Germany with new rules, here's how Albanian citizenship can be regained

But everything changed during a trip from Saranda to Corfu. I remember on the ship with my husband and two of our German friends. All EU citizens passed smoothly. While we Albanians were kept in terrible heat for over an hour without explanation.” That day, she decided to apply for German citizenship by leaving behind with pain, the Albanian document.

A Document That Did Not Exist

Nearly 20 years later, when Germany, thanks to a change to the citizenship law in 2024, allowed for two citizenships, Enkeleda Olldashi-Heustinger did not think twice and immediately began applying for Albanian citizenship. But the process did not go as expected. The application was blocked when the embassy, namely the consular section in Munich, asked a birth certificate and a family certificate issued by German authorities. A birth certificate from Germany can make sense only to those born in this country, but to those born in Albania, this demand was absurd. Germany's “Authorities were amazed, when we asked for birth certificate,” reports Enceleda for DW, broadcast Periscope.

Original remains in Albania

The Berlin Senate confirmed to Deutsche Welle that there is an opportunity to receive a copy of the birth certificate from German authorities, but only if the citizen registers it himself to civilian status through a special procedure (“Nachurdokung”). However, even if it exists, the Berlin Senate doubts that this document would be recognised by foreign authorities as the official birth certificate. According to the Senate, similar cases have been recorded with naturalised citizens from Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia.

Albania reacts after complaints

Enkelda Olldashi-Heustinger was not alone. Like her, most of the 174 citizens who, according to the Albanian Embassy in Germany, had filed a request for restoring Albanian citizenship in Berlin, were affected by the same documentary obstacle.

They addressed the media, including Deutsche Welle, to seek solutions. And finally, in early April, the Albanian government undertook a change of regulation. Now a birth certificate from Germany is no longer necessary. A certificate issued in Albania enough to be obtained through the consulate.

Enkelada had delivered this certificate from the beginning, along with all other documents. The change in regulations opened the way that had previously been blocked. The “was fast and sound,” it showed. This time everything went smoothly. ”

A tardy change for many applicants
But for some other applicants, this regulation may have come too late. In all, this has touched those who had prepared all the documents and who no longer received a meeting at the embassy after the new application was filed for two additional documents from Germany, the birth certificate and the family certificate. For them, there is concern that documents prepared at considerable cost may have lost validity because of the six-month term.

Deutsche Welle has asked the Ministry of Interior in Albania to learn whether the validity of applications made prior to change of regulation will be extended. So far, no answer has come.

More Than a Symbolic Act
For Enkelda Olldashi-Heustinger, even though the process was tiring, the effort was worth it. “is a symbolic act for me,” it says. It's my birthplace. I have family, I have a home there. And maybe one day I want to spend more time in Albania.” Although her documents are already for the presidency review, she is reluctant to rejoice: “I will really be happy only when I have the Albanian passport in my hand. ”

Enkelda Olldashi-Heustinger has been mediating cultures for years, and teaching German tourists Albanian folk dance in her hometown of Berat. If I really get Albanian citizenship again, I will celebrate with the next group of tourists at the Berati Tower with a folk dance. And the whole group will join me”, she says. / Periscope/