Jewish Relocation to Germany: Challenges and Trends, Legal Requirements

After the reunification of Germany, all Jewish immigrants were considered “contingent refugees” by the country, regardless of their circumstances. This term denotes individuals in a crisis situation, and Germany acknowledged its responsibility for the genocide of Jews during the Third Reich by treating all Jewish immigrants as such.

During the division of Germany into the FRG and GDR, different immigration laws applied to Jewish immigrants depending on which country they wanted to immigrate to.

To immigrate to the FRG, one had to prove they suffered in the Holocaust or were born in the territory of the Third Reich before January 1, 1945. Similarly, to immigrate to the GDR.

Later, the legislation of both states was brought to a common denominator, and the acquisition of German citizenship became much easier for Jews. Currently, proof of Jewish nationality of the grandmother or grandfather, or even great-grandmother or great-grandfather, is sufficient for acquiring German citizenship. Furthermore, the conditions for the period of relocation have also been relaxed, and in the event of missing the one-year deadline, a Jewish applicant for German citizenship only needs to reapply, and all the results of previously passed immigration procedures remain valid.

Advantages of immigration to the Federal Republic of Germany for Jews

Aside from the clear advantages of undergoing the immigration process, Jewish immigrants are entitled to the following benefits:

• Freedom of movement within the European Union (within the Schengen area).
  
• Special benefits and privileges reserved for Jewish migrants.
  
• Housing benefits when obtaining a residence in one of the federal states.
  
• Favorable conditions for acceptance into the local Jewish community.
  
• The right to preferential employment throughout the European Union.
  
• The opportunity for comprehensive and complete integration into developed and progressive German society.

It is clear that Jewish Relocation to Germany offers numerous advantages, particularly given the extensive initial support provided by Jewish communities.

The Conditions for Jewish Relocation to Germany

As outlined in the “Guide for Jewish Migrants” (Atlas über Migration, Integration und Asyl (9. Ausgabe)), individuals seeking to live and work in Germany must:

• Have Jewish ancestry (i.e., one parent was of Jewish nationality) or have direct Jewish lineage up to the third generation (i.e., great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents).
  
• Demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the German language (at least the international linguistic standard A1). The language proficiency certificate must be obtained before leaving their former country of residence, although exceptions may be made in cases where language learning was impossible due to regional conditions (such as an ongoing armed conflict), but this must be confirmed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  
• Be capable of supporting themselves economically and socially during their long-term stay in Germany.
  
• Have received approval for admission to one of the local Jewish communities.
  
• Not practice any other religion besides Judaism.

Provided that all the aforementioned criteria are properly documented, obtaining immigration rights should be a straightforward process.

Good to know: Repatriation to Israel with Jewish Programs in 2023: Rules and Advices to get Israeli Citizenship

The Integration Potential

The German authorities want to assess the ability of potential immigrants to integrate into German society without difficulties. To achieve this, they use a “integration forecast” system based on information provided by Jewish applicants. The forecast is determined using a points system, with a minimum threshold of 50 points and a standard entry threshold of 120 points or more. The following criteria are the most important factors that influence the results:

1. Age: Applicants under the age of 30 receive 20 points, with one point deducted for each additional year of age. No points are awarded to applicants over the age of 49.
   
2. Education: Applicants with a higher education degree receive 20 points, and those with additional education such as a master’s or doctoral degree can earn another 10 points. Vocational or technical school education is evaluated at 10 points. Completing education in Germany also earns points.
   
3. Work experience: Applicants with over three years of work experience receive 10 points, and the work experience of family members is also considered. However, the maximum number of points for this criterion is 40.
   
4. Children: Points for this criterion depend on the number and age of children, but applicants can earn up to 10 points.
   
5. Relatives in Germany: Having relatives who have lived in Germany for a long time can earn an additional 5 points.
   
6. Language proficiency: Applicants can earn 5 to 25 points based on their language proficiency, with the lowest level A1 receiving 5 points and the highest level C2 (full mastery) receiving 25 points.
   
7. Knowledge of other languages: This criterion only awards 5 points as immigrants are expected to know another language.

It is important to note that if a family is immigrating to Germany, a separate forecast is created based on the average indicators of all family members.

