Ruling: Proof of Identity Usually Required for Naturalization in Germany - Ruling: Proof of Identity Usually Required for Naturalization in Germany
A Syrian refugee’s bid for German citizenship has been sent back for review after a legal dispute over identity verification. The Federal Administrative Court overturned a lower court’s decision that had allowed the man to use a Syrian ID card instead of a passport. Authorities had rejected his application because he refused to obtain a Syrian passport to confirm his identity.
The case involves a 30-year-old Syrian man who arrived in Germany in 2014 as a recognised refugee. He applied for citizenship in Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia, but officials turned him down. Their reason was his refusal to request a Syrian passport, which they argued was necessary to verify his identity.
A lower court in Düsseldorf initially ruled in his favour, accepting his Syrian identity card as sufficient proof. However, the Federal Administrative Court later reversed this decision. It stated that a passport remains the primary document for proving identity, describing it as a 'state-issued document with international recognition' that legally confirms nationality and personal details. The court also clarified that applicants must cooperate in verifying their identity. Only those who can prove they cannot obtain a passport may submit alternative documents, such as a national ID card or substitute travel papers. In this case, the man had not demonstrated that he was unable to get a Syrian passport. On 17 December 2025, the Federal Administrative Court referred the matter back to Düsseldorf. It ruled that the lower court had not thoroughly examined whether the man’s refusal to apply for a passport was justified. The case will now be reviewed again to determine if he meets the legal requirements for citizenship. Separately, the man had also stated that he did not fully accept parts of the German constitution, particularly regarding gender equality and sexual self-determination. However, the court found that local authorities had not properly assessed whether he genuinely rejected these principles.
The case will return to Düsseldorf for a fresh review of both the identity verification issue and the man’s stance on constitutional values. The ruling reinforces that passports are the standard for proving identity in citizenship applications. Alternative documents are only permitted if applicants can show they cannot obtain one.
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