Naturalization without a passport
All information about the declaration of identity for naturalization and naturalization without a passport.
Here you learn ...
what identity clarification means for naturalization
when identity is considered to be clarified for naturalization
how to apply for naturalization without a passport
what requirements courts place on naturalization without a passport
Table of Content
1. Clarified identity for naturalization
2. How can the identity be clarified?
3. Naturalization without a passport
4. Clarified nationality
5. Conclusion Identity clarification Naturalization
1. Clarified identity for naturalization
Verifying the identity of naturalization applicants is a central element of the naturalization process. It ensures that the stated identity and nationality of the applicant can be verified beyond doubt. Identity is considered verified if it can be proven that a person is correctly registered in their country of origin using the stated identity characteristics – first name, last name, maiden name, date of birth, place of birth, and marital status. A comprehensible and verifiable assignment of these characteristics to the person is required to enable clear differentiation from other individuals. In practice, identity verification is often carried out during the residency procedure . If identity is established there, it is generally also considered verified for the purposes of the naturalization process.
For identity to be recognized, a reasonable degree of certainty is required – a degree of conviction that largely rules out legitimate doubts without having to eliminate them completely. The evidence presented must be consistent and, when viewed as a whole, agree with the information provided by the naturalization applicant. Particular attention is paid to contradictory information, for example in the asylum process or when using multiple identities. Such contradictions can complicate the process of establishing identity and will therefore be viewed negatively. Aliases that have only minor differences in the spelling of the name but otherwise contain identical data are generally disregarded.
2. How can the identity be clarified?
Many foreigners have difficulty establishing their identity beyond doubt . This is often the case when no passport documents from their home country are available and cannot reasonably be obtained. This is particularly true in countries with a dysfunctional documentation system or when migration from their home country took place so long ago that the foreigner is simply no longer registered in their country of origin. These cases occur primarily in countries where administrative upheavals due to war occur frequently. Refugees also often have problems obtaining passports because they have no way of contacting the authorities in their country of origin.
In cases where obtaining a passport is unreasonable or impossible, identity verification takes place according to the so-called tiered theory of the Federal Administrative Court ( Federal Administrative Court, judgment of September 23, 2020, 1 C 36/19 ). Different requirements for proof of identity are placed on four levels. Only if proof at the higher level is not considered feasible can the next level be advanced. At each level, therefore, in accordance with the foreigner's duty to cooperate, every effort must be made to prove identity using the available means.
CONTACT US
Are you looking for a lawyer in German immigration and foreigners law? We are happy to support you in residence procedures before embassies, immigration authorities and administrative courts.
Contact us to book a video call consultation with a German immigration lawyer!
VISAGUARD.Berlin Legal Services
3. Naturalization without a passport
The basis of the step-by-step model for identity clarification in naturalization or naturalization without a passport is a four-stage verification model that is systematically applied when official identity documents are missing or there are doubts about their authenticity.
Level 1: Official identity documents with photo
The primary identity verification is carried out using original documents from the home country, in particular:
Passports
identity cards
Identity cards
What matters here is not the validity, but rather the authenticity and attributability of the document. Even German passport substitute documents such as the travel document for foreigners, refugees, or stateless persons ( Section 4 of the Residence Ordinance ) can be considered strong evidence of identity – unless they contain a note stating that the personal details are based solely on the applicant's own information.
Level 2: Other official documents
If official Level 1 identification documents are missing, identity can be proven by other official documents, such as:
Driver's license
military ID card
Service ID card
Registration certificate
Birth or school certificates
These documents must also be presented in their original form. Again, documents with biometric features have greater evidential value for naturalization without a passport than documents without biometric features.
Level 3: Other evidence according to Section 26 VwVfG
If other official documents cannot be obtained, the third stage applies: proof by other means of evidence, e.g.
Non-official documents
Witness statements
private documents
This evidence must also be suitable to plausibly substantiate the personal information for naturalization purposes. The decisive factor is the coherence and traceability of the overall circumstances. Alias with minor name variations will not be considered.
Stage 4: Evidence in the case of lack of evidence
If proof of identity for naturalization is impossible even with the greatest effort, the applicant's statements may, in exceptional cases, be relied upon solely. This requires a comprehensive assessment of the individual case. The statements must be so convincing that they make the applicant's identity credible despite the lack of documents. However, experience shows that naturalization authorities rarely accept clarification of identity based solely on the applicant's own statements.
4. Clarified nationality
According to the law, clarifying identity also includes clarifying nationality ( Section 10, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1 of the StAG ). Proof of nationality is subject to the same criteria as proof of identity and follows a four-stage test. As a rule, this requires the presentation of a valid passport from your home country. Alternatively, a recognized passport substitute or an official identity document with a photo – such as an original ID card – can be accepted. If none of these documents is available, nationality is determined as part of the staged test, although additional evidence may be requested depending on availability.
In the case of multiple nationalities , citizenship is considered established if the applicant discloses all of their nationalities . Further official inquiries—such as the submission of a birth certificate or a negative certificate—are not required in this case. Personal data of the parents, such as their maiden name, place of birth, or nationality, do not need to be collected or processed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assess the legal consequences of a potential loss of citizenship through naturalization.
Summary of this Page
Anyone seeking German naturalization must provide unequivocal proof of their identity and citizenship. This means that their name, date of birth, and other personal information must be verifiable and traceable. In many cases, this is already done during the residency process—then their identity is usually also considered verified during the naturalization process. However, not everyone has access to valid identification documents. Refugees or people from crisis regions, in particular, are often unable to obtain a passport. In these cases, the so-called four-step model applies to naturalization without a passport:
Original documents with photo (e.g. passport or identity card)
Other official documents (e.g. driving license, birth certificate)
Other evidence (e.g. witness statements, private documents)
Credible self-presentation when all other evidence is impossible
Important: At each level, the person concerned must do everything reasonable to prove their identity. Authorities then check the coherence of the information, i.e., whether everything fits together and appears credible. Nationality must also be verified – often through the same passport, but the four verification levels apply here as well. Anyone with multiple nationalities must state them in full.
