You may file a petition to determine whether you hold German citizenship if there is a legitimate interest in such a determination.

A legitimate interest in such a determination exists, for example, if

• German authorities or courts, after reviewing existing evidence (such as German identification documents or birth certificates), require you to have any remaining doubts regarding your German citizenship clarified by the citizenship authority, or
• in exceptional cases, despite presenting a valid German identification document (such as a passport or identity card), you are required by German or foreign authorities or courts to provide proof of your German citizenship by means of a special certificate.

If, upon your application, the citizenship authority determines that you hold German citizenship, you will receive a special certificate (certificate of citizenship) to that effect.