How This Tool Works

This tool does not calculate a number. Dual citizenship between Nigeria and Germany is not a formula; it is a legal situation with two independent sets of rules that do not fully align. The tool maps your profile against both countries’ published policies and explains what each side of the equation means for you specifically.

Germany’s Current Position: Dual Citizenship Is Now Permitted

Germany’s Staatsangehorigkeitsgesetz (Nationality Act) was amended with effect from June 27, 2024. The key change is that persons naturalising as German citizens no longer need to give up their original nationality as a general rule. This was a fundamental shift from decades of German policy that made naturalisation difficult for non-EU nationals who could not easily renounce their birth nationality.

Under the 2024 law, a Nigerian naturalising as German can keep their Nigerian passport. Germany recognises and permits this dual status on its side. The German government will not ask you to renounce your Nigerian citizenship before naturalising.

Exceptions that still apply under German law

The reform is broad but not absolute. German civil servants (Beamte) in certain federal or state positions may face restrictions depending on their specific role and the relevant Bundesland regulations. Members of parliament and some senior public officials are also subject to additional scrutiny. For the overwhelming majority of Nigerian professionals in private sector roles in Germany, the 2024 reform means dual nationality is straightforwardly permitted.

Nigeria’s Current Position: Dual Citizenship Technically Not Recognised

Nigeria’s Constitution of 1999 and the Nigeria Citizenship and Leadership Act contain provisions stating that a Nigerian citizen who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria. Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution specifies this. On paper, if you naturalise as German, you technically lose your Nigerian citizenship under Nigerian law.

In practice, Nigeria has not enforced this provision aggressively against diaspora members who hold multiple nationalities. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians hold both Nigerian and foreign passports without the Nigerian government taking action. The Nigerian Immigration Service continues to issue and renew passports to people who are known to hold foreign citizenship.

The practical reality for most Nigerians

The gap between Nigeria’s law on the books and Nigeria’s actual practice is significant. Most Nigerians who naturalise in Germany continue to use both passports. They enter Nigeria on their Nigerian passport and Germany on their German passport. The Nigerian government does not actively monitor who has obtained foreign citizenship.

This is not the same as saying dual citizenship is legally recognised by Nigeria. It means the risk of enforcement is currently low. That risk is not zero, and it is disproportionately relevant to people who hold or aspire to hold Nigerian public office, registered professionals, or individuals with high visibility in Nigerian legal or governmental contexts.

Table of Truth: The Two-Country Position

Realistic Scenarios

Software engineer in Berlin, naturalising as German, no public role in Nigeria

Under the 2024 German reform, this person naturalises as German and keeps their Nigerian passport. Germany permits this. Nigeria’s law technically prohibits it, but Nigeria does not actively enforce this against diaspora professionals. The practical risk for this person is very low. They can use their Nigerian passport to visit Nigeria and their German passport for EU and international travel. This is the situation for the majority of Nigerian professionals in Germany and it is broadly stable.

Nigerian who naturalised as German in 2019 (before the 2024 reform)

Pre-2024, Germany required renunciation of Nigerian citizenship for naturalisation in most cases. If this person formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship as part of the German naturalisation process, their Nigerian citizenship is technically forfeited. However, many people who went through pre-2024 German naturalisation never actually renounced their Nigerian citizenship with the Nigerian government, even if they signed a declaration of intention to renounce during the German process. Nigeria does not have a formal record of this renunciation. The practical situation for many in this group is that they continue to hold both passports without issue. The legal situation, however, is complex and worth verifying with a Nigerian legal practitioner.

Nigerian nurse planning to become German but also wanting to work in Nigerian public health

This is the most sensitive scenario. If this person naturalises as German and then takes a role in the Nigerian civil service, they would technically be disqualified from public office under the Nigerian Constitution’s dual citizenship provisions. Nigeria’s Section 66 disqualifies dual nationality holders from running for elections and some public sector positions. The practical enforcement risk for a healthcare worker is lower than for a politician, but this is an area where legal advice is genuinely necessary before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Nigeria cancel my Nigerian passport if I become German?

In practice, Nigeria does not cancel passports of diaspora members who have naturalised abroad. The Nigerian Immigration Service does not routinely track foreign naturalisation events. Tens of thousands of Nigerians hold both passports and renew their Nigerian passports without issue. This is non-enforcement, not legal permission.

Do I have to tell Germany that I have a Nigerian passport?

In the 2024 naturalisation process, you disclose your existing nationalities as part of the application. Under the post-2024 law, you are not required to give up your Nigerian nationality. Germany is aware you hold it and permits this.

Can I use my Nigerian passport to enter Nigeria after becoming German?

Yes. Most Nigerian-German dual nationals use their Nigerian passport when entering Nigeria to avoid the visa requirement that German passport holders face for Nigerian entry. This is common practice among the diaspora. It requires maintaining a valid Nigerian passport, which involves renewal every 5 or 10 years at a Nigerian consulate abroad.

What happens if Nigeria changes its law in the future to allow dual citizenship?

A bill to formally recognise dual citizenship has been discussed in the Nigerian National Assembly multiple times but has not passed as of 2024. If Nigeria formally amends the Constitution to recognise dual citizenship, it would resolve the legal ambiguity entirely for diaspora Nigerians. Until then, the situation remains one of practical tolerance rather than formal recognition.

Does the 2024 German reform apply to Nigerians who naturalised before June 2024?

The 2024 reform applies to naturalisations going forward. People who naturalised before June 2024 and had to renounce their original nationality as a condition may not automatically have their original citizenship restored. Their situation is more complex and governed by both countries’ laws at the time of naturalisation. Consult a German nationality lawyer for the specific position.

Can my children born in Germany automatically have both Nigerian and German citizenship?

Children born in Germany to at least one German citizen parent are German citizens by birth. If a parent is also Nigerian, the child may have a claim to Nigerian citizenship by descent. Under the 2024 reform, Germany now allows children to retain both nationalities without having to choose at age 21 as was previously the case. Nigeria’s law also generally recognises citizenship by descent. Children in this situation are typically in the least legally ambiguous position of any dual nationality scenario.