or a state with which the Federal Republic of Germany has concluded a corresponding treaty under international law - there are currently no such treaties under international law (§ 25 Para. 1 Sentence 2 StAG).
In all other cases, the loss of German citizenship is only avoided if written permission to retain German citizenship has been granted prior to the acquisition of foreign citizenship. Subsequent approval is not possible.
The decision in the retention procedure must be awaited before the other nationality is accepted or acquired. Otherwise, German citizenship is automatically lost by law when the foreign citizenship is acquired, e.g. through naturalization.
The retention permit should be kept carefully, as it serves as proof of continued German citizenship despite the acquisition of another citizenship. Descendants who derive their German citizenship may also have to be able to prove this one day.
The application should be made in writing. An official form is not required. As a rule, a personal visit is required. It is advisable to make an appointment in advance.
For an individual consultation and application, please contact if you are a permanent resident
- in Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) to the citizenship authority responsible for your place of residence (in rural districts the district administration, in independent cities the city administration)
- outside Germany to the competent German diplomatic mission abroad or the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne
The decision on the retention application is made by the citizenship authority in the case of residence or permanent residence in Rhineland-Palatinate. In the case of permanent residence abroad, the Federal Office of Administration decides on the application for retention.
The retention permit can be granted if public or private interests justify the acquisition of foreign citizenship and the continuation of German citizenship and if there are no intergovernmental interests to the contrary.
- Application for a retention permit
- German passport or identity card
- extended registration register information not older than 6 months
- Documents on birth, parentage and marital status
- curriculum vitae
- Statement on the continued existence of ties to Germany
- Detailed explanation of the reasons for the necessity of acquiring the other nationality and proof thereof
- Confirmation of naturalization from the other country (if available)
The original documents must be submitted with the application. Further documents may be required.
The retention permit is subject to a fee: 255.00 euros
The retention permit must be issued before the foreign nationality is acquired.
Your responsible office:
Kreisverwaltung Rhein-Lahn-Kreis - Sicherheit, Ordnung und Verkehr
Address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Building access
Lift available, wheelchair accessible
Contact
Telephone
02603 972-0
Fax
02603 972-199
Website
Opening hours
Zulassungsstelle DiezMonday-Friday8:00 a.m.-12:00 hWilhelmstraße 42aThursday14:00 h-17:30 h65582 Diez
Zulassungsstelle NastättenMonday-Friday8:00 h -11:00 hPestalozzistraße 2
56355 Nastätten
Contact person
Address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-127
Fax
02603 972-6127
Website
room
E 22
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Application for a residence permit in the case of a deportation ban
- Apply for a residence permit for conditional admission to studies or part-time studies
- Apply for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with an academic qualification
- Apply for a residence permit for self-employed persons who have completed their studies or who work as scientists or researchers
- Apply for a residence permit for the purpose of research
- Apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying
- Apply for a residence permit for the recognition of professional qualifications on the basis of an agreement with the Federal Employment Agency
- Apply for a residence permit to attend a general education school
- Apply for a residence permit to join other family members of a German national
- Apply for a residence permit to look for a job after completing your training
- Apply for a residence permit to participate in language courses or student exchanges
- Apply for a residence permit to participate in the Federal Volunteer Service
- Apply for a settlement permit for holders of a residence permit on the basis of international law, humanitarian or political reasons
- Apply for an accelerated skilled worker procedure
- Apply for an extension of the residence permit to search for a training place in order to carry out qualified vocational training
- Apply for co-naturalization for your spouse, registered partner or minor children
- Apply for extension of residence permit for conditional admission to studies or part-time studies
- Apply for extension of residence permit for job search for professionals with academic education
- Apply for extension of residence permit for recognition of professional qualification during employment
- Apply for extension of residence permit for the purpose of study application
- Apply for extension of residence permit to attend a general education school
- Apply for extension of the residence permit for a study-related internship EU
- Apply for naturalization
- Apply for naturalization
- Apply for settlement permit for highly qualified professionals
- Apply for settlement permit for self-employed
- Applying for a permanent residence card for third-country national family members of EU citizens entitled to freedom of movement
- Applying for a residence permit for cases of exceptional hardship
- Applying for a residence permit for company training and further education for training and further education purposes
- Applying for a residence permit for mobile researchers
- Applying for a residence permit for recognition of professional qualifications during employment
- Applying for a residence permit for refugees
- Applying for a residence permit for the purpose of applying to university
- Applying for a residence permit for the purpose of employment for qualified tolerated persons
- Applying for a residence permit for the purpose of research for beneficiaries of international protection
- Applying for a residence permit for the purpose of school-based vocational training
- Applying for a residence permit for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons
- Applying for a residence permit for victims of a criminal offense under Sections 232 to 233a StGB
- Applying for a residence permit in the case of subsidiary protection
- Applying for a residence permit to carry out a qualification measure with employment
- Applying for a residence permit to look for a job for professionals with academic training
