If a child is born in Germany and at least one parent is German, an automatic citizenship is granted. This is called the straining principle or “ius sanguinis”. This term originates from Latin and means the right of the blood: the blood is thus transferred to the citizenship. In other European countries, as in France for example, there is also a “ius soli” (right of the soil). This means that the birthplace can also determine citizenship. A child born from foreign parents on French soil who has lived in France for at least 5 years can be granted French citizenship at the age of 13. Mostly, a child who has foreign parents and is born in Germany does not get German citizenship, just because it was born in Germany.
Birth and Citizenship in Germany
