Print Date of entry into force : 23 May 1949 (with amendments up to 30 June 1993.
Chapter I : Basic RightsArticle 16(Deprivation of citizenship)
No one may be deprived of his German citizenship. Loss of citizenship arise only pursuant to law, and against the will of the person affected only if such person does not thereby become stateless.
No German may be extradited to a foreign country.
Chapter XI : Trans-national and concluding ProvisionsArticle 116(Definition of a German, reacquisition of citizenship)
Unless otherwise provided by statute, a German within the meaning of this Constitution is a person who possesses German citizenship or who has been admitted to the territory of the German Reich within the borders of 31 December 1937 as a refugee or expellee of German ethnic origin or as the spouse or descendant of such a person.
Former German citizens who, between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945, were deprived of their citizenship on political, racial or religious grounds, and their descendants, are re-granted German citizenship on application. They are considered as not having been deprived of their German citizenship where they have established their residence in Germany after 8 May 1945 and have not expressed a contrary intention.