How to Apply For Dual Citizenship in Germany: A Step-by-Step Guide & My Experience 🇩🇪

[@lifeingermany_]

📋 Citizenship application form for Düsseldorf: formulare.duesseldorf.de/servlet/de.formsolutions.FillServlet?sid=aJMGqMN33t7Z13pqxv2DKrcK12JjFA&f=z.pdf ✨ Online certified translations: bit.ly/Beglaubigung24 💛 Need legal support? go.migrando.de/REtzjt5

[@kitkatkrissy]

Hello! The link you posted here to the citizenship application form doesn't work. Please correct if possible. My American daughter, who lives in Dormagen, tells me she has to go in to the City Hall to get the forms. Thanks and good for you getting your dual citizenship!

[@lifeingermany_]

@@kitkatkrissyfixed! 🥰💛

[@norbertweber3152]

Congrats!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@MiciFee97]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch🥰🥰🥰 ich bin so froh, dass es diese Möglichkeit jetzt gibt 🫶🏻

[@lifeingermany_]

Awww vielen lieben Dank! :D

[@tomgroenbeck7620]

My German neighbor also just got his US citizenship, since he can now keep his German one. We have been living in the US since 2000 and became a US citizens in 2015, but we were able to keep our German citizenship after we filed for that (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung), we had to hand in the application at the German embassy in San Francisco. I hope you keep enjoying life in Germany.

[@lifeingermany_]

This is amazing! I love reading all the comments from/about Germans who have regained German citizenship. I know there are a lot of Germans who aren't fond of this new dual citizenship rule because more of us immigrants are coming in, but I also think it's incredible that Germans who once had to give up their citizenship can now be reinstated Germans! 🥰

[@Gerold-D]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch. Das war bestimmt ein wichtiges Ereignis für dich.😀❤

[@lifeingermany_]

Es war unglaublich wichtig für mich! 🥰 Ich bin sooooooo froh das es aber jetzt hinter mir ist 🤣

[@utebellasteinweg3976]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch 🎉 Ich freue mich für dich🫶

[@PassportTwo]

Congrats again! Hoping my kids' and my time will come soon to hold our German citizenship certificate as well 😊

[@lifeingermany_]

🥰💛😍🤩 ohhhh it will!!! I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it’ll come as soon as possible!!!!!

[@Jochen.Lutz-Germany]

❤lichen Glückwunsch Jenna !

[@lifeingermany_]

Danke, Jochen! 🤩

[@takechi695]

Congrats on receiving your German citizenship!!🎉❤🇩🇪

[@pseudo_nym]

Congratulations and welcome 🤗🇩🇪🇨🇦

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks sooo much!

[@suspiciousafternoon]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch! It is is my dream to one day attain German citizenship like you. The ceremony looks awesome ☺☺

[@susanneharvey4034]

❤lichen Glückwunsch!!! 🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@lifeingermany_]

Vielen lieben Dank! 🥰

[@minervaminerva7906]

Congratulations! And I received mine on the 11th of July ... after 13 years. What an emotional day that was. For others applying for double citizenship, PLEASE remember to check the requirements of your other nationality BEFORE you apply in Germany. You may need to apply in/ from your birth country for a "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung", or a Retention Certificate, in other words a confirmation from your birth country that they will allow you to retain your birth nationality upon receipt of the German nationality.

[@Jonas_C137]

congratulations! 🇨🇦🇪🇺🇩🇪

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks so much!!

[@helfgott1]

Dear Lady we feel with you..I am proud to have a new sister

[@lisamirako1073]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

[@blondkatze3547]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch liebe Jenna. Das freut mich sehr für dich. Ich wünsche dir und deiner Familie ein glückliches Leben hier in Deutschland.🙂💜👍

[@lifeingermany_]

Awwww, vielen vielen lieben Dank! 💛

[@m.j.222]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch liebe Jenna! Ich freue mich für Dich und für Deutschland!

[@lifeingermany_]

Vielen lieben Dank! 🥰

[@vielson]

Im waiting since January but in my Landkreis take I little bit more time 😢. Herzlichen Glückwunsch 🎉

[@lifeingermany_]

It's not just you, so many people are writing me that they've applied even last year! 💛 Hold tight! You'll get there! 🥰

[@bazoo513]

a) Kudos for saying you are an immigrant, not "expat" b) Welcome to your new home, good old Europe! Hello, neighbor! c) Also kudos for keeping the citizenship of your birth country - the more, the merrier!

