Filipinos in Germany now entitled to dual citizenship

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos who were born and raised in Germany are now entitled to dual citizenship.

Germany recently amended its citizenship law, abolishing the exclusivity rule wherein children born in Germany of foreigner parents are obliged to choose one citizenship over the other.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, children born in Germany after January 1, 2000 to foreigner parents or a parent who has stayed legally in the country for eight years may opt two have dual citizenship from Germany and their parents' country when they turn 21.

Before the citizenship law was amended, children born to non-German parents had to to choose only one citizenship.

The German Nationality act states that a child born to non-German parents should have grown in Germany, stayed in Germany for eight years, attended a school in Germany for six years or graduated from a school in Germany, to avail the dual citizenship.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek noted that the new citizenship law allows Filipino-Germany youth to identify themselves to their parent's homeland.

“The changes to the immigration law are important in ensuring that Germany continues to be an open and multicultural society," Sta. Maria-Thomeczek said.

The Philippines' current citizenship law entitles children born of mixed marriages to dual citizenship by reason of blood.