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Obtaining German Citizenship and German passports - David Yadid, Law Firm and Notary
German Passport/German Citizenship
Our firm has many years of experience in realization of the rights of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, Since the 1990s we have assisted in securing German citizenship and German passports to Israelis with family ties to Jewish Holocaust survivors. The extensive experience we have gained allows us to handle successfully complex cases, which require document retrieval from Germany that prove the eligibility. Our firm is an expert in obtaining large numbers of passports and citizenship applications and handles the issuance of citizenships for a variety of generations at the same time – from grandfather to father, son. We are up to date with all existing laws to this day, as of 2025.
German passport – changes in the Law
Watch the video to get answers to the following questions: What are the changes in the law and who exactly do they affect (in favor of the client), can descendants of those who were not German citizens receive citizenship? Does someone who applies for German citizenship have to give up other citizenships? Why is the demand for a German passport so high around the world? And why is it worthwhile and recommended to do the process with the assistance of a lawyer who is knowledgeable in the field?
Issuing German citizenship - Why Contact US?
Our office has a German-speaking staff, led by a German-speaking advocate and notary with in-depth knowledge of German law, having lived in Germany for several years and studied there. Those interested in additional information on behalf of our office – please contact us
Phone: 073-7841842
Email: info@yadidlaw.com
Website: yadidlaw.com
Legal services provided by the David Yadid office in claiming for German citizenship
Scheduling an appointment at the German Consulate in Tel Aviv to renew a German passportOur office provides all legal services necessary to obtain German citizenship: experienced lawyers, notaries, translation into 19 languages, German-speaking employees and case managers. All of them have decades of proven experience working with the German and Israeli authorities. This way, the client receives a One Stop Shop experience and without outsourcing, which causes hassle, waste of time and unnecessary hassle for him and his family.
Scheduling an appointment at the German Consulate in Tel Aviv to renew a German passport
In light of the difficulties experienced by our clients, we also assist in scheduling an appointment to renew passports at the German Consulate in Tel Aviv.
German Passport and Obtaining German Citizenship - Updated for 2025
According to German Citizenship Law, every Jewish Holocaust survivor who had German citizenship before the rise of the Nazi regime, but whose citizenship was revoked after it, is entitled to a German passport – he and all his descendants, without generational restrictions, and includes children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. Moreover, there is no obligation for all generations to apply for citizenship, so the great-grandchild is also entitled to it, even if his father, grandfather or great-grandfather did not do so themselves.
This page is updated for 2025 and it is recommended that you return to it from time to time, as we update it on the site whenever there is something new.
Is every Jew born or living in Germany at that time entitled to a passport?
- German citizenship is not granted by birth but by inheritance. In other words, it is not enough for a person to be born in Germany in order to receive citizenship.
- He will receive it only if one of his parents is a citizen himself. In light of this, in all the years that have passed since then, and until a few months ago, Jewish Holocaust survivors who lived in Germany, but were not citizens, were not entitled to citizenship, nor were their descendants.
- All this changed in August 2021 following an amendment to German law.
What does the expansion of eligibility for German citizenship from August 2021 include?
Many Jews left Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe during the 1920s and 1930s and immigrated to Germany for various reasons. The vast majority of them did not receive German citizenship, but only the status of subjects or residents. Following the amendment to the German citizenship law, they and their descendants are also entitled to it under exactly the same conditions.
What is the significance of expanding eligibility for German citizenship?
This is a very big innovation, opening up the possibility for many Jews, in Israel and around the world, to receive German citizenship and a German passport, as long as they are descendants of Holocaust survivors who lived in Germany during those years, and even if they were not German citizens, but only with residency or nationality status.
What are the conditions for receiving a German passport for those who are entitled to it by law?
All that citizens, residents, and former nationals and/or their descendants have to do to receive German citizenship and a German passport is to prove their family connection to that Jewish Holocaust survivor whose citizenship was revoked or who was forced to leave Germany between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 due to Nazi persecution.
What does German citizenship and passport offer?
The advantages and benefits that offer a German passport
The German passport grants to its holder all the rights granted to citizens of the European Union. Among them, a visa to stay and work for the passport holder, and indirectly also for his nuclear family, in the 27 EU countries.
Additional benefits include access to subsidized or free higher education in government institutions of the Eurozone, as well as an automatic visa to the United States, without the need for an interview at the embassy and fear of refusal.
In fact, even those who were previously refused as an Israeli citizen will be entitled to an automatic entry visa to the United States thanks to the German passport.
German citizenship for children - are the minor children of a German citizen also entitled to a passport?
In principle, children who are descendants of someone who meets the legal criteria are also entitled to a passport, and in fact, do not even have to wait for their parents to receive citizenship. A minor over the age of 16 can apply for citizenship on their own, while a minor under the age of 16 must apply together with a parent who is also entitled to it.
German citizenship for a spouse - under what conditions are the spouses of descendants of Holocaust survivors entitled to German citizenship?
The spouses of those who have received citizenship under German law are not automatically entitled to citizenship. In order for the spouse to be able to apply for citizenship and a passport themselves, at least 5 years must have passed during which they both resided in Germany. But even then, obtaining citizenship is not guaranteed and depends on the circumstances of each individual case.
Obtaining German citizenship - David Yadid - Law Firm and Notary
Why is our office the right address to apply for German citizenship?
Our office has many years of extensive experience in realizing of the rights of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, including, but not limited to, German citizenship. The extensive experience we have gained, together with many connections and specific knowledge, allow us to successfully handle even complex cases, which require document retrieval from Germany that prove eligibility. We also assist in renewal of a German passport for those whose passport has expired, including booking an appointment at the German embassy.
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