Earlier this year, on June 27th, Germany brought into a force a sweeping reform of its naturalisation laws.
While previous generations of non-EU citizens had faced a difficult choice between their old nationality and the German nationality, the new law did away with this zero-sum game, allowing people to naturalise as Germans while keeping their old citizenship.
This major change has led to a flood of applications for German citizenship over the past few months, and it also inspired some foreigners to consider regaining a citizenship they gave up in the past in order to become German.
If you're in this position - or are considering taking on a new citizenship elsewhere - you may be wondering if there are still rules you need to know about. (This is Germany, after all.)
Should you inform the authorities that you're regaining an old passport? Is there some kind of permission you need to obtain? And can taking on a new citizenship affect your rights in Germany?
Here's what you need to know.
You're entitled to hold multiple nationalities
Though people often talk about dual nationality, it's important to remember that the new law actually permits multiple nationalities - which means there's theoretically no upper limit to the amount of passports you can obtain.
Previously, foreigners from non-EU countries were only able to obtain dual nationality in exceptional circumstances, and Germans taking on a non-EU citizenship would have to apply for what's known as a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung - or permission to retain their German passport.
Since June 27th, however, these official permits have become obsolete, since the right to hold multiple nationalities is now enshrined in law.
READ ALSO: What documents should you get after obtaining German citizenship?
There's no need to inform the authorities
According to advice from the Federal Administration Office (BVA), there's no obligation to get in touch with the immigration office or other government department once you decide to take on another citizenship.
The Interior Ministry recently confirmed this, explaining that the acquisition of a new citizenship would no longer impact an existing German citizenship under law, and vice versa.
"The obligation to notify the acquisition of a foreign nationality that previously existed... has been cancelled due to these amendments to the Nationality Act," a ministry spokesperson told The Local.
That said, Germany does record the nationalities of all its citizens in what's known as the population register, which is based on information collected by the registration offices, or Meldebehörden.
"Any additional nationality acquired must be stated when registering a residence with the registration authority and proof of this must be provided," the Interior Ministry spokesperson explained. "The registration authority then updates the nationalities stored in the population register on the basis of the facts communicated to it or documented by it."
Once again, though, this won't have an impact on your German citizenship.
Of course, on the other end, you'll likely be asked about other citizenships you old while applying for citizenship in another country - particularly if that country has rules around dual nationality.
However, on the German side, this is one situation where you won't have to worry about paperwork.
Dual nationality could affect your rights - but only slightly
Though taking on another citizenship shouldn't affect your life in Germany, there's one situation in which it could make a difference, but you'll be pleased to know that it's far from an everyday occurrence.
In very rare cases - such as when a foreigner commits a serious crime - German citizenship can be revoked from people who have naturalised.
Once again, this is extremely rare, and it can only happen if removing German citizenship would not make you stateless.
That means that taking on any other nationality would technically allow the authorities to revoke your German one, but only in very extreme circumstances.
If you stay on the right side of the law and haven't misled the authorities in your German citizenship application, this isn't a situation that's likely to apply to you.
READ ALSO: When can your German citizenship be revoked?
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