[@lifeingermany_]

@@bazoo513 thank you thank you thank you 😍🤩

[@jamesgiordano6772]

Brava!!! Ich gratueliere, Jenna. Das ist wunderbar

[@nicoletjongontjoza3622]

Aww 🥰 , congratulations to you🎉🎉🎉🎉❤️🙏🌸

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks so much! :D

[@Janjan0190]

Wow that was a fast process, congratulations!! 🎉🎉 Here, it takes 14 months even before the new law 😂

[@PinskyKyaroru]

Felicidades! qué emoción!

[@n1vca]

Congrats!!! Fantastic ... so happy for you! Und Düsseldorf ist auch so eine tolle Stadt ... da habe ich meine Jugend verbracht ❤... will never stop romanticizing about (night-) life in Düsseldorf. I would go to that event just for the music 🤣 and enjoy the German version of Nora Jones

[@lifeingermany_]

Vielen vielen lieben Dank! 🥰 I feel like I need to start experience the night life more one day here 🤣 I've been here 10 years but most of those years have been in mom-mode! One day! For now, I'm totally in day time mode and always sharing my stories on www.lifeinduesseldorf.com and @lifeindus on KZbin and Instagram and loving every moment of it!

[@sylviesmiles11]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Jenna. Das ist fantastisch! Ich freue mich so sehr für dich, weil ich ganz genau nachvollziehen kann, wie du dich fühlst! Und weiss du was? Ich habe genau dasselbe hier in Kanada im selben Zeitraum erlebt. Ich bin hier ja schon seit 1996 Permanent Resident, aber weil ich meine deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit nicht verlieren wollte, habe ich geduldig gewartet, bis zum 27. Juni! Und am 3. Juli! (beachte das Datum) schickte ich meinen Antrag weg, per internet, war relativ einfach, aber ähnlich wie in deinem Fall, nur etwas weniger Paperwork, dafür war es wesentlich teurer (630$). Am 16. Juli bekam ich meine Empfangsbestätigung und am 21. Oktober meine Einladung zur Einbürgerungszeremonie. Die fand dann am 29. Oktober um 8h15 auf zoom statt (leider ohne Häppchen, Live Musik und Drinks, dafür konnte ich mir den Berufsverkehr sparen). Und mein Eid war länger und ich musste dem König Charles dem 3. meine Loyalität schwören. Aber jetzt bin ich Kanadierin und warte auf meinen Reisepass!!! Ich bin soo dankbar für dieses neue Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz, denn es erlaubt Menschen wie dir und mir, vollständige Bürger des Landes zu sein, in dem wir leben und Steuern zahlen und unseren Teil zur Gesellschaft beitragen, ohne unsere Herkunft und einen Teil unserer Identität abgeben zu müssen! Geniesse deinen neuen Status!

[@bayerntools6704]

Congratulations 👍 How long did it take from sending the application to receive certificate?

[@lifeingermany_]

3 months, but that’s unheard of now! I was one of the first to apply after the law changed - in Düsseldorf the wait seems more like 1 year now 😣

[@bayerntools6704]

@@lifeingermany_ wow you are really lucky.

[@wallerwolf6930]

Hello Jenna, your German is fantastic, practically without an accent! Congratulations! Unfortunately, you make your videos for an English-speaking audience and it would be very nice if you would also show off your German skills in the future, even if that might make the videos a bit longer. I wish you and your family all the best and of course congratulations on your German citizenship! Dual citizenship is a real privilege that I especially wish for people like you!

[@lifeingermany_]

I have some new plans in the works that hopefully will make that happen 😻☺️ fingers crossed!! And thank you so much for your comments! I’m not very good with self confidence and reading these comments really lets me know that it’s okay to speak German even if I often make mistakes 💛❤️

[@m.j.222]

@@lifeingermany_ Deutsch soll für Ausländer eine sehr schwierige Sprache sein. Von daher ist es völlig in Orndnung, mal einen Fehler zu machen.

[@Prime72]

Congrats, Jenna! I am going to do the same but as opposite: applying for Canadian citizenship and keeping my German. That means I‘ll need to take a $300 language test (they won‘t accept TOEFL) and study for the Citizenship quiz. 😅

[@geordiegeorge9041]

I got dual citizenship back in 2017 after having lived in Germany for over 40 years, Brexit sei dank. I didn't have to submit anything to do with income or pensions, probably because I had lived in Germany for so long.

[@lifeingermany_]

Wow! Sounds like a dream, haha... that would never happen now! You lucky duck!

