{"id":784,"date":"2026-02-20T21:47:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/?p=784"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:02:01","slug":"what-german-citizens-in-california-need-to-know-about-us-naturalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/blog\/german-citizens-and-us-citizenship\/","title":{"rendered":"What German Citizens in California Need to Know About US Citizenship"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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How the End of the Beibehaltungsantrag Simplifies the Path to US Citizenship While Keeping Your German Passport<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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by Dr. William Sen<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Living in California as a German citizen and thinking about US citizenship used to involve a uniquely German hurdle: the Beibehaltungsantrag (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung). That has changed. Since June 27, 2024, German citizens can generally naturalize in another country on application (including the US) without automatically losing German citizenship, and the prior requirement to obtain a retention permit has been removed.<\/strong><\/p>

What Changed in German Law and Why It Matters in California<\/h3>

Until June 27, 2024, a German citizen who voluntarily acquired another citizenship by application would generally lose German citizenship unless a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung<\/strong> had been granted beforehand. Since the reform took effect, acquiring a foreign citizenship by application no longer triggers an automatic loss of German citizenship, and a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung is no longer required.<\/p>

The date matters. The change applies from June 27, 2024 onward. If a US naturalization took place earlier without the required permission, German citizenship could have been lost under the old rules.<\/p>

The Practical Benefits of the New Rule<\/h3>

For German citizens in California, the reform has several concrete advantages:<\/p>

Less Bureaucracy and Fewer Delays
<\/strong>The retention permit process added paperwork, waiting time, and uncertainty. Now, the German side is simpler: no separate pre-approval step is required for keeping German citizenship when naturalizing in the US after June 27, 2024.<\/p>

Lower Administrative Cost and Risk<\/strong>
Many people previously delayed US naturalization because a missing or late retention permit could cause an unintended loss of German citizenship. Removing that requirement reduces a major legal risk factor.<\/p>

More planning freedom for families with cross-border ties
Dual citizenship can make long-term life planning easier: stable status, easier travel with two passports, and fewer constraints when family, property, or work remains connected to Germany and the US.<\/p>

Are Many Germans Naturalizing in the US?<\/h3>

Even before the German reform, thousands of people from Germany were naturalized in the US each year. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) cited Office of Immigration Statistics data showing that in 2022, around 4,200 adults from Germany were naturalized in the United States, and noted that 2023 data was not yet available at the time of publication.<\/p>

Separately, US naturalization overall remains high: one recent Pew summary reports that 818,500 immigrants became US citizens through naturalization in fiscal year 2024.<\/p>

What cannot be stated with certainty yet (without newer official breakdowns) is how much the German law change has increased German-to-US naturalizations specifically. What can be said is that a major German deterrent has been removed, so interest is likely to rise, especially in states with large immigrant communities such as California.<\/p>

US Citizenship Basics for German Citizens in California<\/h3>

Germany now generally permits dual citizenship in this scenario, and the US does not require a person to give up prior citizenships as a condition of naturalization (even though the oath language includes renunciation in a general sense). The key point for planning is: after June 27, 2024, Germany no longer requires a retention permit to keep German citizenship when voluntarily naturalizing in the US.<\/p>

Most German citizens in California pursue naturalization after first becoming a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). Common eligibility paths include:<\/p>

  • 5-year rule: typically eligible after 5 years as a permanent resident<\/li>
  • 3-year rule: typically eligible after 3 years as a permanent resident when married to and living with a US citizen (and meeting other requirements)<\/li><\/ul>

    Eligibility also depends on continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, and passing English and civics testing (with some age- and disability-based exceptions).<\/p>

    The Process: From Green Card to Us Passport<\/h3>
    • Step 1:<\/strong><\/span> Confirm Eligibility & Travel History<\/strong>
      Before filing, review green card dates, long trips abroad, and any issues that could affect good moral character. Long absences can complicate continuous residence.<\/li>
    • Step 2: <\/strong><\/span>Prepare & File Form N-400<\/strong>
      USCIS allows online filing for many applicants. If requesting a reduced fee or a fee waiver, USCIS requires a paper filing.<\/li>
    • Step 3:<\/strong><\/span> Biometrics & Background Checks<\/strong>
      USCIS schedules biometrics (fingerprints and photo) if needed.<\/li>
    • Step 4:<\/strong><\/span> Interview and Tests<\/strong>
      The naturalization interview covers the application, English ability, and civics knowledge (unless exempt). If a name change is requested, it may be handled through a judicial oath ceremony depending on local practice.<\/li>
    • Step 5:<\/strong><\/span> Oath Ceremony & Certificate of Naturalization<\/strong>
      After approval, the oath ceremony completes the process. The Certificate of Naturalization is the key proof document.<\/li>
    • Step 6:<\/strong><\/span> Apply for a US Passport<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>

      A US passport application typically follows after the oath, using the Certificate of Naturalization as evidence.<\/p>

      Costs & Fees<\/h3>

      USCIS fees can change, so checking the official USCIS fee schedule close to filing is important. USCIS provides a central filing-fees page and a fee schedule form (G-1055) that are kept current.<\/p>

      USCIS also explains that reduced-fee and fee-waiver requests cannot be filed online for Form N-400 and must be filed on paper.<\/p>

      Dual Citizenship Considerations That Matter in Real Life<\/h3>

      Two Passports & Travel Strategy<\/strong>
      Dual citizenship can reduce travel friction, especially when entry rules change. It also provides flexibility if extended stays in Germany become necessary.<\/p>

      Voting & Civic Obligations<\/strong>
      US citizenship creates US voting rights and other civic responsibilities. Planning for participation and compliance is part of the decision.<\/p>

      Tax & Financial Planning<\/strong>
      US citizens are generally subject to US tax rules on worldwide income, and this can affect cross-border financial decisions. For many people, the practical impact depends on income, assets, and existing compliance status. This is a common reason to coordinate with a qualified cross-border tax advisor before naturalizing.<\/p>

      Family & Children<\/strong>
      Children may already have claims to citizenship (US, German, or both) depending on birth circumstances. Naturalization can also change immigration options for family members.<\/p>

      A Planning Checklist Before Applying<\/h3>
      • Clarify the key date: confirm that US naturalization will occur after June 27, 2024 if the goal is to rely on the new German rule.<\/li>
      • Collect residence and travel records (addresses, trips, employment history).<\/li>
      • Review any criminal or tax issues with qualified counsel if anything is uncertain.<\/li>
      • Decide whether to request a name change.
        Check USCIS fees and whether online filing is available for your situation.<\/li><\/ul>

        \u00a0<\/p>

        Conclusion<\/h3>

        For German citizens in California, the end of the Beibehaltungsantrag requirement is a major shift. Since June 27, 2024, the German side of the dual-citizenship equation is much simpler for US naturalization: no prior retention permit is required to keep German citizenship when acquiring US citizenship by application after that date.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        German citizens in California can now naturalize in the US without losing German citizenship. Learn the process and key benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgermans.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}