There has to be more to this story. Ever since the rules on dual citizenship were relaxed, there have been thousands of people getting dual citizenship in Germany.
this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
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"—and is still waiting for dual citizenship"
Aaand you can stop reading here.
Dual citizenship isn't a thing (anymore) in Germany. That is to say, you can only get it if you can prove, that it's almost impossible to give up your original citizenship. That isn't the case for US Americans.
"Barbara W. does not want to have to choose. She wants German citizenship—without giving up her American one."
Yeah, well, but then she just can't have German citizenship. Yes it sucks, yes it would be nice if dual citizenship was easier, but this is the law currently. Dual citizenship is the exception in Germany. If she wants German citizenship, she has to give up the American one.
Besides, her reason is a bit weird. She wants to keep her American citizenship in memory of her father. I mean, for me citizenship is mostly bureaucracy and if you live in a country for years what good is it to also keep your old citizenship? Staying a citizen of a country you haven't lived in for decades seems unnecessary.
Setting aside that Barbara is choosing to keep her US citizenship, renouncing it is actually very expensive. You have to travel to specific embassies, pay to have your US taxes current, and pay a fee over 2000USD which you do not get back if they deny you. You also need valid US identifying documents, which come with their own fees and travel costs. I'm not sure that trans people's documents would be accepted any longer due to being "inaccurate", but I don't know the specifics to say for sure.
That is wrong. Since June 2024 dual citizenship is allowed without any sort of permit.
The issue here seems to be that Berlin is really slow anyway. At the same time there is a massive growth in naturalization in Germany in the last couple years. The biggest reason for that are the refugees Germany took in about a decade ago, which have lived long enough in Germany to be able to apply for citizenship now. They have nearly tripled compared to a decade earlier.
So when you then get unlucky and the bureaucrats fuck up the application, you can get stuck for a long time.
keeping US citizenship abroad is very expensive I hear. They want your taxes
Iirc they only want the difference in tax if you're in a country where you're paying less. I'm guessing in most (all?) EU countries you'd pay more, so you wouldn't need to pay anything. It seems quite sensible.
Tbf this is my only actual source https://youtu.be/4l2RDCx2YnA
but he makes it sound like it's quite a bit worse than that
He's being dramatic. It sucks, but if Americans (especially those in Europe) do their taxes right, they can get off just fine. The US forces our revenue through the US first, otherwise our life gets hard. We have no power and have been trying to fight FATCA / Citizenship based taxes, but we can't.
The main issues are,
- Compliance costs (accounting fees can get to 1000s). These costs go away if Americans run their money/business through the US.
- Additionally, Americans in Europe basically have to run all their investments through US holding companies/trusts (IRS complications with EU rules). If not, we get our accounts closed
- All businesses need to be done through US entities to avoid major complications.
In the end, it's not Americans abroad who get fucked the most, but Europe. You should all end FATCA
Staying a citizen of a country you haven’t lived in for decades seems unnecessary
Until the current country turns fascist and it's nice to have a second option.
So nice that, as EU citizens, we do have 27 options.
Until the EU takes over. Hungary is the benchmark. It also doesn't help to be in another EU country if the EU sanctions the bank accounts.
The EU can reach any bank account on SWIFT, they own it.
Dutch authorities openly say that if you get a speeding fine and leave to eg. Turkiye, they will simply take it from your Turkish account.
Do you have a reference? I could only find this:
If we are unable to transfer the case to another EU Member State, your name will be added to the Dutch Tracing Register. This means that an investigating officer (such as a police officer or a customs officer) can stop you and ask you to pay the fine on the spot. If you fail to do so, they can impound your vehicle.
https://www.cjib.nl/en/our-procedures-traffic-fines
Closest:
In addition, if you’re driving a rental car, the rental company may be notified of the violation, and the fine may be deducted from your deposit or charged directly to your credit card.
That is to say, you can only get it if you can prove, that it’s almost impossible to give up your original citizenship.
Or are a citizen of another EU member state.
That's not true anymore. In 2024 they greatly relaxed the rules.
Dual citizenship has just been relaxed massively. If your original state does not require you to give up citizenship, Germany won't force you. Source: have 3 family members living in the us with dual citizenship.
Dang, I need to read up on that. Got a case like that in my own family and thought they'd have to give up their German citizenship.