[@CamaroMann]

16:05 → "Kunstblumen und Knäckebrot" - ist das Dein Arbeitstitel für ein Buch? :D

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahahahah! Weiß du was... das ist keine schlechte Idee 😉

[@ld5677]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you. I personally am not interested in getting a duo citizenship. Canadian citizenship seems good enough for me.But, we were discussing with a colleague and your video looks very interesting. This 3 years period, does it include the period :2 yrs with blue card +1 year as a permanent resident=3 years or only 3 years as a permanent resident.

[@ladeutschevitabyGraziaCosta]

❤ Congrats ❤

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks! 🙏

[@helfgott1]

Just love to have another DÜSSELDORF Lady ❤❤❤❤😊😊😁😁😊😊👍👍

[@lifeingermany_]

Aww thanks ❤😻

[@Why-D]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Gibt es jetzt nur noch videos auf Deutsch?

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahaha nur noch auf Deutsch… glaube ich nicht 😅😂 ABER… ab und zu… bestimmt 😉

[@Why-D]

@@lifeingermany_ hörte sich auf jeden Fall gut an!

[@tesla.8410]

13:40 holy shit that was fast. I applied at the beginning of July and they said the wait is 18 months!?

[@dmatter2879]

Wir können uns glücklich schätzen dich bei uns zu haben.

[@lifeingermany_]

awwww! Das ist aber lieb! 🥰 Vielen lieben Dank!

[@butenbremer1965]

Ich freue mich riesig für Dich, herzlichen Glückwunsch zur erfolgreichen Einbürgerung! Hoffentlich folgen noch möglichst viele weitere Personen, bevor die CDU dieses Gesetz wieder abschafft, sollte sie die nächste Bundestagswahl gewinnen. Zum Glück darfst Du ja nun selbst mitwählen!! 🥰

[@lifeingermany_]

Danke dir! Und danke, dass du mich immer unterstützt - das bedeutet mir echt viel! 🙏 Ich bin so dankbar, dass ich meine doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft noch vor September 2025 geschafft habe... Ein Teil von mir ist echt nervös, dass sie dieses neue Gesetz vielleicht pausieren könnten. Obwohl ich nicht weiß, wie schnell sie das wirklich durchziehen würden.

[@butenbremer1965]

@@lifeingermany_ Nun bist Du endlich eine Deutsche geworden, was Du Dir längst verdient hast. Meine ursprüngliche, üblicherrweise sehr wohlwollende Antwort wurde von YT leider, warun auch immer, gelöscht. Ich werde nie wieder mein vermeintlich eingerostetes Englisch auf Deine Kosten üben, versprochen! Deutsche sprechen deutsch untereinander, Punkt. Vielleicht dreht der WDR Düsseldorf ja einen "Follow-Up" zu Deinem Stint on local television..... Was sagt Deine Mama!

[@joshina4497]

I was just wondering... are you able to write your citizenship off your taxes since you made a video about it, which is your job? xD (I don't know if this is a stupid question since I don't know much about taxes (I'm still a student) but it just came to my mind)

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahahahha! Not a bad question... I never even though about that 🤣 I probably wouldn't... not because you're incorrect, but because the tax authorities are still old school... do you know how long it took me to convince them that my buying a drone was for work purposes?! Despite having a KZbin channel and multiple social media accounts, they still believed it was for personal use.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Congrats, now you can move to the Netherlands easily :)

[@Joshu4-O.D]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Ich und meine bessere Hälfte, übrigens auch aus Kanada😉🇨🇦, wünschen dir alles Liebe. 🇩🇪🇨🇦

[@nabilyacin1261]

What's the name of your small city? You got it relatively quickly. Congratulations

[@Kev17339-x]

Hello, fellow Düsseldorfer! Congratulations on your citizenship! 🎉 I applied for German citizenship in mid-August 2024. Unfortunately, I cannot apply for dual citizenship as my country doesn’t allow it. I am married to a German citizen and have fulfilled all the criteria. However, I’m worried because my current residence permit is expiring in April 2025. I already submitted my application for a Settlement Permit in July 2024 but haven’t heard back from the authorities. I’m kind of freaking out. What should I do in this situation? I’ve been calling the Ausländerbehörde in Düsseldorf every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but no one picks up. I even waited on hold for three hours. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

[@DhavalKrishikar]

Hi Jenna, I have the Leben in Deutschland certificate but I never attended the integration course just prepared for the test by myself and then did the exam. Is that okay or do they need proof of attendance for the integration course? Thank you!

