Request multilingual birth certificate

  • Performance specification

    With a birth certificate you can prove the birth of a person , his or her first and family names, and the details of the parents. You can get a multilingual birth certificate based on the birth register kept in the competent registry office. The multilingual form includes, among others, English, French, Spanish, Italian. The certificate does not require any further legalization (legalization/apostille) in the States Parties to the Convention.

  • Process flow

    Personal application:

    • Go to the registry office that recorded the birth.
    • You must present your identity card or passport for legitimation.
    • You usually pay the fee when you apply at the registry office.
    • In addition to yourself, a person you trust may also order and collect the certificate for you. In addition to a written power of attorney, this person must present your identity card or passport (original or certified copy) and his or her own identity card or passport.

    Request by mail or fax:

    • Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office requesting that a birth certificate be issued to you.
    • Your letter should contain the following information:
      • Surname, first name
      • Date and place of birth
      • Surname, first name of parents
      • if known: Registry office and registration number
    • Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
    • You will receive a fee notice when the certificate is sent.

    Online application:

    Depending on the offer of the city or municipality, you can also submit the application online.

  • Competent authority

    • Registry office that certified the birth. In the case of birth in Germany, this is the registry office that is responsible for the specific place of birth.
    • In the case of birth abroad, if it is not known whether and where the birth was notarized, inquiries can be made at the registry office of residence or at the registry office I in Berlin.
  • Requirements

    Civil status certificates contain personal data, therefore their issuance is subject to data protection restrictions.

    • Persons entitled to apply (minimum age: 16 years):
      • the person to whom the birth certificate refers
      • the spouse or civil partner (as defined by the Registered Civil Partnership Act)
      • ancestors and descendants of the person concerned
      • Siblings with legitimate interest
    • Other persons, i.e. also closer relatives such as aunts and uncles, will only receive a certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest (for example, by means of a letter from the probate court).
  • Which documents are required?

    To apply for a birth certificate you will need:

    • Your identity card or passport (if applying in writing: certified copy),
    • in case of application or collection by a representative:
      • written power of attorney from the authorized person,
      • their identity card or passport (original or certified copy)
      • and the identity card or passport of the representative
    • certain persons must additionally substantiate a legal or legitimate interest
  • What are the fees?

    There are fees for the issuance of a birth certificate.

  • What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

    none

  • Appeal

    • Forms: none
    • Online service available: depending on what the office offers.
    • Written form required:
    • Personal appearance required: no
  • What else should I know?

    none

  • Short text

    • Birth certificate issue multilingual
    • Multilingual certificates are intended for presentation to foreign offices.
    • Only the foreign office concerned can decide whether a multilingual document is appropriate and whether additional legalization (legalization/apostille) is required.
    • In the contracting states of the Convention (see legal bases), no additional legalization is required.
    • The preprinted text of the certificate is issued in 16 languages of the contracting states (see legal bases), the information about the person is taken from the German birth register.
    • Responsible: Registry office that certified the birth
  • Author

    Senate Department of the Interior, Digitization and Sport Berlin, Department 1 - Constitutional and Administrative Law

    The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

  • Typing

    2/3
  • Status Bibliothekseintrag

    5

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Who should I contact?

Residence registry office or competent registry office

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