Applications for German citizenship through a restitution process for people persecuted by the Nazis and their descendants have increased significantly. The Federal Office of Administration has received more than 170,000 applications in recent years from people around the world who were persecuted by the Nazi regime or whose ancestors were, according to figures reported by the news agency KNA.

The number of citizenship grants under the process rose by almost 60% in 2025, reaching about 11,500, according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. Israeli citizens submitted 5,924 applications last year, up from 3,640 in 2024. Applicants from the United States filed 2,995 applications, while 1,508 cases involved people from European countries.

The Federal Office of Administration handles these applications. The process is available under Germany’s Basic Law to people stripped of German citizenship by the Nazis and their descendants. Since 2021, eligibility has also included people and descendants who were unable to acquire German citizenship because of Nazi persecution. Most cases involve Jews persecuted during the Holocaust.

Lukas Fuchs, a sociologist at the German Center for Integration and Migration Research, described the process as having gained considerable popularity. He said interest has often been influenced by geopolitical developments. After Britain left the European Union in 2020, some British Jews with German roots sought German citizenship to retain access to an EU passport. Interest also increased among Americans with German-Jewish backgrounds after Donald Trump was elected to a second term as U.S. president.

Fuchs said Israeli citizens now make up the clear majority of applicants, with a steep rise beginning in 2023. He linked applications in many cases to a desire for security and a backup option, noting the historical memory of countries refusing to accept Jewish refugees in the 1930s.

Germany’s image as a liberal, pluralistic country is another factor for some applicants in Israel, including those who have never visited. Fuchs also said German citizenship can appeal to younger people who want to study in Europe more easily, and that parents or grandparents may consider this when applying on behalf of their families.

Sources: Der Spiegel.