Basic Law, Article 116(2)
Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Art. 116 Abs. 2
The constitutional restitution guarantee for former German citizens stripped of citizenship on political, racial or religious grounds between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945, and their descendants. Section 15 StAG (2021) operationalises this guarantee and closes procedural gaps the constitutional text alone left open.
What this law actually does
Former German citizens denaturalised for Nazi-era persecution, and their descendants, have a constitutional right to restoration of citizenship on application.
This restitution route is not defeated by the persecuted ancestor later naturalising in another country as part of fleeing persecution — a deliberate difference from the ordinary Section 4 descent rule.
This law is one piece of the Germany eligibility picture. See the full overview for how it interacts with disqualifiers, documents, and timelines.
Germany eligibility overviewGet alerts when this law changes
Citizenship laws move fast — Italy, Spain, and Poland all changed in 2025–26. We email you when the rules behind this page shift.