[@lifeingermany_]

@@DhavalKrishikar that’s fine! You don’t need to attend the integration course 👍☺️

[@nadeemalam7412]

Congratulations first of all, Secondly my son is MSSE also have three years experience,what to go to German at opportunity card, kindly guide how he can get opportunity card visa, and what is the scope of MSSE there in Germany??

[@Fortune-f9k]

Greetings from Baden-württemberg, thanks a lot for this information. Please I have a question, I'm from Nigeria and my country allows us also for dual citizenship. How do you answer the question; Angaben zur vermeidung Von mehrstaatigkeit? As in, if we are willing to give up our precious citizenship? Because I'm not ready to give up my country's citizenship and I'm planning to apply for my German citizenship by December 2024. I await your humble reply

[@Kipitreel_]

How did you show proof of tax paid please

[@lifeingermany_]

As a freelancer, I had to provide them my last 3 years of income tax statements. Since I actually didn't have that (they weren't finished yet) I had to hire an accountant to provide a letter which states how much I've made in the last 1.5 years.

[@stigmadsen3441]

Congraulations from Denmark DK Jenna 😃

[@lifeingermany_]

@@stigmadsen3441 thanks so much! 🥰🥰

[@stigmadsen3441]

@@lifeingermany_ you are welcome my new neighbor love your videos

[@halmati2288]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, was für ein Gewinn für unser Land! Und wo passt so eine Grinsebacke besser hin, als ins Rheinland! 😁👍

[@lifeingermany_]

Haha awww vielen lieben Dank 🥰💛

[@irbivor]

You don't mention dual-citizenship by birthright. Do you know anything about that?

[@XLV750RD01]

The paperwork for a US green card is a lot more than what you have there. So there's that.

[@lifeingermany_]

I can imagine! 🫠

[@gudrunasche9124]

Ich werde es wohl nicht mehr erleben, dass die Vorschriften und Vorgehensweisen überall gleich sind, wenn es um die gleiche Sache geht. Selbst bei der Umschreibung für Führerscheine macht jede Führerscheinstelle ihr eigenes Ding.

[@charlesdoolen6806]

🙌👍

[@haroldzentner2663]

Sorry, i think it’s nice that you want to stay in Germany but I am not a friend of dual citizenship. Why? Everyone that has dual citizenship has an advantage compared to the locals. If it doesn’t work out for you, you just leave and go back where you came from- you do not have the need to put your life on the line for the country where you live. I have heard that some even vote in both countries, which surely isn’t correct.

[@starryk79]

I understand your reasoning but as a German citizen with German parents I don't need a dual citizenship and even if one could say that people with dual citizenship have more rights than me they don't have more rights in Germany than me. Why should I want to vote in a country i got nothing to do with? So from my perspective if I would be in the role of being born and raised in a different country I would surely appreciate the option of dual citizenship and for that reason i support that even if it doesn't benefit me directly.

[@Janjan0190]

Well, not everyone can cancel their first citizenship. I'd rather say you have won the birth roulette and have all these advantages without doing anything. Tbh, most countries allow dual citizenship with good reasoning.

[@omershah-c8z]

Congratulation if German government don't ask for B1 certificate trust me more than 100,000 people will apply for German citizenship😅😅

[@rairei]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, ebenso dazu, nun ein EU-Bürger zu sein mit all den Vorteilen 🙂 PS: Briefkuverts klebe ich meist mit einem Klebestift zu und mit der Zunge nur, wenn es nicht anders geht. Profis haben einen Tisch-Schwamm genannt "Anfeuchter" Als "Life in Germany" bist Du sehr organisiert und arbeitest Dich in Themen ein, aber Dein deutsches Bürokratie-Verständnis ist bemerkenswert - auch in dieser Hinsicht: "übererfüllt" 👍 .. ich denke, Dein Video ist sehr hilfreich für viele 👍

[@lifeingermany_]

Danke dir für deinen lieben Kommentar! Und für den Umschlag-Tipp - haha, super Idee! 😄 Das Thema „doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft“ war dieses Jahr irgendwie so eine Art „Hobby“ von mir und bringt mir eigentlich kein Einkommen. Aber es macht mir total Freude, die Updates zu teilen und vielen Menschen damit zu helfen - dafür bin ich echt dankbar! 🙏

[@alexxander4572]

I can´t accept the concept of dual citizenship and I hope the next government will take back that nonsense. If you can´t give up your old citizenship than stay with it. Thats fine. No need to become a German. Despite the greens, we are still a free country. No one is forced to become a german to live here.

[@anamariabot2367]

german is a very difficult language...please speak in german also...