- Applying for a residence permit to participate in the European Voluntary Service
- Applying for a residence permit to take an examination for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification
- Applying for a residence permit to work as a civil servant for a German employer
- Applying for a settlement permit for family members of Germans
- Applying for a settlement permit for holders of an EU Blue Card
- Applying for a settlement permit for underage foreign children
- Applying for an employment permit for persons with tolerated status
- Applying for an employment permit when you are granted a residence permit
- Applying for an extension of a residence permit for the purpose of employment for (formerly) qualified tolerated persons
- Applying for an extension of a residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment for freelancers
- Applying for an extension of a residence permit to look for a job for qualified skilled workers with vocational training
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for a foreign spouse to join a German spouse
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for company training and further education
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for mobile researchers
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for recognition of professional qualifications based on an agreement with the Federal Employment Agency
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for the purpose of research
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for the reunification of other family members with a German citizen
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit to prepare for and study at university
- Applying for an extension of the residence permit to take an examination for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification
- Applying for an extension of your residence permit to take part in the European Voluntary Service
- Applying for an extension of your residence permit to take part in the Federal Volunteer Service
- Applying for asylum
- Co-naturalization of spouses Application
- Electronic Residence Permit (eAT) Extension
- Electronic residence permit (eAT) Issuance of address change after relocation
- Electronic residence permit (eAT) Issue in case of name change
- Electronic residence permit (eAT) issuance
- Electronic residence permit (eAT) issued in case of loss or theft
- Extend mobile ICT card
- Extend residence permit due to outstanding qualification measure
- Extend residence permit due to school-based vocational training
- Extend residence permit for children born in Germany
- Extend residence permit for employment as a skilled worker regardless of qualification
- Extend residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with academic training
- Extend residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with vocational training
- Extend residence permit for the family reunification of a foreign minor to the German parent
- Extend residence permit for the immigration of the spouse
- Extend residence permit in the event of a ban on deportation
- Extend residence permit to look for a job after completing your studies
- Extend residence permit to look for a job after recognition of foreign professional qualifications
- Extend residence permit to look for a job after vocational training
- Extend residence permit to search for a job after research activity
- Extend your residence permit
- Extend your residence permit for employment as a civil servant
- Extending a residence permit for employment in the public interest
- Extending a residence permit for the purpose of training
- Extending a residence permit for victims of a crime
- Extending a residence permit on the basis of extensive professional knowledge
- Extending a residence permit to continue studies started in another EU country
- Extending a residence permit to exercise a self-employed activity
- Extending residence permit for exceptional hardship cases
- Extending residence permit for refugees
- Extension of the residence permit for the purpose of research for beneficiaries of international protection
- Foreigners' affairs - End your stay in Germany
- Granting a residence permit Mobile ICT card
- Granting a residence permit for Swiss nationals
- Granting a residence permit for a study-related internship EU
- Granting a residence permit for children born in Germany
- Granting a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker
- Granting a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker regardless of qualification
- Granting a residence permit for employment in the public interest
- Granting a residence permit for family reunification with foreigners
- Granting a residence permit for freelancers
- Granting a residence permit for long-term residents in other EU member states
- Granting a residence permit for skilled workers with vocational training to look for a job
- Granting a residence permit for the family reunification of a foreign minor to the German parent
- Granting a residence permit for the family reunification of a foreign parent with a German minor
- Granting a residence permit for the parents to join a minor foreigner
- Granting a residence permit on the basis of extensive professional knowledge
- Granting a residence permit to carry out a qualification measure
- Granting a residence permit to carry out vocational training
- Granting a residence permit to continue a course of study started in another EU country
- Granting a residence permit to look for a job after graduation
- Granting a residence permit to look for a job after recognition of foreign professional qualifications
- Granting a residence permit to look for a job after research work
- Granting a residence permit to pursue a self-employed activity
- Issue a border crossing certificate (GÜB)
- Issue a residence permit for the reunification of parents and other family members
- Issue residence permit for the immigration of the spouse
- Issuing a settlement permit
- Loss/retention of German citizenship
- Nationality card
- Option obligation
- Permit for permanent residence-EG
- Request change of conditions for employment in case of residence permit
- Request change or cancellation of the residence regulation of the residence permit
- Residence permit due to displacement
- Residence permit for family reasons Issued for the family reunification of a foreign spouse with a German national
- Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment Extension for self-employed former scientists and researchers
- Settlement permit for recognised persons entitled to asylum and refugees
- Submit details for the issue of a residence card for family members of EU/EEA citizens (except Germany) and EEA citizens