Certify birth abroad

  • Performance specification

    If you or a close family member in an ascending or descending line of descent was born abroad, you can apply for subsequent certification of the birth in the register of births (formerly the register of births) at the registry office in Germany.

    You apply for the certification at the registry office that is responsible for your German place of residence or the German place of residence of the person entitled to apply. If neither a current nor a former German place of residence can be determined, you can apply for the certification at your competent German mission abroad or at the registry office Berlin I.

    You are not obliged to have the birth subsequently certified. Birth certificates from abroad are often recognized in Germany as long as their authenticity is beyond question.

    However, the subsequent entry in the birth register can be advantageous because the local registry office can then issue you a German birth certificate. This means that you no longer have to have the foreign certificate translated and certified for future requests.

  • Requirements

    • You have German citizenship, are stateless or a recognized refugee whose habitual residence is in Germany.
    • You apply for certification for
      • yourself,
      • your child
      • a parent or
      • your spouse or partner.
  • Which documents are required?

    • Application form for certification of a foreign birth in the birth register
    • foreign birth certificate with translation; legalization or apostille if necessary
    • valid identity card, passport or travel document
    • marriage and birth certificates of the parents of the person to whom the entry refers
    • naturalization certificate or citizenship certificate, if applicable
    • If applicable, other documents with proof of authenticity and, if applicable, translation, depending on the individual case.

    You must submit all documents in original.

  • What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

    There is no deadline.

  • Short text

    • Birth abroad certification
    • in case of birth abroad, subsequent certification in the birth register is possible
    • subsequent certification not obligatory: birth certificates from abroad are often recognized, especially from EU countries
    • Subsequent certification necessary for issuance of a German birth certificate
    • application possible for person himself or for close family members in ascending or descending line of descent
    • all documents must be original or notarized
    • responsible: Registry office at the German place of residence or abode of the person born abroad or of the person entitled to make the application
  • Author

    The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

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