[**The law has changed!**](https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/03-Citizenship/-/2479488)
It looks like my mother is eligible for the next decade to obtain German citizenship through ius sanguinis. She was born in the USA to a German citizen mother in the 1960s and was previously not allowed to claim it because the law said it needed to be through her father.
**I have so many questions!**
If she doesn’t proceed with it, do the rights to obtain citizenship apply to me as well? (Essentially skipping from my grandmother to me.)
Does she need to apply for it first for me to get it? (Or could we apply at the same time?)
How tricky is the application without an attorney?
How long does the process take? (From application turned in to passport in hand?)
Any insight would be appreciated!
4 comments
I’m not sure about your specific case but it would be ius sanguinis not ius soli.
So according to this [website](https://australien.diplo.de/au-en/service/03-citizenship/basics/2408686?openAccordionId=item-2408688-2-panel) I don’t think so, since it says that citizenship cannot skip a generation and that your parents must have German citizenship at the time of your birth for you to be eligible. I could be misinterpreting it though. The website gives an email where you can ask them about your specific case.
Even if your mother and grandmother had passed away you could apply.
You can apply at the same time, and should if you both want it.
You don’t need an attorney. You just submit documents. Your right is already established.
In recent years, claims for “forgotten” citizenship are taking two years plus. These new “exceptions” to the rules are similar. So, my guess is that they will take two years.
The “forgotten citizenship” applicants receive a yellow citizenship certificate because they are not naturalizing. Your mother and you would be naturalizing. So, you’ll receive blue naturalization certificates (I think).
If your mother doesn’t want a German passport, she can stop with the certificate. It would look nice framed and hung in an office or den.
Yes, it appears your mother and you are eligible. Download
[EER Packet PDF](https://www.bva.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Staatsangehoerigkeit/Einbuergerung/Ermessen/Paket_EER.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6), and begin filling out the forms (use English translation at bottom of document) and collecting necessary documents. When you go all you can, send or take it to nearest German embassy of consulate.
Your mother does NOT have to do this if she doesn’t want it, in section 5, check item 4: “I am a descendant of a person in one of the categories specified at nos. 1–3 above”. Hopefully, however, she will help you gather necessary documents. It is a common misconception that “being born to a German citizen” means “being born to a person possessing documents issued by German authorities,” but this is not true; citizenship is passed by birth not the issuance of documents.