Questions for Germans

[Cloudy9 11]

I've been googling but think I might be asking the question in the wrong way and thought maybe someone here might know. My question is this;

What is the difference between being a German Citizen and being a German National? Does being a national mean that you came from another country and became a resident or something?

Thanks to anyone that can answer this for me.

Joanne

[Johnnie J 0]

I've been googling but think I might be asking the question in the wrong way and thought maybe someone here might know. My question is this;

What is the difference between being a German Citizen and being a German National? Does being a national mean that you came from another country and became a resident or something?

Thanks to anyone that can answer this for me.

Joanne

Most countries in Europe have that.

German nationals are those that got their citizenship based on residence, marriage to a German Citizen. German Citizen is that one born in Germany.

US has the same thing.

Extracted from Wikipedia: "A person who becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization is not considered a natural-born citizen. Consequently, naturalized U.S. citizens are not eligible to become President of the United States or Vice President of the United States. For example, as of 2008, the U.S. Secretary of Labor (Elaine Chao) and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Carlos Gutierrez) cannot succeed to the presidency because they became U.S. citizens through naturalization.

According to 8 U.S.C. § 1408, it is possible to be a U.S. national without being a U.S. citizen. A person whose only connection to the U.S. is through birth in an outlying possession (which as of 2005 is limited to American Samoa and Swains Island), or through descent from a person so born acquires U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship. This was formerly the case in only four other current or former U.S. overseas possessions. Not all U.S. nationals are U.S. citizens; all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals. The U.S. passport bio-page shows one’s status as either a citizen or a non-citizen national.[15] Noncitizen U.S. nationals may reside and work in the United States without restrictions, and may apply for citizenship under the same rules as other resident aliens. U.S. nationals who are not citizens cannot vote or hold elected office at the federal level. Depending on local laws and ordinances, they may or may not be able to do so at the State or Local level."

[Cloudy9 11]

Ok, thanks so much for the explanation. =)