Required Documents

As an application, immigrants typically submit an “Antrag,” which is the main document. It comprises several pages of questionnaires, about 60 of them, that pertain to the applicant’s family. An applicant’s spouse and underage children are also included in the Antrag, and all information provided in the form is supported by documentation. The primary document package needed for moving to Germany via the Jewish line encompasses:

• Identification documents (parents’ passports, birth and marriage certificates, father’s military identification, household registry, pre-1990 civil registry office records);
  
• International passport;
  
• Domestic passport;
  
• Birth certificate with a “Jewish” nationality indication;
  
• Higher or specialized secondary education diploma;
  
• High school certificate and employment record book;
  
• Marriage certificate;
  
• Military ID and a criminal record clearance certificate;
  
• Documents that evaluate integration potential;
  
• Basic German language proficiency certificate.

A separate bundle of papers is required for each family member accompanying the applicant. With the exception of the military ID, all documents are translated into German and notarized. The Antrag, together with the collected documents, must be submitted to the German consulate after scheduling an appointment.

The Interview at the Consulate

When applying for immigration status, it’s important to gather the necessary documents as listed on the German consulate’s website, but don’t forget about the interview stage with a representative from the diplomatic mission. This step occurs after an initial review of all documents and involves a personal conversation with the applicant. There’s no set questionnaire or list of questions, as the number and type of questions will depend on the quality and completeness of the documents provided. Typically, the conversation is used to clarify information related to:

• Inconsistencies in documents, name changes, or unrecognized children;
  
• Preferred place of residence within Germany, not just specific cities or towns, but also federal states;
  
• Friends and relatives living in Germany, including distant relatives;
  
• Reason for immigrating;
  
• Additional documents to verify specific facts.

Once the interview is over, the applicant will receive their original documents back and be asked to wait for a response. The average wait time is between six months and two years.

Who is the program closed to?

The Federal Republic of Germany is known for the term “German guilt” (die deutsche Schuld) and has been making efforts to correct past mistakes. However, the country still subjects the flow of immigrants to serious filtration, particularly in the case of Jews residing in the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. With the accession of these countries to the European Union in 2004, Jews from these states lost the right to preferential immigration to Germany.

In addition to this, obtaining approval for immigration to one of the German Jewish communities can also be a challenge. Usually, the applicant does not need to do anything as the necessary copies of documents, previously provided by the applicant, are sent to the community by the immigration authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany. Based on the analysis, the community issues its decision on acceptance or refusal. The country only has two Jewish communities: the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany (ZWIST) and the Union of Progressive Jews (WUPJ).

For the first community, documents are sent if the applicant claims that their Jewish roots are transmitted through the maternal line (mother, grandmother, great-grandmother). On the other hand, for the second community, documents are submitted if Jewish origin is confirmed through the paternal line (father, grandfather, great-grandfather). However, proving one’s origin in the second community is much more difficult since its rules state that if the origin is established from the grandfather, a halachic Jewish, in the second generation, approval for admission to the community should not be expected.

A halachic Jewish a person of another (non-Jewish) nationality by birth who has converted to Judaism in accordance with the rules of the Talmud, or person who have a Jewish mother.

Furthermore, there are other restrictions on the immigration of Jews to Germany. For instance, if a Jew has already obtained citizenship of another country under a repatriation program, they cannot immigrate to Germany. Similar programs operate in the United States and Israel, making it impossible for Jews from these countries to immigrate to Germany.

Reasons for refusal ofJewish Relocation to Germany

There are several reasons why individuals may be refused immigration to Germany, in addition to those specified in German immigration laws. One reason is the failure to prove one’s roots, such as in the case of individuals seeking to immigrate through their Jewish lineage who may be denied if their grandparents did not identify as Jewish during difficult times and recorded a different nationality.

Other reasons for refusal include elderly people without education or good qualifications, young people without a degree, work experience, marriage, or children, technical issues with submitted documents, or a low score for integration. In practice, there are many reasons for refusal beyond the admission requirements, which are usually stated in the decision.

Despite the liberalization of immigration laws for Jews, few representatives of this nationality are seeking permanent residency in Germany. Most Jews have either repatriated to Israel or are under repatriation programs in other developed countries. While there may be an increase in the number of Jews of other nationalities in some African countries, such communities are extremely small and will not pose a significant migration burden to the German state.