Germany is one of the countries which acknowledges citizenship by “jus sanguini”, blood right. That means that brazilian people who are of german descendance can apply for the dual citizenship.
German citizenship is granted by descendance/filiation, place of birth, adoption or naturalization.
The descendance/filiation principle (“jus sanguinis”) guides itself on the parents’ nationality: children of german parents are automatically granted german citizenship, even if only one of the parents are german. In many cases, when one of the parents has a different nationality, the child is entitled to a german dual nationality. That applies, for example, to a child of a brazilian mother and german father, or vice versa, without the child having to choose only one of the two citizenships when he/she becomes a legal adult.
However, if the parents aren’t married and only the father has german citizenship, he must legally recognize his paternity over the child before he/she turns 23 years old.
The “jus sanguinis” principle is applied no matter where the child was born.
Obtaining the german nationality through father ascendance is possible if the german father was married to the mother when the child was born. If the parents weren’t married, usually the citizenship is only possible to obtain if the child was born after 30/06/1993 and the father has recognized his paternity. The same conditions apply to previous generations: if someone’s father/mother obtained german nationality through their grandfather, for example.
In case the mother is german, has german ancestors, the child automatically obtains german citizenship, no matter if the mother was single or married when the child was born, so long as the birth dates after 01/01/1975. In case of people born before 01/01/1975, if the mother was married at the time, it isn’t possible to apply for german nationality through mother ascendance. Exception: in case the mother presented a declaration on the matter before an authority or german representative in between 01/01/1975 and 31/12/1977. It isn’t possible to do such declaration retroactively. To previous generations, the same conditions apply. For example, if someone’s mother/father acquired german nationality through their grandmother.
At first, it is possible to obtain german nationality through someone’s grandfather/ great-grandfather, but a verification would be necessary to make sure that the german nationality was passed on through each generation. From someone’s great-grandfather, to their grandfather, to their father, etc.
In the cases of people born in Brazil who have/had german ancestors, it will be necessary to enter a german nationality acknowledgement process with Germany’s diplomatic representation in Brazil.
Since the year 2000, it’s also valid in Germany the place of birth principle. That means that a child born in Germany automatically receives german citizenship, even if both parents are foreigners, so long as at least one o the parents, when the child is born, were living legally and continuously for at least eight years in Germany and has a Permanent Stay Permit (unbefristete Aufenthaltsgenehmigung). In that case, the child automatically receives german citizenship. In case the child obtains another nationality in birth, at 18 he/she will have to decide between the two. Here, the dual nationality is only possible in exceptional cases.
Since 01/01/1977: a valid adoption according to the german legislation of a minor by a german adult. The nationality is given from the moment the adoption is effective.
Since 01/09/1986: the child must be under 18 years of age when applying for the adoption.
Someone who doesn’t have the right to german citizenship may ask for a naturalization in case they check the following conditions:
To require the naturalization, it is necessary to prove that the level of knowledge in the german language is at, at least, a B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR), through the following means:
The naturalization may be required directly after having completed 16 years of age. The requirement for children under 16 must be made by the parents.
